The US’s Best Retirement Destinations: New York, Ohio & Wisconsin Rival Florida’s Sunny Hotspots

Key takeaways:

• Half of the US’s best retirement destinations are in the Northeast, with New York’s NYC and Albany plus Connecticut’s Bridgeport among the highest-ranking places
• Florida boasts two of the top three metropolitan areas for retirees — in Cape Coral-Fort Myers and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton they have safe environments and long life expectancies
• Ohio’s Cleveland-Elyria is the US’s second-placed large metro for retirees, offering good value for money and leisure options
• The Wisconsin metros of Milwaukee-Waukesha and Madison have a generous provision of health care employees for retirees

Retirement is a beautiful dream where you finally get to explore and enjoy full-time what life has to offer. Not least, it presents the chance of a lifetime to settle down in an entirely new place, not determined by work commitments or family ties. But the question is “where?”

Retirees are generally enticed by golden beaches, recreational opportunities and good weather, and popular seaside snowbird locations never disappoint in this respect. However, with seniors’ current concerns about healthcare and other expenses, there are further factors to consider when assessing a location’s potential for offering the best retirement experience.

With more than 10,000 people who turn 65 every day,  we wanted to find out where the best retirement destinations are right now. We considered a broad range of factors relevant to seniors’ needs across the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. To determine how good a fit any location would be for a retirement-age person, and the chances of their easily integrating into the local community, we looked at what proportion of its residents are aged over 65 and at life expectancy there.

Equally important, we’ve considered average incomes as well as several health factors and local crime statistics in order to determine safety levels. As retirees receive fixed incomes and monthly budgets can make or break the living experience, we factored in costs for housing and groceries plus the local tax burden. We also looked at local leisure options in the form of parks and golf courses. Finally, we analyzed how good metros are at providing age-restricted accommodation in 50+ unit communities — an indication of a city’s preparedness for senior living — and also self storage, which can greatly assist with both moving into a new home and keeping it clutter-free as seniors mostly downsize for retirement.

While it comes as no surprise that seniors enjoy Florida’s beachside hotspots, with Cape Coral-Fort Myers and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton both medaling, places to the north and east fill most of the top 20 positions: the metros centered on New York, Albany, Bridgeport and Providence — not to mention several in Ohio and Wisconsin — all offer retirees a great array of advantages. The West of the country is represented by California’s Oxnard and Texas’s most retiree-friendly metropolitan area is El Paso.

Florida retirees enjoy low taxes and great conditions — Cape Coral & Sarasota top the list

Every list of places for retirees should feature The Sunshine State. The Cape Coral-Fort Myers and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metropolitan areas, both towards the south of Florida on the Gulf Coast, prove to be particularly attractive for them, scoring first and third places in the ranking. Both are clearly set up superbly for older residents, as they make up more of the populations there than in any other large metros — 53.0% and 62.7%, respectively, compared to the numbers of younger adults — and they receive high average incomes in excess of $35K.

In addition, Cape Coral-Fort Myers has the best safety score out of the 100 metros in our ranking and residents have a very high average life expectancy at 82.4 years — the figure in the Sarasota metro is not far behind at 81.4. Seniors in Florida also benefit from a pleasant tax climate, with their incomes, benefits and inheritances untaxed, although there is both a sales tax and a property tax.

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater scores 8^th place with a lower cost of living than the higher-ranking locations just up the coast. Of course, there are beaches and golf clubs aplenty and some of the very best weather in this part of the nation. Not to be outdone, Florida’s Atlantic seaboard brings Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach to the party, in 17^th and 18^th positions and with a similar range of virtues for retirees.

Ohio offers healthcare and cost-effective housing with Cleveland leading the way

The Buckeye State often scores well in calculations about value for money, and seniors are certainly not shortchanged here as two Ohio metropolitan areas make the top five for seniors. The nation’s second-place metro for retirees is Cleveland-Elyria, which has good levels of safety, cost of living and provision of healthcare workers and social assistance. It’s no wonder the ratio of people over 65 years old to other adults is more than 30% here.

