What's the best place to retire? To answer that question, The Motley Fool surveyed 2,000 retired Americans to understand what matters most in retirement and used those insights to rank the best places to retire across the United States.
Based on the survey results, The Motley Fool identified seven key retirement factors and weighted each according to retiree preferences: quality of life (31%), healthcare access and quality (15%), housing affordability (13%), crime and safety (12%), weather and climate (12%), state and local taxes (11%), and non-housing affordability (6%). These weightings were applied to secondary data from eight public and institutional datasets to calculate a final retirement score for every U.S. county, reflecting real retiree needs and preferences rather than assumptions about where people “should” retire. Counties were excluded if their population was below 40,000, their quality-of-life score was below 35, or their housing affordability score was below 35. The full methodology and data sources are available at the end of the report.
The Motley Fool’s Best Places to Retire list reflects what retirees value most on average, but there’s no single “right” retirement destination for everyone. The best place to retire depends on personal priorities and expected retirement income. For some, that means keeping costs low so that savings and investments in their retirement accounts go further. Others may place more weight on access to amenities or choosing a more expensive location with great weather.
With that in mind, here's The Motley Fool’s Best Places to Retire in the West list.
The Best Places to Retire in the West
1. Denver, Colorado
Quality of life: 61 | Healthcare: 31 | Housing: 40 | Cost of living: 66 | Crime: 56 | Tax: 62 | Climate: 72 | Total retirement score: 55
Denver is ideal for outdoor lovers who embrace year-round recreational opportunities in the Rocky Mountains and who appreciate Denver's art scene.
- Pros: Opportunities for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer; Denver Art Museum and Denver Center for Performing Arts offer cultural enrichment; good healthcare options including UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Denver Health Medical Center, and SCL Health Saint Joseph Hospital, though countywide healthcare outcomes are below the national average; neighborhoods known for having many retirees including Cherry Creek; and easy access to travel thanks to Denver International Airport.
- Cons: Expensive housing, especially within in-demand areas; lots of traffic on well-traveled corridors, including I-25 and I-70; retirees with respiratory issues or heart conditions may struggle with high altitude; and cold and snowy winters could be a problem for those who don't like driving in winter weather.
2. Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Quality of life: 39 | Healthcare: 42 | Housing: 50 | Cost of living: 90 | Crime: 47 | Tax: 55 | Climate: 76 | Total retirement score: 51
Albuquerque features walkable historic neighborhoods and offers classic desert scenery as well as a rich culture that incorporates a vibrant blend of Native American and Hispanic influences.
- Pros: Housing, utilities, and overall cost of living are more affordable than in most metro regions; Sandia Peak Tramway Area, Rio Grande Nature Center, and Balloon Fiesta Park offer recreational activities outdoors; Albuquerque Museum and Indian Pueblo Cultural Center provide cultural enrichment; winters are mild, and many days are sunny.
- Cons: Some neighborhoods have a higher-than-average crime rate; summer heat can be unpleasant and windy, and dusty weather in spring can cause problems for retirees with respiratory issues; public transportation isn't common outside of limited downtown areas, and most areas aren't very walkable, with the exception of Nob Hill and Old Town.
3. Sacramento, California
Quality of life: 44 | Healthcare: 36 | Housing: 40 | Cost of living: 58 | Crime: 75 | Tax: 33 | Climate: 82 | Total retirement score: 50
Sacramento is California's capital and home to historic attractions, riverfront recreation, and attractive neighborhoods with housing that is more affordable than in many areas in Southern California.
- Pros: Stable economic base due to large number of government workers; riverfront recreational opportunities at William Land Park and American River Parkway; excellent local healthcare options, including UC Davis Medical Center; and easy access to some of California's most beautiful areas for day trips, including Lake Tahoe and Napa Valley.
- Cons: Summers can be very hot; limited public transportation outside of the downtown area; higher crime rates in some areas compared to California's suburban locations; and fewer opportunities for cultural enrichment than San Francisco or Los Angeles.
4. Modesto, Stanislaus County, California
Quality of life: 35 | Healthcare: 45 | Housing: 43 | Cost of living: 71 | Crime: 74 | Tax: 33 | Climate: 82 | Total retirement score: 49
Modesto offers the chance to live the California lifestyle at an affordable price. You'll have easy access to Yosemite, enjoy a vibrant art scene, including the Gallo Center, and benefit from a far lower cost of living than the state average.
