This is really crazy to be honest. When I first saw it I thought, wait, is this real? But when I actually read the article and the reason why they made the list, it made sense. Not only did 5 Pennsylvania towns make the top 10 list of best places to retire in America, but all 5 are within two hours of Philadelphia!
I grew up in Pennsylvania, and lived here my whole life, except for the short stint in Dallas, TX after I graduated from Drexel University. But that’s a story for another day. Needless to say, I didn’t like Dallas. Ha. It’s also very strange that I have been to Iceland, Italy, and California about 15 times, but I have never been to Pittsburgh. I know, it’s strange! I grew up near the Poconos in a very small town, so small there are no traffic lights, only stop signs. And I’ve lived in Philly since college so I like to say I have two hometowns at this point. Pennsylvania is pretty amazing that we have two major cities, one being the birthplace of our nation, awesome sports teams, incredible universities, close to the beach, mountains, lakes, culture and arts, and so much more. Not to mention we are very close to other major cities such as Washington DC, New York City, and Boston. Pennsylvania is really a hidden gem and I’m glad it’s ours. Oh, think about how nice it is that you can have a great health system, still be close to a city, numerous airports, see concerts, sporting events, etc.
US News & World Report revealed the list earlier this week and the ranking methodology took multiple factors into account – happiness, housing affordability, health care, retiree taxes, desirability and the job market. Going on the general rule that retirees and future retirees have similar priorities, the people surveyed were nearing retirement age − between ages 45 and 59 − and were of retirement age at 60 and older.
It’s important to add that Pennsylvania has some really incredible health care systems. People who are about to or are already retired, having good doctors is very important as people age.
#8 Ann Arbor, Michigan
Don’t tell Penn State fans. Ann Arbor is about 45 minutes from Detroit and is the home of the University of Michigan. Even if you aren’t a Michigan fan, it’s an amazing campus and being close to a university means there is always alot to do.
ANN ARBOR, MI – APRIL 01: A view of Michigan Stadium during the 2023 Spring Football game on April 1, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The scoreboards on the north and south ends of the stadium are under construction as part of a $41 million upgrade set to be complete by the start of the 2023 fall season. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)
#7 Daytona Beach, Florida
It’s hard to deny that retiring near the beach isn’t a dream. The Daytona 500 is there, it’s a quick flight from Philly, and the weather is nice almost all the time. Except for Hurricane season, but it seems like Floridians know how to handle it.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: A general view of the stat of the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
#6 Naples, Florida
Naples is a city on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida that’s known for high-end shopping and golf courses. If you have ever been there, you know it’s gorgeous. It’s about 3 hours from Tampa and a little over two hours to Miami. Fun Fact, our corporate headquarters are in Naples.
NAPLES, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 23: People enjoy an afternoon at a beach in Naples on November 23, 2022 in Naples, Florida. Despite continued closures and warnings at many Gulf of Mexico Florida beaches following the devastation brought by Hurricane Ian, tourists and locals have slowly been returning to beaches as they open. Thousands of Florida residents are still without housing and many more are dealing with repairs and debris clean-up after the historic hurricane brought wide scale devastation to the state. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
#3 Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is on the panhandle of Florida. Not as close as the other cities, but the Gulf Shores are gorgeous. It’s also only 3 hours from New Orleans and 6 hours from Nashville.
PENSACOLA, FL – JUNE 08: Choir singers from the McFarlin United Methodist Church enjoy a moment on Pensacola Beach that seemed to be clear of most deposits of oily residue from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on June 8, 2010 in Pensacola, Florida. Early reports indicate that BP’s latest plan to stem the flow of oil from the site of the Deepwater Horizon incident may be having some success. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
