Top 10 best places to retire in 2022-2023 might surprise you: Central Pa. dominates list
If you are thinking of retiring anytime soon, you may be in the best place to do it. According to a new ranking by U.S. News and World Report, Pennsylvania dominated the top of the list for having the most cities that are best-suited for retirement, and York makes the cut.
According to the report, five of the top 10 cities are in Central Pa. and four are in Florida. This is a bit of a head-scratcher, because the two states have vastly different climates, but retirement isn't a one-size-fits-all move. Add to that the need for affordable housing, and it becomes a bit clearer on why these states rule the retirement roost.
Michigan had one lone city on the list this year.
Last year, Florida held 8 of the top 10 spots. Lancaster was the only city in the commonwealth to make the top 10 at that time, coming in at number 5. York ranked number 17 last year, and rose to number five this year.
The rankings were based on an analysis of 150 metropolitan areas for how well they meet the needs and wants of retirees. The scores were calculated using a weighted average of housing affordability, happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, job market and health care quality.
Housing affordability counted for 24%. Happiness, which looked at crime rates and overall well-being, counted for 22% of the total. Healthcare quality and retiree tax rates both held 16% of the equation, while desirability counted for 13%. Finally, job opportunities accounted for 9% of the weighted total.
The weight of each index was determined by a U.S. News and World Report survey that polled people nearing retirement age (45 to 59) and those of retirement age (60 or older) to learn what matters most to them.
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Here is the full list of best places to retire in 2022- 2023, as shared by U.S. News and World Report:
1.) Lancaster, Pa.Lancaster rose to the top this year, and the biggest deciding factor for that was housing affordability. The median sale price of houses in Lancaster County is currently at $290,000, which is $138,700 below the national average of $428, 700, according to Realtor.com.
Lancaster also received high marks for healthcare and for desirability. The average salary for a full-time worker in Lancaster county is $47,691, according to ZipRecruiter, which is slightly below the national average salary of $54, 132, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2.) Harrisburg, Pa.The median home sale price in Harrisburg is $210,000, according to Realtor.com, which is $218,700 below the national average.
The average salary in Harrisburg is a little over $73,000, according to ZipRecruiter.
3.) Pensacola, Fla.Median home sale price: $275,000 Average salary: $47, 871
Pensacola ranked higher in desirability, too, because of its access to beaches.
4.) Tampa, Fla.Median home sale price: $390,000 Average salary: $48, 997
Tampa is listed as one of the best places to find a job, according to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it ranks high in desirability due to its climate and beaches.
5.) York, Pa.When news of the best cities for retirement began circulating on social media, many people commented that York has a high crime rate, making it an unsafe area to retire.
According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports, U.S. News determined that York has a below-average crime rate compared to metro areas of a similar size across the country.
York also has affordable housing, with the median home sale price resting around $220, 000, which is $208,700 lower than the national average.
The average salary in York is $47,307.
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6.) Naples, Fla.Median home sale price: $560, 000 Average salary: $43, 700
Like other Florida cities, Naples is desirable because of its warm climate and its proximity to beaches. It also has a good healthcare score. However, it's affordable housing is higher than all other cities in the top 10 spots of this list and its average salary isn't as high as some of the cities with more affordable housing options.
7.) Daytona Beach, Fla.Median home sale price: $245, 000 Average salary: $43, 905
8.) Ann Arbor, Mich.Ann Arbor is the only city on the top 10 that is not in Florida or Pennsylvania. The median home sale price in this city is $419, 500. The average salary in Ann Arbor is $54, 730.
9.) Allentown, Pa.Median home sale price: $250, 000Average salary: $53, 593
10.) Reading, Pa.Median home sale price: $200, 000 Average salary: $51, 908
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Pa. dominates the top 10 places to retire in 2022: York earns a spot
