The Town Files

The 50 Best Places to Retire in America

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 12,622 towns and cities of 2,500+ people in the U.S.. #1 is Rhinebeck, NY.

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Numbers match the ranking.
The 50 Best Places to Retire in America1. Rhinebeck, NY100th pct2. Decorah, IA100th pct3. Rockport, MA100th pct4. Belfast, ME100th pct5. Peterborough, NH100th pct6. Woodstock, NY100th pct7. Village of Oak Creek (Big …100th pct8. Kennebunk, ME100th pct9. Camden, ME100th pct10. St. Clairsville, OH100th pct11. Rockport, MA100th pct12. Cornwall, PA100th pct13. Mahoning, PA100th pct14. Wayzata, MN100th pct15. Pennsbury, PA100th pct16. Harding, NJ100th pct17. Camden, ME100th pct18. Otsego, NY100th pct19. Ketchum, ID100th pct20. Toftrees, PA100th pct21. Yountville, CA100th pct22. Barton Creek, TX100th pct23. Caroline, NY100th pct24. Galena, IL100th pct25. Narragansett Pier, RI100th pct
  1. 50Rye, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    5,543 people · Rockingham County · median home $1,028,100 · income $140,655 · Jan low 16°F · 65 in snow

  2. 49Jamestown, Rhode Island

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    5,559 people · Newport County · median home $842,400 · income $140,625 · Jan low 24°F · 26 in snow

  3. 48Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    5,641 people · Blair County · median home $196,100 · income $69,458 · Jan low 20°F · 38 in snow

  4. 47Penn, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    5,644 people · Chester County · median home $498,600 · income $136,250 · Jan low 23°F · 18 in snow

  5. 46Petoskey, Michigan

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    5,877 people · Emmet County · median home $364,100 · income $74,196 · Jan low 15°F · 124 in snow

  6. 45Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    6,005 people · Santa Fe County · median home $591,900 · income $106,633 · Jan low 21°F · 28 in snow

  7. 44Peninsula, Michigan

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    6,068 people · Grand Traverse County · median home $706,900 · income $137,787 · Jan low 17°F · 115 in snow

  8. 43Sanibel, Florida

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    6,382 people · Lee County · median home $957,300 · income $108,644 · Jan low 54°F

  9. 42Pelican Bay, Florida

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    6,660 people · Collier County · median home $1,287,900 · income $163,520 · Jan low 56°F · 0 in snow

  10. 41Cumberland, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    7,033 people · Adams County · median home $293,200 · income $83,021 · Jan low 21°F · 27 in snow

  11. 40Skaneateles, New York

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    7,112 people · Onondaga County · median home $457,800 · income $103,545 · Jan low 15°F · 106 in snow

  12. 39Lely Resort, Florida

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    7,619 people · Collier County · median home $666,900 · income $93,750 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow

  13. 38Montecito, California

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    8,638 people · Santa Barbara County · median home $2,000,001 · income $231,005 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

  14. 37Skidaway Island, Georgia

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    9,310 people · Chatham County · median home $803,700 · income $136,156 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

  15. 36Palmer Ranch, Florida

    Better for retirees than 99% of U.S. towns

    14,966 people · Sarasota County · median home $592,900 · income $102,838 · Jan low 52°F · 0 in snow

  16. 35Piermont, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,517 people · Rockland County · median home $652,900 · income $140,450 · Jan low 23°F · 33 in snow

  17. 34Elk Rapids, Michigan

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,521 people · Antrim County · median home $401,100 · income $82,933 · Jan low 17°F · 112 in snow

  18. 33Woodstock, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,521 people · Ulster County · median home $675,600 · income $52,091 · Jan low 12°F · 86 in snow

  19. 32Fearrington Village, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,557 people · Chatham County · median home $472,600 · income $86,116 · Jan low 30°F · 3 in snow

  20. 31Hallowell, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,570 people · Kennebec County · median home $295,300 · income $68,398 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

  21. 30Sharon, Connecticut

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,680 people · median home $590,700 · income $100,518 · Jan low 14°F · 62 in snow

  22. 29Rhinebeck, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,697 people · Dutchess County · median home $492,600 · income $70,496 · Jan low 11°F · 61 in snow

