In addition to strategic financial planning, preparing for retirement also requires choosing the right location.
Want to get the most benefits during your golden years? Perhaps you should move to Orlando, Fla., which has been named 2017’s best city for retirees by WalletHub. The city earned the best average score for its affordability, quality of life, health care options and available activities, according to the new survey.
In their annual survey, WalletHub analyzed 150 of the most populated cities in the U.S., comparing 40 metrics, ranging from crime to the cost of in-home services. Orlando also topped the ranking in 2016.
Orlando is most widely known as the home to Walt Disney World, but there are so many other things that make it a great place to settle down. First, the cost of living is relatively low. In August, data from Expatistan showed that the average monthly rent for a 900-square-foot apartment in a middle-income neighborhood was $1,202, compared to the national average of $1,532 a month. Tenants in the same-sized home can expect to pay $168 a month in utilities, which is slightly below the national average of $170.
A standard meal (with beverage) in Orlando is $13, public transportation costs $67 a month and two movie tickets will run you $23. When it comes to weather, the average temperature is 73.4 degrees, which means you can say goodbye to shoveling snow.
Overall, here are the top 10 cities for retirement:
- Orlando, Fla.
- Tampa, Fla.
- Miami, Fla.
- Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Atlanta, Ga.
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Denver, Colo.
- Austin, Tex.
- Las Vegas, Nev.
On the flip side Newark, N.J. was named the worst city for retirees.
Winners and losers for seniors
Everyone wants something different when it comes to retirement. If you’re looking for community, Scottsdale, Ariz. has the highest population of seniors over the age of 65, followed by Cape Coral, Fla. and Hialeah, Fla. On the other hand, Fontana, Calif. and Irving, Texas have the lowest population of senior citizens.
Early retirement is an attractive notion, but it’s not the reality for most people. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, one in four workers say they have less than $1,000 saved for retirement, and about half of respondents said they had less than $25,000. WalletHub reports that four out of 10 workers plan to work until age 70, five years longer than the expected retirement age of 65.
