The top 25 retirement hot spots for active seniors
For the second year in a row, Wilmington, Delaware, has ranked No. 1 for seniors seeking an active retirement.
While it might lack the sunny allure of the South, the city offers retirees low taxes and a high "walkability" score, according to SmartAsset's latest annual study of the best cities for an active retirement.
For the study, the financial data site examined a host of characteristics and gave the 575 largest cities in the U.S. an overall score out of 100. Those characteristics include the:
Number of retirement communities per 1,000 residents
Number of doctor's offices per 1,000 residents
Senior population percentage
Average effective tax rate based on income taxes, sales taxes and applicable rules and deductions for a retiree earning $35,000 per year
Number of fitness-related businesses — like recreation centers and gyms — as a percentage of all local businesses
Number of golf courses per 100,000 residents
Walk score from Walkscore.com, which is a measure of each city's walkability
SmartAsset describes Delaware as a "tax-friendly state for retirees" and gave Wilmington an average effective tax rate of roughly 9.4 percent.
The city has a walk score of 72 out of 100. That falls within a range that Walkscore.com describes as "very walkable," meaning most errands can be accomplished on foot.
Overall, Wilmington earned a perfect score of 100 from SmartAsset. It was followed by Portland, Maine, with 97.05 and Santa Barbara, California, with 96.88.
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All of the top 25 cities — which do include plenty of sunny destinations, if you prefer them — earned scores of more than 85 out of 100. They are:
Wilmington, Delaware
Portland, Maine
Santa Barbara, California
Bethesda, Maryland
Missoula, Montana
Rockville, Maryland
Pompano Beach, Florida
Erie, Pennsylvania
West Palm Beach, Florida
Newport Beach, California
Boynton Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Medford, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Bellingham, Washington
Fort Myers, Florida
Delray Beach, Florida
Schenectady, New York
Carmichael, California
Portland, Oregon
Clearwater, Florida
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Roanoke, Virginia
Now see the most popular retirement destinations abroad:
Of course, no one should base a life-changing decision like where to retire on a single list. As we explain in "11 Critical Things to Consider When Choosing Where to Retire":
"Lists are fun reading. But when it comes to making your own decisions, things get personal. Then, it's time to evaluate what matters most to you, not to the list-makers."
If you're among the growing number of Americans preparing to retire abroad, also check out "11 Places in the World Where You Can Afford to Retire in Style."
What's most important to you in a retirement destination? Share your thoughts below or on Facebook.
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