Dayton-Kettering, in fifth place overall, brings to the table much of what Cleveland offers but has even better costs of living. House prices here approach $192K, while in Cleveland they are $220K, and the median rent is also slightly less at $861 — these figures make the Birthplace of Aviation one the best value destinations for retirees in the country.

Both these Ohio metros have above-average provision of age-restricted accommodation, but Akron, in 27^th position overall and just south of Cleveland and its Lake Erie recreational opportunities, proportionally provides the most. Over the state’s eastern border in Pennsylvania, Harrisburg-Carlisle wins a 16^th place spot, also having more age-restricted accommodation than most metros plus a good safety score.

New York State has great all-round deals for seniors — try Albany, Rochester or even NYC itself

New York City scores a fourth-place ranking for retirees, with a high provision of healthcare workers, a good number of parks and golf courses, plus an average income of over $32K. The Big Apple may not be renowned for stretching your dollar, but more affordable places further out in the NYC metro area keep housing costs there manageable, and no state tax is levied on social security income.

Going upstate, Albany-Schenectady-Troy gets sixth place in the ranking of the best US metros for retirees, scoring well for safety. And while retirement incomes are almost at the same high level as in the New York City metro, house prices are around half the amount, the median home value being about $280K, and monthly rents average less than $1,100.

Further out toward Lake Ontario, Rochester and Syracuse score 14^th and 19^th places in the ranking, respectively. They score well for safety and housing costs tend to be reasonable. In addition to great boating and fishing options, other recreational options in Upstate New York include the famous early fall experience when the leaves in the forests change color.

Wisconsin offers good cost of living and healthcare in Milwaukee and Madison

Some retirees from the Midwest are going to want to stay there, and others may be drawn to America’s heartland by its quieter, often friendlier way of life. Wisconsin’s Milwaukee-Waukesha scores a very creditable seventh place overall on account of its high provision of healthcare workers and social assistance plus reasonable housing prices and cost of living.

The metropolitan area centered on Madison, Wisconsin’s capital, is not far behind, getting twelfth place in the ranking of senior-friendly metros. Retirees here receive an average income of over $31K, which is $4K more than they would in Greater Milwaukee, and have a similar life expectancy of round 80 years, though the costs are a little higher.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan areas both shade into Wisconsin, offering big-city leisure options, though the costs of living tend to be higher. Meanwhile, retirees who are fans of the great outdoors might like to know that the Badger State still retains its great traditions of fishing, on Lake Michigan and more than 5,000 other lakes.

Connecticut retirees have safe communities and good healthcare provision in Bridgeport & Hartford

Connecticut’s coastal Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk metropolitan area scores 10^th place in the list of great places for retirees. They have a long average life expectancy of 82.1 years and appreciate the high level of safety in the metro. In addition, they receive a generous average income of more than $36K, which offsets the somewhat higher-than-average cost of living here.

In the center of Connecticut, Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown gets 20th position in the ranking of the best metropolitan areas for retirees. It offers an even higher provision of healthcare workers and social assistance than Bridgeport’s. Average life expectancy is also high here at 80.5 years, and there is a generous allocation of age-restricted accommodation.

Retirees also might like to take a look at New Haven-Milford — the “Cultural Capital of Connecticut” — which scores 24^th place overall with similar advantages to the other Constitution State metros. In neighboring Rhode Island, the Providence-Warwick metro lands an even better 13^th place, with a higher provision of both age-restricted accommodation and golf courses per square mile than any other large US metro.

Californian and Texan retirees enjoy long lives — Oxnard and El Paso are out in front

The Golden State always attracts seniors, with great beaches and weather plus a highly developed attitude toward healthcare. The Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura metropolitan area — on the coast just 60 miles west of Los Angeles — scores ninth place on the list. Retirees here receive a high average annual income of over $35K — which rather parallels the metro’s housing costs — and they can look forward to an average life expectancy of no less than 82.3 years.

Texas is another warm place to settle down in after retirement, and its highest ranking metro for seniors is El Paso. They would also enjoy an average life expectancy here in excess of 80 years, but the costs are at the lighter end of the spectrum. In addition, there is also a significantly higher allocation of healthcare workers and social assistance than Californian metros tend to have.

