Nov 24, 2025
It’s home to Dow Inc., a university, two pro sports teams, parks and trails and the longest treetop canopy walk in the U.S.
It’s also a great place to call home if you’re 55 or older, according to the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Places to Retire rankings.
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Midland, Michigan beat out 849 other cities to win top spot in a list of 250 cities, deposing Naples, Florida, which was No. 1 last year (1).
U.S. News cites Midland’s mid-century modern architecture, arts scene and short commute times as selling points.
With a population of just over 42,000 residents, the Midwestern city ranks high on affordability, with the average home costing $206,142 relative to the national average of $370,489.
But according to U.S. News, cost of living is no longer the top consideration for older Americans looking for a place to retire (2).
“In the past, affordability was the driving force,” said Tim Smart, contributing editor. “This time, quality of life ranks highest, with affordability No. 2.”
This year, U.S. News adjusted weightings to prioritize quality of life (27%) over affordability (24%), followed by healthcare quality (16%), retiree taxes (16%), population and migration for ages 55 and older (9%) and job market (8%).
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Here’s a look at the cities that ranked highest and lowest on the list — along with how to decide which communities best suit your own retirement goals.
The top places to retire in 2026
Even though Naples lost top spot, three cities in Florida made it to the top 10 thanks to quality of life and community, with large numbers of retirees flocking to the state.
The Top 10
- No. 1: Midland, Michigan
- No. 2: Weirton, West Virginia
- No. 3: Homosassa Springs, Florida
- No. 4: The Woodlands, Texas
- No. 5: Spring, Texas
- No. 6: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
- No. 7: Spring Hill, Florida
- No. 8: Altoona, Pennsylvania
- No. 9: Palm Coast, Florida
- No. 10: Lynchburg, Virginia
Here’s a look at the bottom-ranked cities in the list — which was expanded to 250 communities this year from 150 last year. Still, these cities made it onto the list; 600 other cities did not.
The Bottom 10
- No. 240: Dubuque, Iowa
- No. 241: Sebastian, Florida
- No. 242: Temple, Texas
- No. 243: Taylorsville, Utah
- No. 244: Florence, South Carolina
- No. 245: Augusta, Georgia
- No. 246: Helena, Montana
- No. 247: Michigan City, Indiana
- No. 248: Peoria, Arizona
- No. 249: Lewisville, Texas
- No. 250: Metairie, Louisiana
While U.S. News separated quality of life from affordability, for many Americans, they’re one in the same, especially for older adults on fixed incomes who have not saved enough for retirement.
The average American thinks they’ll need $1.2 million to retire comfortably, according to Northwest Mutual’s 2025 survey.
But according to Edward Jones, the average retirement savings for those 55-64 years of age is only $537,560, while the median amount is just $185,000 (3)
With this in mind, affordability may still remain a top concern for many older Americans looking for a place to retire — and in fact may be their top motivation to move from a more expensive community to a less expensive one.
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How to make your own Top 10 retirement list
If you’re contemplating a move in retirement, here are some factors to consider as you make your own Top 10 list of possible home bases:
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- Health care: Many seniors prioritize being near hospitals and other health care providers, and ensuring these facilities offer good quality care.
- Climate: While sunny skies used to be the top concern for seniors, many are now choosing a community less vulnerable to climate risk so their retirement nest, and nest egg, is protected from natural disasters.
- Community: Loneliness is a major health risk for seniors, so ensuring your new home base has multiple options for socializing can help to mitigate concerns around isolation.
- Lifestyle: Does your chosen locale reflect your retirement goals? If your idea of retirement involves a lot of travel, living far from a major airport may be a strain. On the other hand, a big garden plot and plenty of space for your dogs may be hard to find in the city. Get clear on both your wants and needs to discover the ideal spot for you.
Calculating what you can afford in retirement may be tricky.
Add up your anticipated sources of income, including Social Security, any pension benefits you may have, and your annual withdrawal amount from your retirement savings. From this, subtract anticipated medical costs, housing costs, and general living costs, based on how you spend now.
If you plan to sell your current home, ensure that the cost of a new one is lower, so that you are left with a sizable emergency fund and less strain on your financial resources.
To fully understand these costs, it may be worthwhile to meet with a financial advisor who can help you plot a number of scenarios for your money and guide you in understanding the risk and reward opportunities for each.
From there, you can make a more confident decision on where to retire — with your quality of life as the top concern.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
U.S. News and World Report (1); MarketWatch (2); Edward Jones (3)
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Rebecca Holland is dedicated to creating clear, accessible advice for readers navigating the complexities of money management, investing and financial planning. Her work has been featured in respected publications including the Financial Post, The Globe & Mail, and the Edmonton Journal.