- Pros: Agricultural-based community means lots of farmers' markets; easy access to Sacramento, the Bay Area, and the Yosemite region; Gallo Center for the Arts and a growing number of other art and entertainment venues provide cultural enrichment; plenty of regional healthcare options; and mild winters.
- Cons: Air-quality issues are common; some Modesto neighborhoods have above-average crime rates; there are very few options for public transportation; housing costs are above the national average; taxes are high; and summers are very hot and dry, with temperatures sometimes topping 100 degrees.
5. Reno, Washoe County, Nevada
Quality of life: 35 | Healthcare: 36 | Housing: 39 | Cost of living: 71 | Crime: 72 | Tax: 62 | Climate: 71 | Total retirement score: 49
Washoe County is anchored by Reno and offers a mix of high-desert scenery, lake access, and a growing metro area with lower taxes than neighboring California.
- Pros: No state income tax; access to outdoor recreation at Lake Tahoe, Truckee River Walk, and Mount Rose Ski Tahoe; Reno offers museums, casinos, live entertainment, and dining; relatively mild winters compared with much of the Midwest and Northeast.
- Cons: Housing costs have risen sharply in recent years; healthcare access and outcomes are below average, with limited options outside Reno; wildfire smoke can affect air quality in summer; crime rates are higher than average in parts of Reno and Sparks.
6. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Quality of life: 35 | Healthcare: 36 | Housing: 39 | Cost of living: 72 | Crime: 53 | Tax: 58 | Climate: 70 | Total retirement score: 47
Santa Fe County is known for its historic adobe architecture, arts scene, and high-desert setting.
- Pros: Strong cultural identity with attractions like the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe Opera, and Canyon Road galleries; walkable historic downtown areas; mild, sunny climate with four seasons; access to outdoor recreation in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
- Cons: Housing costs are high relative to local incomes; healthcare options are limited, with many retirees traveling to Albuquerque for specialized care; higher cost of living than much of New Mexico; altitude may be challenging for some retirees.
7. Mendocino County, California
Quality of life: 37 | Healthcare: 46 | Housing: 41 | Cost of living: 52 | Crime: 43 | Tax: 33 | Climate: 69 | Total retirement score: 44
Mendocino County offers a quiet, scenic coastal lifestyle with small towns, redwood forests, and rugged Pacific Ocean views.
- Pros: Access to coastal scenery at Mendocino Headlands State Park and Glass Beach; cooler summers than inland California; small-town feel with local wineries and farmers’ markets; cost of living in line with the national average.
- Cons: Limited healthcare access and few specialists; higher housing costs relative to wages; high tax burden; foggy, overcast conditions are common; long drives required for major shopping, airports, and medical care.
8. Tuolumne County, California
Quality of life: 39 | Healthcare: 37 | Housing: 47 | Cost of living: 53 | Crime: 43 | Tax: 34 | Climate: 66 | Total retirement score: 44
Tuolumne County appeals to retirees who want a quiet mountain-town lifestyle with proximity to Yosemite National Park.
- Pros: Access to outdoor recreation in Yosemite, Stanislaus National Forest, and Pinecrest Lake; lower housing costs than most California mountain regions; historic Gold Rush towns like Sonora offer character and charm; four-season climate with cooler summers than the Central Valley.
- Cons: Healthcare options are limited, with most advanced care requiring travel to the Central Valley; winter snow can make driving difficult; high tax burden; fewer dining, shopping, and cultural amenities; limited public transportation.
9. Eureka, Humboldt County, California
Quality of life: 35 | Healthcare: 39 | Housing: 45 | Cost of living: 54 | Crime: 43 | Tax: 34 | Climate: 65 | Total retirement score: 42
Eureka offers a small coastal-city lifestyle surrounded by redwood forests, with a slower pace of life than most California destinations.
- Pros: Access to outdoor attractions including Redwood National and State Parks, Sequoia Park Zoo, and Humboldt Bay waterfront trails; mild year-round temperatures with cool summers; lower housing costs than much of coastal California; historic Old Town Eureka provides local shops, museums, and dining.
- Cons: Limited healthcare access and specialists, with many retirees traveling outside the county for advanced care; frequent fog and overcast weather; geographic isolation with long drives to major airports and urban centers; fewer cultural, dining, and entertainment options than larger coastal metros.