  23. 28Lima, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    2,745 people · Delaware County · median home $396,300 · income $76,932 · Jan low 27°F · 19 in snow

  24. 27Peterborough, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,090 people · Hillsborough County · median home $379,300 · income $85,833 · Jan low 13°F · 69 in snow

  25. 26Snowmass Village, Colorado

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,096 people · Pitkin County · median home $1,729,900 · income $102,959 · Jan low 9°F · 171 in snow

  26. 25Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,308 people · Washington County · median home $851,300 · income $82,192 · Jan low 19°F · 35 in snow

  27. 24Galena, Illinois

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,308 people · Jo Daviess County · median home $233,200 · income $58,689 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

  28. 23Caroline, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,334 people · Tompkins County · median home $234,200 · income $80,855 · Jan low 13°F · 63 in snow

  29. 22Barton Creek, Texas

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,356 people · Travis County · median home $2,000,001 · income $203,947 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

  30. 21Yountville, California

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,436 people · Napa County · median home $802,200 · income $80,342 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

  31. 20Toftrees, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,513 people · Centre County · median home $434,100 · income $73,721 · Jan low 21°F · 44 in snow

  32. 19Ketchum, Idaho

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,555 people · Blaine County · median home $824,000 · income $93,046 · Jan low 8°F · 102 in snow

  33. 18Otsego, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,641 people · Otsego County · median home $352,600 · income $72,891 · Jan low 14°F · 86 in snow

  34. 17Camden, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,850 people · Knox County · median home $498,800 · income $78,788 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

  35. 16Harding, New Jersey

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,871 people · Morris County · median home $1,145,100 · income $222,429 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

  36. 15Pennsbury, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    3,876 people · Chester County · median home $671,600 · income $167,727 · Jan low 20°F · 31 in snow

  37. 14Wayzata, Minnesota

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,434 people · Hennepin County · median home $1,153,400 · income $131,614 · Jan low 7°F · 54 in snow

  38. 13Mahoning, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,559 people · Montour County · median home $400,900 · income $86,008 · Jan low 19°F · 29 in snow

  39. 12Cornwall, Pennsylvania

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    4,604 people · Lebanon County · median home $333,700 · income $107,583 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

  40. 11Rockport, Massachusetts

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,010 people · Essex County · median home $748,200 · income $86,250 · Jan low 18°F · 49 in snow

  41. 10St. Clairsville, Ohio

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,096 people · Belmont County · median home $199,000 · income $76,480 · Jan low 22°F · 18 in snow

  42. 9Camden, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,232 people · Knox County · median home $520,600 · income $82,344 · Jan low 12°F · 69 in snow

  43. 8Kennebunk, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    5,776 people · York County · median home $452,800 · income $95,169 · Jan low 13°F · 49 in snow

  44. 7Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), Arizona

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,128 people · Yavapai County · median home $741,100 · income $80,878 · Jan low 34°F · 26 in snow

  45. 6Woodstock, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,287 people · Ulster County · median home $604,700 · income $92,118 · Jan low 12°F · 86 in snow

  46. 5Peterborough, New Hampshire

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,418 people · Hillsborough County · median home $404,500 · income $98,401 · Jan low 13°F · 69 in snow

  47. 4Belfast, Maine

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,938 people · Waldo County · median home $340,900 · income $67,679 · Jan low 10°F · 72 in snow

  48. 3Rockport, Massachusetts

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    6,992 people · Essex County · median home $746,100 · income $96,250 · Jan low 18°F · 50 in snow

  49. 2Decorah, Iowa

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,587 people · Winneshiek County · median home $244,500 · income $64,366 · Jan low 10°F · 38 in snow

  50. 1Rhinebeck, New York

    Better for retirees than 100% of U.S. towns

    7,596 people · Dutchess County · median home $521,800 · income $93,284 · Jan low 11°F · 60 in snow

Price vs ranking

Median home value vs ranking, U.S. towns0255075100$37K$341K$645K$948K$1252KMedian home valuePercentile
Orange squares are the 50 towns on this list; green dots are other towns on The Town Files in the U.S..

More U.S. rankings

Methodology. We ranked 12,622 towns and cities of 2,500+ people in the U.S. (2020 Census population; towns with 2,500+ people have pages so far). Lifestyle measures are The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025), shown as percentiles. Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources: