15 Cities Where the Most People Are About To Retire — 6 Are in California
Written by
Nicole Spector
Edited by
Jasmine Browley
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We are at the crest of what’s been dubbed “the silver wave.” In 2025, an average of 11,400 Americans will turn 65 daily — a record of 4.18 million people. As such, this year could see more people retiring than ever before.
Where will these people retire? This matters because the cost of living varies dramatically by location. A retirement nest egg of $2 million will generally go much further in West Virginia than in Florida.
Recent research by SmartAsset analyzed the relative population of those ages 55 to 64 — deemed most likely to retire soon — across 324 U.S. cities to determine where these shifts will be most significant over the coming years. The research also considered the percentage of households with people ages 45 to 64 bringing in $200,000 or more annually.
These 15 cities are seeing the most significant waves of people embarking on their golden years. Six of these cities are in California, which, second to Hawaii, is the most expensive state in the U.S.
15. Palm Bay, Florida
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.45%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 19,593
- Total population: 135,570
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 10.76%
Discover More: America’s 50 Most Expensive Retirement Towns
14. Garden Grove, California
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.54%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 24,469
- Total population: 168,246
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 12.58%
13. Hayward, California
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.63%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 22,771
- Total population: 155,672
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 26.62%
12. Palmdale, California
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.69%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 23,709
- Total population: 161,412
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 12.20%
11. Richmond, California
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.82%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 16,913
- Total population: 114,104
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 12.70%
10. Naperville, Illinois
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.91%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 22,544
- Total population: 151,220
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 40.51%
9. Kent, Washington
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.91%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 19,890
- Total population: 133,381
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 13.14%
8. Clearwater, Florida
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.95%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 17,467
- Total population: 116,868
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 12.11%
7. Hialeah, Florida
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 14.95%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 33,083
- Total population: 221,318
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 6.22%
6. Spokane Valley, Washington
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 15.51%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 16,788
- Total population: 108,232
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 8.50%
5. Simi Valley, California
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 15.78%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 19,736
- Total population: 125,100
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 32.80%
4. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 16.07%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 39,271
- Total population: 244,421
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 38.44%
3. Thousand Oaks, California
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 16.37%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 20,204
- Total population: 123,458
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 40.82%
2. Cape Coral, Florida
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 16.69%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 37,459
- Total population: 224,452
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 11.52%
1. Pembroke Pines, Florida
- Percentage of population ages 55 to 64: 17.45%
- Population ages 55 to 64: 29,866
- Total population: 171,105
- Households ages 45 to 64 earning $200,000+: 20.01%
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