5 Best Cities for Retirees To Start Over — and What It’ll Cost To Make the Transition
Written by
John Schmoll
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Moving during retirement may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but more Americans are doing it. Over 2.1 million retirement-age Americans moved in 2025, according to HireAHelper, representing 14% of all moves. Moving isn’t generally inexpensive and doing that after retiring can become trickier.
Affordable housing, tax rates and access to healthcare are hidden costs of moving in retirement that can seriously impact your budget, according to AARP. For instance, a state may sound great because it has no state income tax. However, if the state has high property taxes, it may nullify the savings.
Not every location is financially feasible for retirees. Here are the five best cities for retirees to start over, according to a FinanceBuzz study based on peer population, lifestyle, employment and income, social scene and housing — giving each city a score out of 100.
Cleveland
- Score: 72.1
Cleveland is the top city, with a score of 72.1. The publication finds that over 20% of the population is 65+ and that housing is affordable.
“More than 47% are single — the 10th-highest rate of single seniors in the country,” according to FinanceBuzz.
Pittsburgh
- Score: 69.4
Pittsburgh is second at 69.4. FinanceBuzz found that Pittsburgh had the most people over age 65 in the nation.
Notably, FinanceBuzz said that Pittsburgh has a healthy job market, which may be helpful for retirees who want to continue working.
Buffalo, New York
- Score: 68.8
If you don’t mind the winters, the city of Buffalo is third at 68.8. It’s another city with retirees comprising 20%+ of the population.
FinanceBuzz found that the cost of living is 8% below the nationwide average, not to mention having affordable housing.
St. Louis
- Score: 67.6
St. Louis is another top consideration, scoring 67.6. FinanceBuzz touted St. Louis’ diverse social scene.
Plus, it’s affordable, with the publication noting St. Louis is in the top ten for cost of living.
Hartford, Connecticut
- Score: 67.2
Hartford is another strong contender, scoring 67.2. FinanceBuzz noted that nearly half of its retirees are single.
If you’re a foodie, Hartford is worth considering.”The city has the fifth-highest number of restaurants per 100,000 people among the cities we evaluated,” FinanceBuzz said.
Retirement can be an enjoyable time. If you wish to live in a large city, identifying the best fit can help optimize your budget.
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