Best Retirement Counties

This ranking focuses on the best retirement counties in the U.S. for readers who want a more local lens than metro-level rankings can provide.

How to read this ranking

Use this ranking as a narrowing tool first. Then open the underlying county pages and compare finalists directly.

Learn about the methodology

Top places in this ranking

#1
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
Above average
#2
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
Above average
#3
County · Kansas

Barber County is a practical Kansas retirement county for people who want practical living, relative value, regional access. It is less compelling if broader services matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#4
County · Texas

Burleson County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#5
County · Iowa

Butler County is a practical Iowa retirement county for people who want practical living, services, relative value. It is less compelling if broader amenities matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#6
County · Oklahoma

Caddo County is a practical Oklahoma retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, services. It is less compelling if the strongest healthcare base matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#7
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
Above average
#8
County · South Carolina

Calhoun County is a practical South Carolina retirement county for people who want warm weather, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if the strongest healthcare base matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#9
County · Missouri

Callaway County is a practical Missouri retirement county for people who want practical living, services, relative value. It is less compelling if stronger lifestyle appeal matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#10
County · Montana

Carter County is a practical Montana retirement county for people who want scenery, lifestyle appeal, small-market living. It is less compelling if healthcare depth matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#11
County · Wisconsin

Columbia County is a practical Wisconsin retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if the strongest statewide healthcare hubs matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#12
County · Ohio

Coshocton County is a practical Ohio retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, services. It is less compelling if milder climate matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#13
County · Colorado

Douglas County can work for retirees who want Denver-area access and a polished suburban-style environment. It is less compelling if lower housing pressure matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#14
County · New Mexico

Do A Ana County is a practical New Mexico retirement county for people who want climate, relative value, distinct setting. It is less compelling if broader amenities or deeper healthcare access matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#15
County · Texas

Eastland County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#16
County · Indiana

Elkhart County works best for retirees who want a more practical northern Indiana county with services and a steadier everyday environment than the state’s stronger destination counties. It is less appealing if deeper healthcare access matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#17
County · Massachusetts

Essex County is a practical North Shore retirement county for people who want services and access without living in core Boston. It offers a better balance of convenience and character than some counties closer in.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#18
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
Above average
#19
County · Illinois

Franklin County is a practical Illinois retirement county for people who want services, regional access, practical balance. It is less compelling if lower taxes or a lighter-density setup matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#20
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
Above average
#21
County · Nebraska

Greeley County is a practical Nebraska retirement county for people who want practical living, balance, regional access. It is less compelling if broader amenities matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#22
County · Mississippi

Grenada County is a practical Mississippi retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, services. It is less compelling if stronger amenities or healthcare depth matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#23
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
Above average
#24
County · Tennessee

Hancock County is a practical Tennessee retirement county for people who want livability, practical balance, regional access. It is less compelling if deeper healthcare access or stronger lifestyle appeal matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#25
County · Virginia

Hanover County is a practical Virginia retirement county for people who want balance, services, regional access. It is less compelling if lower cost or a more distinctive setting matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#26
County · Maryland

Harford County can work for retirees who want a more balanced county than the core Baltimore-Washington corridor while keeping workable access to services. It is less compelling if Chesapeake lifestyle matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#27
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
Above average
#28
County · Texas

Hidalgo County is a budget-friendly retirement option for people who want warm South Texas climate and lower housing costs than many larger Texas markets. It is strongest on price and climate, not polish.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#29
County · Minnesota

Isanti County is a practical Minnesota retirement county for people who want services, practical balance, livability. It is less compelling if warmer climate matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#30
County · Michigan

Jackson County is a practical Michigan retirement county for people who want scenery, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if deeper healthcare access or milder winters matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#31
County · Pennsylvania

Jefferson County is a practical Pennsylvania retirement county for people who want balance, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if warmer climate matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#32
County · Kansas

Jewell County is a practical Kansas retirement county for people who want practical living, relative value, regional access. It is less compelling if broader services matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#33
County · Iowa

Jones County is a practical Iowa retirement county for people who want practical living, services, relative value. It is less compelling if broader amenities matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#34
County · Hawaii

Kalawao County is a practical Hawaii retirement county for people who want climate, scenery, lifestyle appeal. It is less compelling if housing cost matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#35
County · Louisiana

Lafourche Parish is a practical Louisiana retirement county for people who want regional access, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if lower storm exposure matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#36
County · Missouri

Lawrence County is a practical Missouri retirement county for people who want practical living, services, relative value. It is less compelling if stronger lifestyle appeal matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#37
County · Texas

Live Oak County is a practical Texas retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, regional access. It is less compelling if milder climate or lower-intensity living matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#38
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
Above average
#39
County · North Dakota

Logan County is a practical North Dakota retirement county for people who want practical living, relative value, small-market balance. It is less compelling if broader services matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#40
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
Above average
#41
County · Oklahoma

Mayes County is a practical Oklahoma retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, services. It is less compelling if the strongest healthcare base matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#42
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
Above average
#43
County · Ohio

Montgomery County is a practical Ohio retirement county for people who want relative value, practical living, services. It is less compelling if milder climate matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#44
County · Illinois

Morgan County is a practical Illinois retirement county for people who want services, regional access, practical balance. It is less compelling if lower taxes or a lighter-density setup matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#45
County · Arizona

Navajo County is a practical Arizona retirement county for people who want warmer climate, relative value, practical living. It is less compelling if cooler climate or deeper healthcare access matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#46
County · Virginia

Newport News City is a practical Virginia retirement county for people who want balance, services, regional access. It is less compelling if lower cost or a more distinctive setting matter more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#47
County · Idaho

Oneida County is a practical Idaho retirement county for people who want scenery, practical living, relative value. It is less compelling if deeper healthcare access matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#48
County · Vermont

Orleans County is a practical Vermont retirement county for people who want scenic appeal, lower-intensity living, lifestyle fit. It is less compelling if the strongest services base matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average
#49
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
Above average
#50
County · Indiana

Parke County is a practical Indiana retirement county for people who want practical living, services, regional access. It is less compelling if deeper healthcare access matters more.

Overall Retirement Score
78
Above average

Why these places rank well

Places that rise in this ranking tend to line up better with the priorities emphasized here, even if no place is perfect across every category.

Who this ranking is best for

This ranking is best used as a narrowing tool for retirees who want to compare priorities more directly.

Frequently asked questions

How is this ranking calculated?

This page uses RetireScorecard's scoring framework and emphasizes the factors most relevant to this ranking type.

Does this ranking include taxes?

Taxes are not a core part of the scoring model.

How to use this ranking

Use this page to build a shortlist, then click into the county, metro, and state pages to understand why those places score well. When two finalists are close, move into a compare page so the tradeoffs are easier to see side by side.