15 Cities Where Retirees Depend on Social Security the Most

Approximately 50.1 million retirees receive Social Security with an average benefit amount of $1,905. For those over age 65, Social Security is more than just an income supplement — it’s their primary source of income in retirement. In fact, older adults who receive Social Security rely on it for at least 90% of their monthly income.

In some cities across the U.S., Social Security recipients rely even more on their benefits to make ends meet. From housing and utilities to groceries, transportation and entertainment, these government benefits are sometimes the only way to fully cover the cost of living.

In the interest of finding out where retirees depend on Social Security the most, GOBankingRates conducted a study using data from the U.S. Census’s 2022 5-year American Community Survey, Sperlings BestPlaces, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and Zillow Home Value Index.

Here are the top cities from those results.

Also here is what the average social security payment will be in 15 years.

• Population 65 and older: 39.2%
• Average retirement income: $21,105
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 56.1%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $22,203
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $43,308
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,310
• Total average annual cost of living: $39,722

• Population 65 and older: 43.7%
• Average retirement income: $19,803
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 67.9%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $24,700
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $44,503
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,472
• Total average annual cost of living: $41,669

• Population 65 and older: 47.2%
• Average retirement income: $25,943
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 61.4%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $21,276
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $47,219
• Total average monthly cost of living: $4,832
• Total average annual cost of living: $57,989

• Population 65 and older: 40.2%
• Average retirement income: $25,679
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 68.7%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $22,413
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $48,092
• Total average monthly cost of living: $4,062
• Total average annual cost of living: $48,748

• Population 65 and older: 45.5%
• Average retirement income: $27,546
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 58%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $23,809
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $51,355
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,891
• Total average annual cost of living: $46,698

• Population 65 and older: 39.7%
• Average retirement income: $28,735
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 59.4%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $23,417
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $52,152
• Total average monthly cost of living: $4,268
• Total average annual cost of living: $51,211

• Population 65 and older: 75.4%
• Average retirement income: $27,654
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 85%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $25,346
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $53,000
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,846
• Total average annual cost of living: $46,147

• Population 65 and older: 37.7%
• Average retirement income: $29,374
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 57.6%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $23,647
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $53,021
• Total average monthly cost of living: $4,492
• Total average annual cost of living: $53,901

• Population 65 and older: 55.9%
• Average retirement income: $28,653
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 72.6%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $25,089
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $53,742
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,284
• Total average annual cost of living: $39,413

• Population 65 and older: 47.9%
• Average retirement income: $29,371
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 63%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $24,415
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $53,786
• Total average monthly cost of living: $4,014
• Total average annual cost of living: $48,167

• Population 65 and older: 31.9%
• Average retirement income: $30,206
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 56.4%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $23,592
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $53,798
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,815
• Total average annual cost of living: $45,780

• Population 65 and older: 41.7%
• Average retirement income: $32,576
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 56.6%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $21,754
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $54,330
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,709
• Total average annual cost of living: $44,507

• Population 65 and older: 50.9%
• Average retirement income: $30,086
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 68.3%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $25,143
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $55,229
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,869
• Total average annual cost of living: $46,425

• Population 65 and older: 43.2%
• Average retirement income: $30,649
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 57.5%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $27,229
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $57,878
• Total average monthly cost of living: $3,841
• Total average annual cost of living: $46,095

• Population 65 and older: 64.6%
• Average retirement income: $36,883
• Households with Social Security benefits (%): 73.4%
• Average Social Security benefit amount: $21,186
• Average annual total income (including all sources): $58,069
• Total average monthly cost of living: $4,757
• Total average annual cost of living: $57,085

^{Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the U.S. to find the places where retirees depend the most on Social Security. For a city to qualify for this study, it had to have a total population of at least 10,000 and a population of at least 1,000 residents aged 65 and over. First GOBankingRates used the U.S. Census’s 2022 5-year American Community Survey to find a number of factors for each city including: total population, population aged 65 and over, total households, median household income, the number of households that receive retirement income, the number of households that receive Social Security Benefits, the average amount received from Social Security Benefits for households whom receive Social Security Benefits and the average amount received from retirement income for households whom receive retirement income. The percentage of households that receive Social Security Benefits and the percentage of households that receive retirement income was then calculated. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and by using the national average expenditure costs for retired residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired residents, the average total expenditure cost can be calculated for each city. Using the Zillow Home Value index, the average value of a single family home can be calculated. By assuming a 10% downpayment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, the average mortgage can be calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and average expenditures, the total cost of living can be calculated. Using the average income and average cost of living, an annual leftover savings can be calculated for each city. The cities were sorted by the percentage of households who receive Social Security Benefits. All data was collected and is up to date as of July 11, 2024.}