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, in 26^th and 30^th positions, respectively, are California’s next-highest-placed metros, offering retirees benefits similar to Oxnard’s. Texas also brings McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, in 29^th place, which has the distinction of having not only the lowest cost of living but also the highest provision of healthcare workers and social assistance among all the nation’s large metros. Choose your sunshine retirement destination according to your pocketbook!

Self storage helps retirees move and live in a smaller space

Many retirees are empty-nesters who downsize, either staying put or moving to a whole new location, which can be a smart move from both financial and organizational perspectives — less square footage, less work. However, one thing that can help with home organization is self storage, a relatively inexpensive service that allows people to maximize their new lives. A standard 10’x10’ storage unit, which costs $129 on average nationally, can hold seasonal items, tools and sports gear so they don’t clutter up the home. It can also help smooth the process of moving to the new residence.

Living large in a small apartment in the capital of New York State, for example, is made very possible by renting some space nearby, with a regular 10’x10’ Albany storage unit costing a reasonable average of $116/month across the the metropolitan area. In the Connecticut metropolitan areas, for the same size unit, prices for Hartford self storage are similar at $118 while in nearby Bridgeport self storage they average out at $173.

The best value storage among the top 20 metros, allowing retirees to keep items away from home economically, are Milwaukee self storage and Dayton self storage, where the average monthly rate for a regular 10’x10’ unit is just $96 and $98, respectively, across the metropolitan areas. Other top-20 metros with very reasonable street rates include Madison self storage and El Paso self storage, where the costs are $101 and $102 per month — and with both cities having extreme weather conditions, a climate-controlled unit in Madison and El Paso climate-controlled storage come into play.

Self Storage Street Rates in 100 Largest US Metros

Rank	Metro Area	Self Storage Street Rate*
1	Oklahoma City, OK	$78
2	Tulsa, OK	$80
3	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	$81
4	Greenville-Anderson, SC	$82
5	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$85
6	Toledo, OH	$86
7	Wichita, KS	$86
8	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	$88
9	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	$90
10	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	$90
11	Akron, OH	$92
12	Louisville, KY-IN	$92
13	Provo-Orem, UT	$92
14	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$92
15	Jackson, MS	$93
16	Columbia, SC	$93
17	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$94
18	Bakersfield, CA	$94
19	Columbus, OH	$96
20	Greensboro-High Point, NC	$96
21	St. Louis, MO-IL	$96
22	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$96
23	Winston-Salem, NC	$96
24	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$96
25	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$96
26	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$97
27	Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	$97
28	Birmingham-Hoover, AL	$97
29	Baton Rouge, LA	$97
30	Dayton-Kettering, OH	$98
31	Kansas City, MO-KS	$98
32	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$100
33	Albuquerque, NM	$101
34	Raleigh-Cary, NC	$101
35	Ogden-Clearfield, UT	$101
36	Madison, WI	$101
37	El Paso, TX	$102
38	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$104
39	Boise City, ID	$105
40	Richmond, VA	$105
41	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$106
42	Knoxville, TN	$107
43	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$107
44	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$108
45	Pittsburgh, PA	$109
46	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	$110
47	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	$110
48	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	$110
49	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$111
50	Colorado Springs, CO	$111
51	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	$111
52	Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	$112
53	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	$112
54	Salt Lake City, UT	$112
55	Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN	$113
56	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$113
57	Rochester, NY	$113
58	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$113
59	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$113
60	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$114
61	Fresno, CA	$117
62	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$118
63	Jacksonville, FL	$118
64	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$118
65	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$119
66	Syracuse, NY	$119
67	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$123
68	Tucson, AZ	$123
69	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	$124
70	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$124
71	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	$125
72	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$126
73	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$128
74	Worcester, MA-CT	$128
75	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$129
76	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	$130
77	Springfield, MA	$131
78	Stockton, CA	$131
79	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$133
80	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$136
81	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	$136
82	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$137
83	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$140
84	New Haven-Milford, CT	$141
85	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$141
86	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$141
87	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$145
88	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$148
89	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$154
90	Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY	$157
91	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$167
92	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	$167
93	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	$168
94	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$181
95	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$185
96	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$191
97	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$192
98	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$209
99	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	$216
100	Honolulu, HI	$266

