7 Inviting Places To Retire

These small cities check all the boxes for an affordable, active retirement.

As cases of COVID-19 continue to decline, retirees may no longer feel the need to retreat to the hinterlands. But some seniors may still feel uncomfortable in crowded urban areas, as evidenced by the recent boom in home sales in suburban and rural areas. On the other hand, cities have a lot to offer, especially now that restaurants, museums and concert halls are starting to reopen. With that in mind, we’ve selected seven small cities (only one has a population of more than 100,000) that offer vibrant downtowns, lots of recreational activities and easily accessible health care. Most also offer strong broadband internet connectivity, which is increasingly essential for everything from telehealth to virtual visits with your grandchildren. This year, for the first time, we also looked specifically for diverse communities that include people of color and other minorities. Unlike some other factors we measure, diversity is imprecise, but we have strived to highlight places that are welcoming to all retirees.

Although your own choice of the best place to retire will be based on a variety of personal preferences, including proximity to family, your favorite leisure activities, and whether you’re a hot- or cold-weather person, some factors should be on every retiree’s checklist.