Where should you retire in 2026? Florida leads, but other US cities to consider for healthcare, activities and affordability

While retirement may bring Florida to mind but it is not the only place worth considering. Warm weather and tax advantages may attract some retirees to the 'Sunshine State' but others put healthcare, affordability or opportunities to stay active higher on their list.

WalletHub compared 182 US cities across 45 metrics covering affordability, activities, quality of life and healthcare and the results show that a high overall ranking doesn't mean a city performs well in every category.

Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said, “It’s important to choose wisely when picking where to retire, as many retirees are on a fixed income. As a result, the best cities for retired people are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as have good opportunities for retirees to continue paid work for extra income, if they choose to do so. In addition, the top cities provide high-quality health care and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees.”

1. Orlando, Florida, Takes the Top Spot

Orlando ranked first with an overall score of 63.38 as its combination of affordability, recreation and senior healthcare services helped it lead the list. Florida has no state income tax, estate tax or inheritance tax.

Orlando ranked second for affordability, 17th for activities, 77th for quality of life and 11th for healthcare. The city also placed 15th for the cost of homemaker services and 20th for adult day health care. Its healthcare results included 21st place for access to gerontologists, eighth for home health care facilities per capita and fourth for hospitals specializing in geriatrics.

Orlando also ranked second for recreation, giving residents a range of options for spending their free time.

2. Miami, Florida

Miami secured second place with a score of 59.40. Its strongest category was activities, where it ranked sixth among the 182 cities.

The city performed well for adult volunteer opportunities, art galleries and fishing facilities per capita. It also ranked sixth for walkability, with quality public transportation accessible within walking distance for most residents. Florida's tax structure also adds to Miami's appeal. But daily costs remain an important consideration. The city ranked 54th for affordability, 91st for quality of life and 29th for healthcare.

3. Tampa, Florida

Tampa came third with a score of 59.29. It ranked 10th for activities, fifth for recreation and ninth for bingo halls per capita.

Adult volunteer opportunities were another strength, with Tampa placing 11th in that category. Its property crime rate was the 19th-lowest among the cities studied. The city's other results were less impressive. Tampa ranked 41st for affordability, 34th for quality of life and 89th for healthcare, giving retirees several factors to compare before making a decision.

4. Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale ranked fourth overall with a score of 58.87, but its strongest result came in quality of life, where it placed first.

The Arizona city also ranked fourth for mild weather and 18th for activities. Its healthcare ranking was 35th.

Affordability is the biggest consideration in its results. Because Scottsdale ranked 114th in that category, illustrating how a city can perform well in quality of life without ranking as highly for costs.

5. Casper, Wyoming

Casper finished fifth with an overall score of 58.79. Its affordability ranking of third was a major strength, alongside a 23rd-place result for quality of life.

The city ranked 63rd for activities and 65th for healthcare. It differs from Scottsdale's: Casper performs particularly well for affordability, while Scottsdale leads for quality of life and mild weather.

6. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta placed sixth with a score of 58.73. Its activities ranking of fourth was its strongest result, and the city tied for first in museums per capita.

Its other category rankings were 56th for affordability, 96th for quality of life and 52nd for healthcare. Atlanta's overall position reflects the strength of its activities score, although it did not rank as highly across the other categories.

7. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis ranked seventh with a score of 57.92. Healthcare was its strongest category, placing 20th, while activities ranked eighth.

The city ranked 97th for affordability and 89th for quality of life. So its results give retirees a reason to compare healthcare and recreational opportunities alongside the cost of living.

8. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale got eighth place with a score of 57.92. Its activities ranking was 13th, while healthcare placed 41st and quality of life ranked 64th.

Affordability was a weaker point, with the city placing 75th. Its overall ranking is only part of the story for retirees weighing expenses against recreation and other considerations.

9. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston rounded out the top nine with a score of 57.54. It ranked 29th for affordability, 26th for activities, 79th for quality of life and 59th for healthcare. Its affordability and activities results were stronger than its rankings in the other two categories, giving it a different balance of strengths from the cities above it.