Best Places to Retire in the Southeast
This ranking compares retirement places across the Southeast using RetireScorecard’s affordability, healthcare, climate, air quality, disaster risk and retiree-fit signals.
How to use this ranking
The Southeast can offer warmer winters, lower-cost markets and strong retiree migration patterns, but the region is not one decision. Coastal risk, humidity, healthcare access, property insurance and fast growth can change the answer quickly.
Use this ranking to compare coastal, mountain, inland and metro-adjacent options across the Southeast before narrowing into state pages.
What to verify before moving
- Current housing prices and property taxes in the exact neighborhoods you would consider.
- Healthcare access for your doctors, medications and likely specialist needs.
- Insurance, wildfire, flood, hurricane, heat or winter-driving exposure.
- Whether the place still fits in the off-season, not just during a short visit.
Top places in this ranking
Updated 2026-05-21. Scores are screening signals, not a substitute for visiting, checking local costs and confirming healthcare access.
#1 Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is one of the clearest retirement counties in the Carolinas for people who want healthcare access, convenience, and a broad modern services base. It is a practical, not romantic, retirement choice—and that is part of its strength.
Overall Retirement Score: 79
#2 Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is one of Florida's clearest retirement counties for people who want warm weather, deep healthcare access, and a large mature retiree ecosystem. It is strongest for buyers who can afford coastal or club-oriented living and weaker for people whose first filter is value.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#3 Hale County, Alabama
Hale County is a practical Alabama retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, services. It is less compelling if coastal lifestyle or deeper healthcare access matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#4 Arkansas County, Arkansas
Arkansas County is a practical Arkansas retirement county for people who want relative value, livability, practical access. It is less compelling if broader amenities or healthcare depth matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#5 Logan County, Arkansas
Logan County is a practical Arkansas retirement county for people who want relative value, livability, practical access. It is less compelling if broader amenities or healthcare depth matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#6 Hernando County, Florida
Hernando County is a practical Florida retirement county for people who want warm weather, retiree fit, relative Florida value. It is less compelling if deeper healthcare access or lower storm exposure matter more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#7 Calhoun County, Georgia
Calhoun County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#8 Franklin County, Georgia
Franklin County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#9 Miller County, Georgia
Miller County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#10 Treutlen County, Georgia
Treutlen County is a practical Georgia retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if a quieter or more distinctive setting matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#11 Franklin County, Kentucky
Franklin County is a practical Kentucky retirement county for people who want practical living, relative value, regional access. It is less compelling if the strongest services base matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
#12 Marion County, Kentucky
Marion County is a practical Kentucky retirement county for people who want practical living, relative value, regional access. It is less compelling if the strongest services base matters more.
Overall Retirement Score: 78
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How RetireScorecard scores places
RetireScorecard combines public-data signals for affordability, healthcare access, climate comfort, air quality, disaster risk and retiree fit. The goal is to help you narrow a large search into places worth researching more deeply.
Read the methodology or review the data sources.