The No. 1 place to retire in America isn’t in Florida. The city that beat it has real winters — but 1 number outweighs the lack of sunshine

U.S. News recently released its annual 250 Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2027 rankings, evaluating 859 cities to uncover the top destinations for retirement. Turns out, median home price outweighs sunshine.

And the top city isn’t in the Sun Belt. Indeed, it gets winter, and plenty of it: Midland, MI.

Among other factors, Midland claimed the top spot with its median home value of $206,176. Compare that to the national average of $359,870, and it’s easy to see why retirees looking to get the best bang for their buck might be willing to put up with a colder winter.

Why Midland gets top marks

“The ideal retirement spot isn’t just about sunny weather anymore; it’s about balancing lifestyle with the bottom line,” according to the report.

The rankings are based on six factors, including value, quality of life, quality of healthcare, retiree taxes, senior population and the job market.

Perhaps surprisingly, Midland scored just 6.4 out of 10, ranking No. 66 overall for the best place to live in the U.S. It’s not even the top place to live in Michigan, coming in at No. 5.

But retirement is a different story. That’s because the methodology uses factors that are most important to retirees. And this year, affordability — which continues to be a key concern for retirees — makes up 27% of the overall score.

Not only are housing costs in Midland significantly lower than the national average, but its cost of living is lower than cities of a similar size, according to the report. For retirees who choose to rent, they can expect to pay a reasonable median rent of $790.

Yet, value doesn’t necessarily mean boring.

Indeed, Midland — a small city of about 43,000 people — is known for its mid-century architecture, inspired by architect Alden B. Dow (a student of Frank Lloyd Wright). Plus, it has two senior housing communities with market and discounted rent, as well as a range of independent living communities, assisted living facilities and memory care communities.

Retirees have access to quality healthcare at MyMichigan Medical Center Midland, which is affiliated with the University of Michigan. There’s no municipal income tax or municipal sales tax, and — as of this year — Michigan no longer taxes residents on Social Security income or pensions.

Other cities that made the top 10 include Homosassa Springs, FL, in second place, followed by Weirton, WV, The Woodlands, TX and Spring, TX.

Weirton has some of the most affordable housing in the country, with a median home value of $124,681. Still, it’s not the lowest on the list. That honor goes to Altoona, PA, at $115,035. The Woodlands, although it came in at No. 4, has the highest home value at $472,814, though it does have a lower cost of living than other cities its size.

What to consider before you move

If you’re trying to decide where to retire, these rankings are a good place to start your research. In general, consider the overall cost of living — beyond housing prices — including property taxes, homeowners insurance, utilities, sales tax rates and the cost of groceries. A high cost of living could offset lower housing costs (and vice versa, like The Woodlands).

You’ll also want to look at how your income sources will be taxed, including pensions, investments and Social Security.

A major factor for retirees is access to quality healthcare. The vast majority of Americans aged 65 and older (93%) have at least one chronic condition, while 79% have two or more. About 16% of older Americans have heart disease, while 20% have been impacted by cancer.

Check how far your desired neighborhood is located to major hospitals and specialists. Also see what the options are for assisted living and long-term care.

While weather may still be an important factor for many retirees, also consider climate, extreme weather and disaster risks. For example, you may be able to find cheap housing in a hurricane or wildfire zone, but you’d face sky-high insurance premiums — and in some areas, you might not be able to get insurance at all.