These 10 US Cities Offer the Highest Quality of Life for Retirees—None Are in Florida

If you're looking for a retirement destination that offers a higher quality of life in the U.S., you may need to head outside the mainland, according to WalletHub's list of the best and worst places to retire.

Hawaii is the top two retirement destination with the highest quality of life, according to WalletHub's analysis. Pearl City ranks No. 1, followed by Honolulu at No. 2

Although Florida is home to two of the best overall US cities for retirees, when it comes specifically to quality of life, the first Florida city on the list comes in at 17^m place

WalletHub ranked the quality of life of 182 highly populated cities based on a variety of factors, including share of the over-65 population, weather, violent crime rate, availability of activities for seniors and walkability.

To compile the rankings, the personal finance site analyzed data from several sources, including the Tax Foundation, the Council for Community and Economic Research and the US Census Bureau.

“Quality of life metrics focus on aspects such as the share of elderly residents, the poverty rate among seniors, community support and environmental conditions,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told CNBC Make It. “Together, these metrics help identify cities that offer a supportive, enriching environment for retirees.”

According to WalletHub, here are the 10 best US cities to retire to for the highest quality of life.

1. Pearl City, Hawaii
2. Honolulu
3. Scottsdale, Arizona
4. Columbia, Maryland
5. Fremont, California
6. Glendale, California
7. Madison, Wisconsin
8. San Jose, California
9. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
10. san diego

Pearl City is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, about 11 miles from downtown Honolulu. It has a population of about 45,000, and according to the latest available census data, a quarter of residents are over 65 years of age.

In Pearl City and Hawaii as a whole, retirees who enjoy spending time outdoors can take advantage of the warm weather year-round, as temperatures typically fluctuate between the low 70s and low 80s, according to the National Weather Service. The state also offers an abundance of natural beauty, including white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.

However, weather is also a potential problem for living in Hawaii, since the islands are susceptible to tsunamis, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

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Another downside is that living in Hawaii is not cheap. In Pearl City, homes list for a median price of $795,000 per Realtor.com and sell for a median price of $1.1 million.

Renters don't fare much better. According to Zillow, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Pearl City was $1,856 per month as of Sept. 10, about 16% higher than the national median.

However, for retirees who can afford to spend, they can find a larger community of peers their own age. Pearl City is tied with Scottsdale, Arizona for the highest percentage of residents over 65, according to WalletHub's analysis.

While lists like these can be a helpful starting point when making retirement decisions, it's ultimately up to you to decide which features are most important.

You may prioritize being close to your family and easy access to medical facilities, while someone else may prefer to move somewhere with a lower standard of living.

Additionally, it can be difficult to picture yourself retiring to a position you haven't spent time in.

Many retirement experts recommend visiting your potential retirement destination at different times of the year so you can get a sense of what the city is like in different seasons, familiarize yourself with the local community, and begin to understand what it might be like to live there. long term

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