* Non-climate-controlled 10'x10' units, November 2022 data, across the metropolitan area.
Source: StorageCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data

Retirement can certainly be a wonderful prospect, especially if it involves moving somewhere new. And whether it features strolling on a beach, fishing at local lakes or simply relaxing in a safe and friendly community, a range of great destinations beckons across the US. Where budgeting is key, states such as Ohio, Wisconsin and even New York can provide great-value housing and healthcare — and to further economize, downsizing is now easier with the increased availability of self storage to provide extra space. Following the retirees with the highest incomes and life expectancies might lead to Florida or California, or perhaps to the safety-conscious metropolitan areas of Connecticut. Anyone approaching retirement may be looking afresh at their plans, so a wide range of options is very welcome, especially new potential destinations that have known advantages for seniors and can make a fixed-income dollar stretch further.

The 100 Largest Metro Areas Ranked by Retirement Friendliness

Rank	Metro Area	Life Expectation	Old-Age Dependency Ratio	Crimes / 100K People	Retirement Income / Capita	Cost of Living Index	Financial Index (Tax Burdens)	House Prices	Median Gross Rent	Healthcare Workers & Soc. Assist. / 1,000 People	Air Quality Index	Weather Index (Annual Averages)	Parks per 10,000 residents	Golf Courses per square mile	Age-Restricted Accommodation	Self Storage Street Rate
1	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	82.4	53	1415.7	$35,388	104.2	50	$427,045	$1,326	178	41	32	#N/A	0.0159	9%	$125
2	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	78.6	30.6	2254.7	$26,566	93.7	65	$219,942	$887	493	47	45	5	0.017	17%	$110
3	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	81.4	62.7	2002.4	$36,157	110.9	50	$498,570	$1,362	172	43	34	#N/A	0.0159	10%	$136
4	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	80.7	25.3	2136	$32,583	194.96	52	$619,306	$1,600	575	50	41	5	0.0153	13%	$191
5	Dayton-Kettering, OH	76.8	29.6	2587.3	$29,493	90.4	65	$191,532	$861	474	44	44	#N/A	0.017	15%	$98
6	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	79.6	27.8	2004	$31,676	108.2	52	$279,584	$1,091	467	39	59	#N/A	0.0153	22%	$113
7	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	79.9	25.4	2501.8	$27,588	98.2	65	$268,653	$977	549	44	60	4	0.0077	21%	$96
8	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	78.0	32.7	1977.7	$27,287	94.6	50	$390,811	$1,286	331	46	38	6	0.0159	9%	$128
9	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	82.3	25.3	1707.5	$35,644	138.4	67	$845,020	$2,032	315	48	46	#N/A	0.0057	12%	$192
10	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	82.1	25.8	2316	$36,543	137.9	89	$567,234	$1,644	495	44	53	#N/A	0.0323	23%	$168
11	El Paso, TX	80.1	20.1	1749.1	$24,600	89.8	82	$200,581	$905	482	56	50	5	0.0031	6%	$102
12	Madison, WI	80.2	22.4	1932.5	$31,538	106	65	$374,736	$1,157	616	39	61	11	0.0077	9%	$101
13	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	80.0	27.2	1692.5	$26,844	117.2	89	$450,387	$1,099	466	42	45	#N/A	0.0362	42%	$140
14	Rochester, NY	78.9	29	1923.2	$25,253	101.8	52	$218,418	$970	470	39	60	#N/A	0.0153	20%	$113
