Naples, Florida topped a new list of the best cities to retire in the United States in 2025. The list celebrates sunshine and happy residents, giving senior housing operators a new focus for the future.
U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Places to Retire rankings, released on November 18, analyzed data from the top 150 cities in the United States to determine how well they meet Americans’ retirement needs and expectations. is being evaluated. Each city’s overall retirement score is based on six metrics: affordability, well-being, desirability, retiree taxes, job market, and quality of care, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and U.S. Department of Labor. I am.
Cities in the South and Midwest fared particularly well.
“What we learned this year is that retirees not only want to spend their money, they also want a place to have fun. That’s why the Midwest and South dominate the top 25.” The News’ deputy editor for real estate, Dawn Bradbury, said in a statement.
U.S. News made a major change to its ranking criteria this year, moving to look at data for cities themselves rather than the metropolitan statistical areas that had been the basis for past rankings. The changes will “enable consumers to consider factors on a more local level that directly impact the livability and overall experience associated with a city,” Bradbury said.
The media outlet also changed the top weighting factor in its rankings from affordability to happiness, resulting in stronger rankings for cities in the South and Midwest in 2025. US News said the six indicators are weighted based on public surveys of older Americans. It has taken more than 45 years for people to learn what is most important when considering where to retire.
Based on data, the top five cities for retirement in 2025 are Naples, Florida. Virginia Beach, Virginia. New York City; Sarasota, Florida; and Boise, Idaho.
U.S. News described Naples as a region that “offers pristine beaches, expansive golf courses, fine dining and shopping.” But the proximity to the beach, sunshine and no state income tax have their downsides. Continued growth and development will lead to a lack of affordable housing and increased traffic on the roads, the outlet said.
Despite being a “resort city,” Virginia Beach’s friendly residents and relaxed atmosphere are drawing many permanent residents to Virginia’s largest city, U.S. News reported. According to the outlet, military presence is part of daily life in Virginia Beach, which has the highest concentration of military personnel outside of the Pentagon.
According to US News, New York City is a “place of opportunity” and that’s why people continue to flock there. The media said the city is home to world-class theaters, restaurants, museums, parks, cultural activities and a diverse population.
Sarasota, the second-largest city in Florida’s top five, has a vibrant arts scene, beach vibe, and burgeoning food culture, drawing residents with its “unique charm,” according to U.S. News. I told them I was there. Sarasota’s once-ignored reputation as a “retirement playground” is slowly changing as more young professionals move to the area, the outlet said.
Rounding out the top five on the list is Boise, Idaho, defined by U.S. News as a “recreationist’s paradise” due to its easy access to rivers, mountains, canyons, deserts, and lakes. According to US News, Idaho’s capital straddles the line between urban and rural, civilized and wild, sophisticated and raw.