Discover more of the best places to retire
Methodology
How The Motley Fool Identified the Best Places to Retire in America
Choosing where to retire is a deeply personal decision, but retirees consistently prioritize a few key needs: affordability, safety, access to healthcare, and quality of life.
The Motley Fool’s Best Places to Retire Index combines secondary data about each location with primary data on what retired Americans say matters most when picking where to live.
This hybrid approach creates a ranking that is both data driven and human centered – a methodology built by retirees for retirees.
Survey-Informed Weights
The Motley Fool surveyed 2,000 retired Americans aged 55 and above in December 2025 via Pollfish and employed a constant-sum approach (100 points), allowing respondents to clearly allocate points across the factors that mattered most to them when choosing a place to retire. Their average point allocations formed the weights given to scores for each retirement-location factor.
Ranking | Retirement Factor | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|
1 | Healthcare access & quality | 14.47 |
2 | Housing affordability | 13.10 |
3 | Crime & safety | 12.13 |
4 | Weather & climate comfort | 11.56 |
5 | Taxes (state + local burden) | 11.45 |
6 | Nonhousing affordability (everyday expenses)
| 5.93 |
Ranking | Quality of Life | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|
Total | 31.35 | |
1 | Access to outdoor recreation | 5.45 |
2 | Restaurant options | 6.48 |
3 | Walkability | 5.49 |
4 | Arts & entertainment options | 3.77 |
5 | Access to retirement communities | 4.14 |
6 | Proximity to an airport | 3.11 |
7 | Public transit access | 2.91 |
Final scores reflect what retirees value most, not what we assume they value.
Survey Method Details
- Survey was conducted online on Dec. 2, 2025, via Pollfish.
- Survey respondents were U.S. retirees 55 years and older.
- Survey results were post-stratified to reflect nationally representative data based on age and gender.
- Pollfish employs organic random device engagement sampling, a statistical method that recruits respondents through a randomized invitation process across various digital platforms. This technique helps to minimize selection bias and ensure a diverse participant pool.
How Each Factor Was Scored
Scores were computed at both the county and state levels. All data were normalized on a min–max scale before applying survey weights.
Each factor below includes the justification readers care about most: why it matters to retirees.
Healthcare Access & Quality
Why it matters: Aging well requires reliable care, specialists, and strong healthcare outcomes. Healthcare outcomes measure whether people get healthier, live longer, and maintain a good quality of life.
Sources:
- University of Wisconsin County Health Rankings (local outcomes & access)
- United Health Foundation’s 2025 Senior Report (state-level system performance)
Housing Affordability
Why it matters: Home costs are the No. 1 expense in retirement and drive relocation decisions.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (October 2025)
Counties with a housing affordability score below 35 were excluded.
Nonhousing Affordability
Why it matters: Day-to-day expenses – food, transportation, utilities – determine how far savings stretch.
Source: Economic Policy Institute Family Budget Calculator
Taxes
Why it matters: State and local tax burdens directly affect retirement income sustainability.
Sources:
- Tax Foundation (effective tax burden)
- EPI Family Budget Calculator (county-level effective rates)
Weather & Climate Comfort
Why it matters: Retirees seek comfortable climates that support year-round activity.
Source: NOAA NCEI temperature & precipitation averages (2020–2025)
Crime & Safety
Why it matters: Personal safety ranks as a top emotional and financial priority.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer – violent, property, and social offense rates
Quality-of-Life Components
Retirement isn’t only about saving money, it’s about living well.
We measured features that enable connection, mobility, recreation, and fulfilling lifestyles:
Component | Why It Matters | Source |
|---|---|---|
Restaurant options | Local culture, social connection | Census County Business Patterns NAICS 722 |
Arts & entertainment | Enrichment & active lifestyles | Census County Business Patterns NAICS 71 |
Walkability | Independent mobility, aging-in-place | EPA National Walkability Index |
Public transit access | Car-free access to essentials | EPA Transit Accessibility Tool |
Access to outdoor recreation | Active aging & well-being | CDC NEPHTN |
Access to retirement communities | Supportive aging options | Census County Business Patterns NAICS 6233 |
Proximity to airport | Travel access to family/friends | USDOT County Transportation Profiles |
Data sets were spatially aligned to counties and aggregated to states when necessary for consistency and national comparison.
Counties with a quality-of-life score below 35 were excluded.
Counties with a population of less than 40,000 were excluded.
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