15	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	80.4	24.4	1992	$32,236	153.3	71	$651,730	$1,718	586	44	55	6	0.0356	21%	$154
16	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	78.7	29.2	1675	$28,194	106.26	70	$261,264	$1,061	515	38	58	#N/A	0.0151	16%	$111
17	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	77.9	44.8	2124.6	$27,868	94.6	50	$364,239	$1,161	187	43	35	#N/A	0.0159	12%	$141
18	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	81.6	29.7	3108.2	$31,558	117.1	50	$475,300	$1,519	309	45	33	3	0.0159	11%	$167
19	Syracuse, NY	79.2	27.6	1956.8	$25,774	124.86	52	$202,490	$898	470	37	62	#N/A	0.0153	19%	$119
20	Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	80.5	27.8	3058	$31,451	109.3	89	$322,201	$1,230	524	42	50	#N/A	0.0323	22%	$112
21	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	78.1	35.2	1922.4	$25,749	102.14	50	$322,653	$1,110	217	41	37	#N/A	0.0159	12%	$110
22	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	76.2	24.9	2214.3	$27,854	92.2	65	$264,110	$923	446	51	54	9	0.017	11%	$97
23	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	77.7	29.5	2222.7	$25,376	94.5	52	$246,218	$888	442	40	58	8	0.0153	29%	$119
24	New Haven-Milford, CT	79.2	27.9	2383.4	$29,248	117.8	89	$331,531	$1,235	521	42	49	#N/A	0.0323	24%	$141
25	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	81.2	25	2548	$37,358	120	67	$597,181	$1,556	361	54	50	5	0.0057	9%	$141
26	Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY	79.8	25.2	2533	$34,749	124.86	52	$350,000	$1,369	461	39	53	#N/A	0.0153	35%	$157
27	Akron, OH	77.3	28.4	2424.2	$26,431	91.95	65	$209,604	$861	410	43	54	#N/A	0.017	21%	$92
28	Urban Honolulu, HI	82.4	29.1	3272.2	$33,639	193.4	3	$934,660	$1,884	317	29	1	4	0.0071	28%	$266
29	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	79.5	19.7	2480.6	$21,753	76.8	82	$175,906	$820	762	45	37	#N/A	0.0031	8%	$90
30	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	81.8	21.9	1992.1	$34,760	147.3	67	$883,981	$1,908	411	49	46	3	0.0057	11%	$181
31	Toledo, OH	77.1	27.4	2924.6	$25,781	91.95	65	$172,544	$802	437	42	49	5	0.017	18%	$86
32	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	78.5	29.6	1806	$25,422	105.5	70	$307,138	$1,147	477	39	52	#N/A	0.0151	27%	$129
33	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	82.1	21.6	2618.2	$35,161	149.4	67	$908,160	$1,786	426	70	26	2	0.0057	12%	$209
34	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	77.4	40.9	2417.5	$30,174	102.14	50	$368,702	$1,197	226	42	30	#N/A	0.0159	8%	$126
35	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	77.7	26.7	2199.3	$25,129	103.1	64	$239,519	$1,051	421	54	59	5	0.0085	17%	$118
36	Boise City, ID	79.2	24.2	1933	$25,376	102.1	39	$494,182	$1,222	466	44	70	6	0.0013	12%	$105
37	Springfield, MA	79.1	27.8	2220.4	$27,927	153.3	71	$320,700	$1,052	447	41	60	#N/A	0.0356	27%	$131
38	Columbus, OH	77.4	21	2676.8	$29,553	91.5	65	$305,225	$1,078	602	44	44	5	0.017	8%	$96
39	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	79.7	22.3	2378	$24,435	86.4	68	$269,422	$971	480	39	61	4	0.0073	10%	$85
40	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	78.3	24.9	3057.2	$32,747	106.6	40	$376,853	$1,390	496	45	53	5	0.015	15%	$133
41	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	80.6	22.4	2605.3	$28,290	102.9	78	$371,438	$1,246	607	44	64	5	0.0056	11%	$108
42	Jacksonville, FL	77.6	25.5	2980.1	$29,901	94.3	50	$379,425	$1,238	378	46	40	5	0.0159	8%	$118
