Take A U.S. Retirement - ReadersConection

Take a U.S. Retirement. Two states topped the list, and none of them are in Florida.

Those who have built up a healthy nest fund, which most American workers estimate to be at least $1.8 million, have some discretion on where they spend their golden years, even if one in five Americans 50 and older have no retirement savings.

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According to a survey from online moving services marketplace Hire A Helper, over 338,000 Americans retired to a new residence in 2023, a 44% rise from 2022.

Related: Are You Really on Course for a Healthy Retirement? Three Typical Oversights and the Important Milestones to Reach at Every Age Are Revealed by a Financial Expert.

According to the research, South Carolina (10%) and Florida (11%) were the most popular out-of-state relocation destinations for seniors. Due to its year-round warmth and reasonably priced cost of living, Florida and other Southern states are popular destinations for retirees.

Americans who have larger-than-average retirement savings, however, may favor locations where safety and affluence are distinguishing characteristics.

Go Banking Rates used information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Sperling’s Best Places, and the U.S. Census American Community Survey to identify the safest and wealthiest locations for retirees.

In its investigation, Go Banking Rates only looked at cities with a minimum of 25% of the population being 65 years of age or older. Area Vibes and the average single-family home value from the Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024 were used to determine each city’s livability score.

Oro Valley, Arizona, is the wealthiest and safest retirement community, according to the survey, while six other Arizona cities—Prescott, Lake Havasu City, Scottsdale, Prescott Valley, Apache Junction, and Bullhead City—placed in the top 30.

Additionally, California is home to 12 of the safest and wealthiest retirement communities: Banning, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Palos Verdes, Lincoln, Laguna Woods, Walnut Creek, Novato, La Quinta, Seal Beach, Rancho Mirage, Cerritos, and Palm Desert.

Continue reading to view Go Banking Rate’s list of the top 30 wealthiest and safest retirement communities in the United States:

1. Oro Valley, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:0.57
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:11.41
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$52,098
Single-family average home value:$525,380
Livability score:81

2. Pinehurst, North Carolina

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:0.43
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:3.40
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$50,351
Single-family average home value:$542,557
Livability score:73

3. Bella Vista, Arkansas

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:3.81
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$32,209
Single-family average home value:$336,590
Livability score:65

4. Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.18
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:8.48
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$72,238
Single-family average home value:$1,913,039
Livability score:58

5. Georgetown, Texas

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.59
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:11.71
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$46,886
Single-family average home value:$442,904
Livability score:83

6. Centerville, Ohio

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:0.47
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:14.01
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$36,275
Single-family average home value:$329,817
Livability score:84

7. Mesquite, Nevada

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.89
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:11.97
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$39,396
Single-family average home value:$406,306
Livability score:76

8. Lincoln, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.43
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:6.91
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$47,966
Single-family average home value:$646,552
Livability score:67

9. Prescott, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:3.51
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:14.42
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$40,660
Single-family average home value:$614,569
Livability score:72

10. Huntley, Illinois

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:0.42
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:5.19
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$30,962
Single-family average home value:$400,135
Livability score:73

11. Aiken, South Carolina

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:3.22
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:34.40
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$40,311
Single-family average home value:$259,767
Livability score:68

12. Fort Lee, New Jersey

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.06
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:13.95
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$47,944
Single-family average home value:$939,775
Livability score:88

13. Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:2.88
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:12.32
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$32,852
Single-family average home value:$488,313
Livability score:63

14. Scottsdale, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.66
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:22.09
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$45,771
Single-family average home value:$922,559
Livability score:82

15. Laguna Woods, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:0.53
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:5.42
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$42,241
Single-family average home value:$481,924
Livability score:73

16. Walnut Creek, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:2.94
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:27.64
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$52,918
Single-family average home value:$1,441,223
Livability score:77

17. Prescott Valley, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:2.61
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:9.31
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$30,927
Single-family average home value:$461,185
Livability score:62

18. Novato, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:3.17
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:16.78
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$47,540
Single-family average home value:$1,190,655
Livability score:71

19. La Quinta, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:1.83
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:24.34
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$50,039
Single-family average home value:$769,008
Livability score:57

20. Seal Beach, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:3.94
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:27.02
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$42,229
Single-family average home value:$1,491,445
Livability score:61

21. Apache Junction, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:5.06
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:16.50
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$30,211
Single-family average home value:$386,845
Livability score:67

22. Rancho Mirage, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:2.73
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:35.41
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$61,573
Single-family average home value:$1,085,436
Livability score:49

23. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:4.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:40.11
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$40,259
Single-family average home value:$506,656
Livability score:69

24. Cerritos, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:3.12
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:48.15
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$44,823
Single-family average home value:$1,086,655
Livability score:NA

25. Niles, Illinois

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:0.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:18.42
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$24,710
Single-family average home value:$390,387
Livability score:80

26. Bullhead City, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:4.33
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:20.62
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$25,343
Single-family average home value:$319,536
Livability score:64

27. Gloucester, Massachusetts

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:2.57
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:5.10
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$41,304
Single-family average home value:$763,752
Livability score:71

28. Banning, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:4.99
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:16.94
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$37,920
Single-family average home value:$414,314
Livability score:NA

29. Palm Desert, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:2.78
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:36.27
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$48,118
Single-family average home value:$627,545
Livability score:51

30. Palm Springs, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents:5.75
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents:36.86
Ages 65+ average retirement income:$46,012
Single-family average home value:$1,015,431
Livability score:65