Best Places to Retire in America - 2026 Rankings

Choosing where to retire is one of the biggest decisions of your life. Our retirement rankings factor in cost of living, safety, air quality, climate, and overall quality of life to identify America's top retirement destinations.

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Top ZIP Codes for Retirement

50 ZIP codes ranked

#	ZIP · City · State	Population	Median Income	Median Home	Safety	Retirement Score
1	10065 New York, NY	35,120	$217,326	$777,642	A+	88
2	80206 Denver, CO	31,820	$229,420	$751,974	A+	87
3	75209 Dallas, TX	22,940	$233,505	$794,709	A+	87
4	85260 Scottsdale, AZ	52,180	$219,136	$757,892	A+	87
5	60614 Chicago, IL	75,580	$178,321	$817,583	A+	86
6	60611 Chicago, IL	32,790	$211,484	$853,104	A+	86
7	20016 Washington, DC	36,840	$232,569	$839,768	A+	86
8	30309 Atlanta, GA	24,280	$230,125	$766,525	A+	86
9	10021 New York, NY	66,870	$212,143	$773,622	A+	86
10	77019 Houston, TX	16,830	$199,424	$818,543	A+	85
11	80246 Denver, CO	20,490	$218,594	$941,299	A+	85
12	10016 New York, NY	43,280	$187,005	$785,005	A+	85
13	02108 Boston, MA	5,430	$177,343	$779,332	A+	85
14	27609 Raleigh, NC	41,320	$201,894	$851,544	A+	85
15	30306 Atlanta, GA	26,740	$198,296	$846,033	A+	85
16	27607 Raleigh, NC	46,780	$208,215	$800,873	A	85
17	85254 Scottsdale, AZ	42,890	$229,874	$801,988	A	85
18	40207 Louisville, KY	31,820	$214,351	$788,324	A	85
19	75205 Dallas, TX	22,870	$225,710	$1,000,952	A+	84
20	60654 Chicago, IL	14,530	$185,222	$806,362	A+	84
21	20007 Washington, DC	34,280	$195,694	$841,214	A+	84
22	78703 Austin, TX	25,380	$194,513	$796,060	A+	84
23	35213 Birmingham, AL	25,840	$213,627	$915,864	A+	84
24	98109 Seattle, WA	19,530	$199,590	$893,437	A	84
25	33133 Miami, FL	38,920	$228,359	$1,058,559	A+	83
26	30342 Atlanta, GA	28,430	$182,717	$989,309	A+	83
27	15232 Pittsburgh, PA	19,240	$172,635	$859,680	A+	83
28	37215 Nashville, TN	41,230	$195,538	$1,126,567	A+	82
29	98199 Seattle, WA	21,040	$208,297	$1,073,119	A+	82
30	90049 Los Angeles, CA	31,220	$195,435	$990,856	A+	82
31	77056 Houston, TX	38,210	$193,107	$872,833	A+	82
32	90401 Santa Monica, CA	12,960	$213,108	$1,072,141	A+	82
33	10011 New York, NY	48,970	$181,019	$1,035,713	A+	82
34	90024 Los Angeles, CA	30,840	$199,593	$860,324	A+	82
35	20015 Washington, DC	28,120	$232,303	$1,117,846	A	82
36	02116 Boston, MA	22,810	$180,412	$972,196	A+	81
37	77005 Houston, TX	18,940	$197,253	$838,365	A+	81
38	94114 San Francisco, CA	19,240	$226,185	$1,121,697	A	81
39	90210 Beverly Hills, CA	20,390	$173,430	$953,023	A	81
40	75225 Dallas, TX	27,830	$190,400	$1,056,171	A+	80
41	27615 Raleigh, NC	52,840	$158,979	$914,140	A+	80
42	85251 Scottsdale, AZ	33,910	$130,293	$448,787	A+	79
43	57105 Sioux Falls, SD	44,810	$132,397	$469,773	A	79
44	96816 Honolulu, HI	38,240	$134,892	$469,242	A	79
45	10001 New York, NY	21,255	$121,060	$485,048	A+	79
46	78746 Austin, TX	42,380	$168,553	$1,034,936	A+	79
47	33629 Tampa, FL	36,920	$215,062	$1,139,601	A+	79
48	78731 Austin, TX	35,190	$167,479	$971,698	A+	79
49	92130 San Diego, CA	48,210	$163,225	$909,344	A	79
50	19106 Philadelphia, PA	14,530	$132,313	$441,581	A	78

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best state to retire in the US? ▼

The best states for retirement depend on your priorities. States with no income tax on Social Security, low overall cost of living, good healthcare, and warm climates consistently rank highest. Use ZipScore to compare specific ZIP codes.

What makes a place good for retirement? ▼

Key factors for retirement include affordable cost of living, low crime, good air quality, access to healthcare, warm climate, and low taxes. Our ZipScore algorithm helps you compare all these factors at once.

Where can I afford to retire on Social Security? ▼

Use our free Affordability Calculator to find ZIP codes where you can live comfortably on a fixed income. Many smaller cities and suburbs in the South and Midwest offer excellent quality of life at low cost.

Explore Top ZIP Codes

10065 - New York, NY 80206 - Denver, CO 75209 - Dallas, TX 85260 - Scottsdale, AZ 60614 - Chicago, IL 60611 - Chicago, IL 20016 - Washington, DC 30309 - Atlanta, GA 10021 - New York, NY 77019 - Houston, TX 80246 - Denver, CO 10016 - New York, NY 02108 - Boston, MA 27609 - Raleigh, NC 30306 - Atlanta, GA 27607 - Raleigh, NC 85254 - Scottsdale, AZ 40207 - Louisville, KY 75205 - Dallas, TX 60654 - Chicago, IL

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Rankings based on real data from US Census Bureau (ACS), FBI Uniform Crime Report, EPA AirNow, and FEMA National Risk Index. Updated periodically.

Best Places to Retire in America - 2026 Rankings

Top ZIP Codes for Retirement

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore Top ZIP Codes

Compare Any Two ZIP Codes Side by Side

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