43	Tucson, AZ	78.5	33.3	3328.8	$30,873	103.9	37	$344,547	$1,008	320	48	45	3	0.0029	5%	$123
44	Provo-Orem, UT	79.0	13.1	1623	$27,731	100	14	$583,047	$1,253	588	47	66	#N/A	0.0014	2%	$92
45	Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	79.0	23.2	1767	$22,360	95.2	64	$308,045	$1,023	459	42	63	#N/A	0.0085	13%	$97
46	Raleigh-Cary, NC	78.9	19.1	2413	$27,120	93	38	$452,077	$1,266	451	43	47	#N/A	0.0101	12%	$101
47	Ogden-Clearfield, UT	79.5	18.7	2710	$29,816	97.1	14	$521,622	$1,123	360	49	45	#N/A	0.0014	10%	$101
48	Richmond, VA	76.3	24.8	2388.9	$34,615	96.1	39	$342,146	$1,202	434	39	50	8	0.0079	8%	$105
49	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	80.5	20.4	2400	$45,030	158.2	39	$550,237	$1,762	435	45	54	7	#N/A	8%	$148
50	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	79.2	23.9	3020.8	$29,275	107.7	38	$431,248	$1,147	556	41	49	3	0.0101	5%	$106
51	St. Louis, MO-IL	77.4	27	3516	$26,379	87.1	40	$243,975	$940	417	52	52	4	0.0048	15%	$96
52	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	77.7	23.3	2759.5	$32,739	97.4	39	$333,511	$1,232	389	37	44	6	0.0079	10%	$110
53	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	76.0	26.1	2839.9	$26,833	83.6	35	$228,478	$915	406	42	43	#N/A	0.0069	8%	$94
54	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	79.7	23.4	2829.9	$26,374	99.3	50	$401,894	$1,420	370	44	34	4	0.0159	7%	$118
55	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	79.7	16.4	2697.1	$33,475	101.2	82	$557,239	$1,427	482	45	40	3	0.0031	5%	$112
56	Pittsburgh, PA	77.1	32.8	3595	$22,896	103.5	70	$209,887	$895	454	46	47	5	0.0151	26%	$109
57	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	80.7	25.9	4025	$28,748	103.9	37	$459,441	$1,384	354	77	39	2	0.0029	6%	$124
58	Colorado Springs, CO	79.8	20.8	3313.4	$34,075	108.2	14	$485,566	$1,465	435	48	61	5	0.0024	8%	$111
59	Knoxville, TN	74.8	29.8	2480.3	$26,788	82.3	61	$319,827	$958	345	45	53	#N/A	0.007	8%	$107
60	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	83.8	24	3994.4	$37,903	194.2	67	$1,388,998	$2,156	402	44	32	3	0.0057	15%	$216
61	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	83.3	20.9	2725.6	$35,724	138.4	67	$1,535,077	$2,454	450	44	56	2	0.0057	10%	$185
62	Oklahoma City, OK	77.0	22.7	3530.9	$26,901	86.6	41	$221,437	$929	434	50	47	3	0.0031	9%	$78
63	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	78.8	21.4	2701	$31,734	138.4	67	$573,711	$1,552	320	84	42	2	0.0057	14%	$136
64	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	78.6	23.3	3464	$32,092	123.3	87	$311,001	$1,225	451	50	51	2	0.0116	18%	$114
65	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	78.9	21.2	3796.6	$30,106	91.6	82	$340,674	$1,147	445	51	40	2	0.0031	6%	$113
66	Wichita, KS	76.7	25.1	2690.7	$21,422	89.6	78	$196,929	$856	437	45	56	4	0.0031	13%	$86
67	Kansas City, MO-KS	77.5	24.4	3531	$26,318	93.8	40	$287,870	$1,075	458	48	55	5	0.0048	12%	$98
68	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	78.3	24.1	3076.8	$29,871	99.8	35	$422,841	$1,308	304	40	37	#N/A	0.0109	6%	$107
69	Chattanooga, TN-GA	76.0	29.4	3416.6	$24,952	92.2	61	$282,067	$959	361	46	44	#N/A	0.007	11%	$92
70	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	78.7	22.6	3059.7	$25,208	95.9	72	$275,320	$1,007	540	44	61	5	0.0029	9%	$88
71	Winston-Salem, NC	76.8	28.6	3460	$22,958	95.7	38	$245,486	$835	450	44	52	3	0.0101	#N/A	$96
