Many would agree that retirement is richer when you have someone with you to share the fun. If you are a single senior hoping to find love, AARP has some suggestions for you.
The organization for retired people recently used its Livability Index to determine the best cities for single retirees age 65 and older.
The analysis took several factors into account, including:
- Number of older adults living in each city
- City sizes and locations
- Access to health care and amenities
Following are the best cities for single retirees.
10. Sarasota, Florida
AARP’s livability score for this city: 56 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 166,305
Florida long has been a haven for retirees, and Sarasota has much to offer those who love warmer weather and a laid-back lifestyle.
For more great options in the Sunshine State, check out “The 25 Best Cities to Retire in Florida.”
9. Arlington, Massachusetts
AARPs livability score for this city: 65 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 7,409
Arlington was founded more than 350 years ago, and it has a rich history. The city in the Boston suburbs was the site of the first public children’s library and “Uncle Sam” himself was born here.
8. Palm Springs, California
AARP’s livability score for this city: 48 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 15,163
Retirees should feel right at home in Palm Springs. About one-third of the population is 65 or older, as we note in “7 of the Best Places for Retiring in California.”
7. Arlington, Virginia
AARP’s livability score for this city: 67 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 19,392
If you are a senior who plans to keep working, the community of Arlington (which is actually a county, not a city) can be a great choice.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro finished No. 1 on the list of the “15 Best-Paying Cities for Working Seniors in 2023.”
6. Madison, Wisconsin
AARP’s livability score for this city: 64 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 29,597
Not only is Madison a good place for seniors to find a mate, but Wisconsin’s capital city is one of the “15 Great Places to Retire Where Health Care Is Good.”
5. Sun City, Arizona
AARP’s livability score for this city: 45 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 29,451
Like Florida, Arizona is a mecca for retirees. Sun City itself was one of the earliest retirement communities. As the official website says:
“Most of what’s featured in a 55+ active adult community originated right here.”
4. Pittsburgh
AARP’s livability score for this city: 59 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 44,486
If you are tired of living through housing booms and busts, maybe it’s time to relocate to a calmer place. Pittsburgh finished in first place among the “The 15 Most Stable U.S. Housing Markets.”
3. The Villages, Florida
AARP’s livability score for this city: 51 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 64,761
If you don’t have a lot of money in savings and investments, the master-planned, age-restricted community of The Villages might be calling your name.
Sumter County — where The Villages is located — finished at No. 1 among the “15 Places Where Social Security Offers the Best Standard of Living.”
2. Denver
AARP’s livability score for this city: 61 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 81,488
In recent years, there has been a scarcity of homes for sale in Denver. But that is changing.
Those who plan to relocate here might have better luck now that Denver is among the “15 Cities With the Biggest Increase in Housing Inventory.”
1. New York City
AARP’s livability score for this city: 63 out of a possible 100
Estimated senior population of this city: 1.2 million
Seniors may find love in New York City, but it will come at a high price. To no one’s surprise, New York finishes first among the “The 15 Most Expensive States for Retirees in 2023.”