Best places to retire announced by U.S. News & World Report

It sounds wonderful!

When it comes time to retire, many Americans head for warmer climates in states like Florida and Arizona. One city in the Sunshine State was recently named the best place to retire in America — Sarasota, Florida. The beach town was ranked the #1 Best Place to Retire in the United States in 2020-21 by U.S. News & World Report.

To come up with their rankings, U.S. News & World Report analyzed data for the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the nation to determine how well they measured up to retirees’ needs and desires. A number of factors were taken into account, including house affordability, tax rates and quality of healthcare.

So, why was Sarasota voted the best place to retire? The city earned high marks for affordability and healthcare as well as its ideal location, situated just about an hour’s drive from Tampa and two hours from Orlando. The southwestern Florida spot offers year-round balmy temperatures, plenty of restaurants and ample shopping.

With easy access to some of the state’s most beautiful and popular beaches, Sarasota is a great place to call home if beach days are a top priority on your retirement bucket list. There’s also a number of parks and golf courses.

Due to its popularity and healthy economy, traffic and construction are some of the nuisances residents must contend with. Although most people get around by car, the region’s bus system, Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) is an option as well. Neighborhoods such as downtown, the Rosemary District, St. Armand’s Circle and Southside Village are pedestrian-friendly for those who prefer to move about on their own two feet.

Retirees can expect to find plenty of people their own age, as the city has a significant population of those over the age of 65, but strong schools and fun attractions make it a popular choice for younger families as well. In addition to earning the top spot in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Retire, it also landed on its Best Places to Live, Best Places to Live in Florida, Fastest Growing Places and Best Places to Live for Quality of Life lists.

Thirteen of the top 25 spots on the U.S. News and World Report list of the best places to retire were taken by Florida cities, including Naples, Ft. Myers, Miami, Ocala and Port St. Lucie. Other metro areas that made the list include Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; and Manchester, New Hampshire.