72	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	78.4	23.9	3089.8	$30,328	104.3	54	$439,751	$1,325	308	63	42	3	0.0009	11%	$124
73	Worcester, MA-CT	78.6	24.9	2631	$27,084	153.3	71	$415,596	$1,168	505	42	61	#N/A	0.0356	25%	$128
74	Birmingham-Hoover, AL	75.2	26.2	4219	$26,695	94.2	13	$249,754	$972	493	51	42	#N/A	0.0047	9%	$97
75	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	80.7	23.4	3049.5	$29,728	130.1	29	$566,264	$1,443	437	34	50	5	0.002	5%	$145
76	Tulsa, OK	75.9	25.8	3757.4	$22,926	86.2	41	$217,054	$903	402	48	46	3	0.0031	11%	$80
77	Albuquerque, NM	77.2	27.4	6356	$29,808	93.1	39	$316,513	$961	395	54	67	5	0.0007	8%	$101
78	Baton Rouge, LA	75.7	22.8	3871	$30,349	94.5	20	$238,065	$1,013	382	46	41	4	0.0031	5%	$97
79	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	81.8	20.1	4492.4	$32,437	113.5	14	$622,544	$1,605	458	61	62	4	0.0024	10%	$130
80	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	76.5	25.9	3300.8	$24,495	95.9	52	$243,654	$954	459	44	53	2	0.0069	11%	$92
81	Greensboro-High Point, NC	75.7	26.4	3226.1	$23,303	97.8	38	$237,409	$936	332	43	47	18	0.0101	7%	$96
82	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	76.0	25.6	3701.4	$26,841	112.3	20	$271,024	$1,069	398	45	25	6	0.0031	9%	$123
83	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	77.7	25.7	3930	$28,022	109.8	70	$338,183	$1,258	572	48	54	3	0.0151	16%	$137
84	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	77.6	22.2	6163	$22,479	91	68	$273,896	$989	545	48	42	#N/A	0.0123	12%	$90
85	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	78.4	17.9	4197	$28,268	94.1	82	$313,257	$1,190	468	57	37	2	0.0031	6%	$96
86	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	78.4	17.9	3101	$27,635	103.5	82	$390,152	$1,304	506	51	41	3	0.0031	5%	$104
87	Jackson, MS	74.0	23.7	3925	$25,342	79.6	64	$187,162	$930	586	43	41	#N/A	0.0034	11%	$93
88	Salt Lake City, UT	78.9	17.4	3700.3	$28,194	102.1	14	$587,013	$1,310	525	51	72	#N/A	0.0014	12%	$112
89	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	76.9	19.4	3681	$28,978	105	35	$382,531	$1,370	415	48	41	8	0.0069	9%	$111
90	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	78.9	27.4	4227.2	$26,465	104.9	76	$440,550	$1,044	479	40	79	5	0.004	13%	$113
91	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	76.1	25	6605	$24,345	96.6	44	$199,771	$921	539	43	45	#N/A	0.0036	11%	$81
92	Greenville-Anderson, SC	75.7	27.1	3897	$22,422	90.5	35	$308,962	$978	325	44	48	#N/A	0.0109	6%	$82
93	Columbia, SC	75.8	23.7	3955.7	$25,992	94.4	35	$241,368	$986	399	42	41	#N/A	0.0109	6%	$93
94	Bakersfield, CA	76.5	18.2	3923.8	$30,422	102.4	67	$341,356	$1,103	336	57	46	2	0.0057	11%	$94
95	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	76.6	21.8	3654	$25,684	94.8	38	$389,160	$1,202	407	47	47	3	0.0101	7%	$100
96	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	73.6	22.7	5173.9	$25,912	84.9	61	$235,789	$1,028	474	43	46	3	0.007	8%	$96
97	Fresno, CA	78.0	20.6	5522	$30,514	138.4	67	$389,233	$1,164	421	64	48	2	0.0057	6%	$117
98	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	80.5	20.5	4349	$30,325	152.7	76	$761,699	$1,730	474	44	62	7	0.004	8%	$167
99	Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN	75.8	20.9	3020	$24,206	95.4	61	$456,192	$1,260	571	45	50	#N/A	0.007	6%	$113
100	Stockton, CA	77.7	21.2	3624.7	$32,108	117.1	67	$551,332	$1,484	318	43	50	2	0.0057	8%	$131

