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Moving during retirement may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but more Americans are doing it. More than 2.1 million retirement-age Americans are gone in 2025, according to hire an assistantRepresents 14% of all moves. Moving is generally not cheap and can be difficult to do once you retire.
Affordable housing, tax rates, and access to health care are hidden costs of moving into retirement that can seriously impact your budget. AARP. For example, a state may look great because it has no state income tax. However, if the state has high property taxes, this could wipe out the savings.
Not every location is financially viable for retirees. Here are the five best cities for retirees to reboot, according to financebuzz The peer study – based on population, lifestyle, employment and income, social landscape and housing – gives each city a score out of 100.
cleveland
Cleveland is the top city with a score of 72.1. The publication shows that more than 20% of the population is 65+ and housing is affordable.
According to FinanceBuzz, “over 47% are single – the 10th highest rate of single seniors in the country.”
pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is second with 69.4. FinanceBuzz found that Pittsburgh has the highest number of people over the age of 65 in the country.
In particular, FinanceBuzz said that Pittsburgh has a healthy job market, which could be helpful for retirees who want to continue working.
Buffalo, New York
If you don’t mind the winter, the city of Buffalo ranks third at 68.8. This is another city where more than 20% of the population is retired.
FinanceBuzz found that the cost of living is 8% lower than the nationwide average, let alone affordable housing.
St. Louis
St. Louis is another top consideration location with a score of 67.6. FinanceBuzz promotes the diverse social scene of St. Louis.
Plus, it’s affordable, with the publication reporting that St. Louis is in the top ten for cost of living.
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is another strong contender with a score of 67.2. FinanceBuzz notes that nearly half of its retirees are single.
If you’re a foodie, Hartford is worth considering. FinanceBuzz said, “The number of restaurants per 100,000 people ranked fifth among the cities we evaluated.”
Retirement can be an enjoyable time. If you want to live in a big city, identifying the most suitable city can help optimize your budget.