30 Best Cities for Retirees To Rent

Retirement is a great goal after a career of working. However, it’s not entirely carefree, especially when staying on a fixed-income budget. Some cities are more expensive than others, particularly concerning for retirees looking to rent. Luckily, GOBankingRates analyzed cities countrywide to find the best city for retirees to rent, compiling a list of some of the best places to put down roots and not break the bank renting.

First GOBankingRates found the average rental cost from January 2024 from Zillow Observed Rental Index. For each city on the list the median household income, total population, and population of residents aged 65 and over was found from the U.S. Census American Community Survey.

Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey’s national average expenditure costs for residents aged 65 and over, the average expenditure costs were calculated for each city. Adding the expenditure costs to the average rental cost showed the total cost of living in each city.

Here are the top 30 cities for retirees to rent.

• Population 65 and over (%): 12.29%
• Median household income: $60,998
• Average rent: $1,489
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,904
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,393
• Livability: 81

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.87%
• Median household income: $65,256
• Average rent: $1,364
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,827
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,191
• Livability: 77

• Population 65 and over (%): 16.10%
• Median household income: $73,626
• Average rent: $1,780
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,856
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,637
• Livability: 82

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.50%
• Median household income: $55,710
• Average rent: $1,511
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,716
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,227
• Livability: 80

• Population 65 and over (%): 14.46%
• Median household income: $64,449
• Average rent: $1,387
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,830
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,217
• Livability: 78

• Population 65 and over (%): 16.16%
• Median household income: $63,316
• Average rent: $1,514
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,792
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,305
• Livability: 80

• Population 65 and over (%): 15.08%
• Median household income: $60,187
• Average rent: $1,486
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,896
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,382
• Livability: 82

• Population 65 and over (%): 12.74%
• Median household income: $74,710
• Average rent: $1,662
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,879
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,541
• Livability: 81

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.75%
• Median household income: $59,606
• Average rent: $1,514
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,984
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,497
• Livability: 84

• Population 65 and over (%): 12.75%
• Median household income: $74,895
• Average rent: $1,547
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,967
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,514
• Livability: 81

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.02%
• Median household income: $169,023
• Average rent: $2,943
• Other monthly expenditures: $2,148
• Monthly total cost of living: $5,091
• Livability: 83

• Population 65 and over (%): 16.18%
• Median household income: $67,874
• Average rent: $1,441
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,918
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,358
• Livability: 81

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.61%
• Median household income: $55,051
• Average rent: $1,402
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,813
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,215
• Livability: 82

• Population 65 and over (%): 10.74%
• Median household income: $62,994
• Average rent: $1,311
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,821
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,132
• Livability: 79

• Population 65 and over (%): 16.89%
• Median household income: $73,766
• Average rent: $1,648
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,833
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,481
• Livability: 82

• Population 65 and over (%): 12.81%
• Median household income: $59,593
• Average rent: $1,384
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,790
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,174
• Livability: 81

• Population 65 and over (%): 21.52%
• Median household income: $72,070
• Average rent: $1,663
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,806
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,469
• Livability: 83

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.08%
• Median household income: $64,251
• Average rent: $1,221
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,850
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,071
• Livability: 79

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.84%
• Median household income: $70,202
• Average rent: $1,290
• Other monthly expenditures: $2,053
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,343
• Livability: 82

• Population 65 and over (%): 14.00%
• Median household income: $67,846
• Average rent: $1,1967
• Other monthly expenditures: $2,173
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,369
• Livability: 83

• Population 65 and over (%): 11.27%
• Median household income: $137,387
• Average rent: $2,480
• Other monthly expenditures: $2,153
• Monthly total cost of living: $4,634
• Livability: 86

• Population 65 and over (%): 15.50%
• Median household income: $46,596
• Average rent: $1,067
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,740
• Monthly total cost of living: $2,807
• Livability: 80

• Population 65 and over (%): 9.77%
• Median household income: $86,556
• Average rent: $1,710
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,898
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,608
• Livability: 83

• Population 65 and over (%): 11.44%
• Median household income: $78,631
• Average rent: $1,664
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,870
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,534
• Livability: 84

• Population 65 and over (%): 16.14%
• Median household income: $100,876
• Average rent: $1,571
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,977
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,548
• Livability: 79

• Population 65 and over (%): 12.45%
• Median household income: $62,378
• Average rent: $1,102
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,861
• Monthly total cost of living: $2,962
• Livability: 81

• Population 65 and over (%): 13.67%
• Median household income: $105,679
• Average rent: $1,795
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,898
• Monthly total cost of living: $3,694
• Livability: 84

• Population 65 and over (%): 14.72%
• Median household income: $58,233
• Average rent: $1,108
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,738
• Monthly total cost of living: $2,845
• Livability: 83

• Population 65 and over (%): 10.25%
• Median household income: $115,179
• Average rent: $2,186
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,844
• Monthly total cost of living: $4,030
• Livability: 89

• Population 65 and over (%): 13,49%
• Median household income: $71,785
• Average rent: $1,156
• Other monthly expenditures: $1,833
• Monthly total cost of living: $2,989
• Livability: 84