Source: StorageCafe analysis of data from County Health Rankings, FBI, U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic research (C2ER), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Weather Source, Retirement Living, Zillow, Trust for Public Land, World Population Review and Yardi Matrix.

What the experts are saying

To find out more about what US retirees are thinking right now, in terms of retirement destinations, finances and other options, we spoke to several experts.

Doug Ressler, Business Intelligence Manager - Yardi Matrix

What are the top priorities for retirees these days?

For many people, retirement may well be summarized in a few words: downsizing your home while upgrading your lifestyle. It's often a chance to do more of the things you love in a place you like, not conditioned by job-related restrictions. If you're switching to less square footage, chances are you'll be paying less for utilities and will have some extra cash from the sale to put towards enjoying your golden years. The "fitting all your things in a smaller house" part can be easily dealt with as self storage has developed so much that you'll have no trouble finding a storage facility close to your new home. And the service is rather inexpensive, now at a national average of around $128/month for a regular 10'x10' storage unit.

Professor James F. Refalo, California State University, Los Angeles

Have you observed new trends concerning preferred retirement locations?

Trends – there are reports that the cost of retiring overseas has been rising in popular areas.  Notably Costa Rica is no-longer the cheapest place to retire to in Central/South America. Likewise, the influx of expats has been driving housing prices up in countries like Portugal, and Mexico is becoming more challenging to get residence in.  So you will have to do your research before making a move abroad. Within the US, I don’t think there is a distinct change in retirement locations.

Prof. Steven Lee of George James & Associates and lecturer in the Department of Finance, Real Estate and Law at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Have you observed new trends concerning preferred retirement locations?

Unfortunately, you can't really determine this by observation. What you may observe as people leaving one city or state for another city or state may have nothing to do with retirement. One thing we as a society should move away from is our expectations that traditional age-related life milestones hold true for the vast majority of the American population. While it is probably still true today, with increases in technology, remote work opportunities, disappearing pensions, and middle class shrinkage, I think we will see more and more disruption of these trends (school until 25, work until 65, retire until death).

Prof. Heather J. Gibson, Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, University of Florida

Have you observed new trends concerning preferred retirement locations?

I haven’t studied this in my own research. I do know that there has been a general trend related to the pandemic of moving out of the cities and into more rural locations. The demand for some outside space has also been noticeable. In the UK there has been a noticeable trend for retirees to relocate out of London to the more rural south coast which has pushed up property prices over the past few years. The recession is moderating some of this price gain currently.

In the US I know we have also seen the move from the cities. I think there is still interest in college towns; we see this in Gainesville around the University of Florida.  Cities such as Ocala, Florida, are also expanding rapidly and this is also due to retirees. I think it’s too early to tell what the effects of the hurricanes will be this year on retirees. Many of them were affected by both storms this last season.

Methodology

This analysis was done by StorageCafe, an online platform that provides storage unit listings across the nation.

We analyzed the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the US in terms of population, with only San Juan, PR, being excluded.

Data on self storage (rates for a 10’x10’ unit and inventory) came from our sister division Yardi Matrix, a business development and asset management tool for brokers, sponsors, banks and equity sources underwriting investments in the multifamily, office, industrial and self-storage sectors.

Weather Source provided the data for our Weather Index metric. Weather Source is a leading provider of weather and climate technologies for business intelligence. Weather Source make hyper-local weather and climate data accessible around the globe and across industries. Weather Source work with companies to leverage weather and climate data to reduce waste, increase ROI, fine-tune logistics, optimize marketing strategy, and improve resource planning.

Fair use and distribution

This study serves as a resource for the general public on issues of common interest and should not be regarded as investment advice. The data is true to the best of our knowledge but may change if amendments to it are made. We agree to the distribution of this content but we do require a mention in return for attribution purposes.