Cary, North Carolina, is number one on the list.
Great weather, low costs: is your ideal retirement city on this list?
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- Cary, North Carolina, ranks as the top spot for retirement due to its nice weather and low cost of living.
- This city, only 9 miles from Raleigh, has temperatures between 32°F and 89°F, with average monthly expenses around $3,615.
- Other affordable places with good weather on the list are Metairie, Louisiana; Perry Hall, Maryland; Laughlin, Nevada; and Oro Valley, Arizona.
Even though Florida is still the most popular place for Americans to retire, the cost of living there, which can be more than $60,000 a year, along with expensive homes, might stop some older people from moving there. But that doesn't mean you have to give up on your dream of spending your retirement in a sunny and warm location.
In 2024, the finance website GoBankingRates looked at cities across the United States based on things like cost of living, how nice it is to live there overall, average rent, and weather. They found 12 affordable cities with great weather for people who are retired. While many of these places are in Florida, a good number are in other states, including Cary, North Carolina, which scored the highest for how livable it is.
GoBankingRates explained that the southern part of the United States is known for being hot and humid, and Cary is no different with big changes in seasons and a more humid time that usually lasts from late May to early October. But they also said not to worry because the temperature stays between 32°F and 89°F all year. They also pointed out that the town has a livability score of 90 out of 100, and they estimate that monthly expenses are around $3,615. Plus, 12% of the people who live there are over 65, so there's a good community of retirees.
Besides the weather, AreaVibes also gave the city high marks for its amenities, low crime rate, health services, housing, schools, and job opportunities, all of which got an A+ rating. People who live in the area or are from that part of the country gave it a slightly lower but still good B rating. The only thing the city didn't score well in was the cost of living, which got a D on AreaVibes. However, it was still good enough for Cary to be in the top 12 on GoBankingRates' list.
Other affordable cities with great weather that made the list and aren't in Florida include Metairie, Louisiana, which has a livability score of 84 out of 100; Perry Hall, Maryland, where people enjoy cooler temperatures; Laughlin, Nevada, which has the lowest estimated monthly cost of living on the list; and Oro Valley, Arizona, where more than a third of the people who live there are 65 or older.
You can see the whole list and start planning your retirement at gobankingrates.com.
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