The Wealthiest and Safest Places to Retire in the U.S.

Sam November 21, 2024

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Although one in five U.S. adults ages 50 or older has no retirement savings, those who have accumulated a comfortable nest egg — which the majority of American workers believe to be at least $1.8 million — have some flexibility when it comes to where they spend their golden years.

More than 338,000 U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023, a 44% increase compared to 2022, according to a report from online moving services marketplace Hire A Helper.

The majority of retirees relocating out of state opted for Florida (11%) and South Carolina (10%), per the data. Florida and other Southern states often attract retirees with year-round warm weather and affordable costs of living.

However, Americans with larger-than-average retirement accounts might gravitate toward places where wealth and safety are defining factors.

GoBankingRates set out to determine the wealthiest, safest cities for retirees by analyzing data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling's BestPlaces and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

GoBankingRates only included cities where at least 25% of the population was aged 65 or older in its analysis. Each city's livability score was calculated from AreaVibes and the average single-family home value from the Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024.

The study found that Oro Valley, Arizona, ranks as the wealthiest, safest retirement town,\ and that six additional Arizona cities placed in the top 30: Prescott, Lake Havasu City, Scottsdale, Prescott Valley, Apache Junction and Bullhead City.

What's more, 12 of the wealthiest, safest retirement towns are in California: Rancho Palos Verdes, Lincoln, Laguna Woods, Walnut Creek, Novato, La Quinta, Seal Beach, Rancho Mirage, Cerritos, Banning, Palm Desert and Palm Springs.

^{Image Credit: Davel5957 | Getty Images. Walnut Creek, California.}

Read on to see GoBankingRate's top 30 safest and wealthiest retirement towns in the U.S.:

1. Oro Valley, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.57
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.41
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $52,098
Single-family average home value: $525,380
Livability score: 81

2. Pinehurst, North Carolina

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.43
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.40
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $50,351
Single-family average home value: $542,557
Livability score: 73

3. Bella Vista, Arkansas

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.81
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $32,209
Single-family average home value: $336,590
Livability score: 65

4. Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.18
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 8.48
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $72,238
Single-family average home value: $1,913,039
Livability score: 58

5. Georgetown, Texas

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.59
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.71
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $46,886
Single-family average home value: $442,904
Livability score: 83

6. Centerville, Ohio

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.47
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.01
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $36,275
Single-family average home value: $329,817
Livability score: 84

7. Mesquite, Nevada

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.89
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.97
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $39,396
Single-family average home value: $406,306
Livability score: 76

8. Lincoln, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.43
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.91
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $47,966
Single-family average home value: $646,552
Livability score: 67

9. Prescott, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.51
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.42
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $40,660
Single-family average home value: $614,569
Livability score: 72

10. Huntley, Illinois

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.42
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.19
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $30,962
Single-family average home value: $400,135
Livability score: 73

11. Aiken, South Carolina

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.22
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 34.40
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $40,311
Single-family average home value: $259,767
Livability score: 68

12. Fort Lee, New Jersey

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.06
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 13.95
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $47,944
Single-family average home value: $939,775
Livability score: 88

13. Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.88
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 12.32
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $32,852
Single-family average home value: $488,313
Livability score: 63

14. Scottsdale, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.66
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 22.09
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $45,771
Single-family average home value: $922,559
Livability score: 82

15. Laguna Woods, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.53
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.42
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $42,241
Single-family average home value: $481,924
Livability score: 73

16. Walnut Creek, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.94
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 27.64
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $52,918
Single-family average home value: $1,441,223
Livability score: 77

17. Prescott Valley, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.61
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 9.31
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $30,927
Single-family average home value: $461,185
Livability score: 62

18. Novato, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.17
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.78
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $47,540
Single-family average home value: $1,190,655
Livability score: 71

19. La Quinta, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.83
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 24.34
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $50,039
Single-family average home value: $769,008
Livability score: 57

20. Seal Beach, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.94
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 27.02
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $42,229
Single-family average home value: $1,491,445
Livability score: 61

21. Apache Junction, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.06
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.50
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $30,211
Single-family average home value: $386,845
Livability score: 67

22. Rancho Mirage, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.73
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 35.41
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $61,573
Single-family average home value: $1,085,436
Livability score: 49

23. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 40.11
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $40,259
Single-family average home value: $506,656
Livability score: 69

24. Cerritos, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.12
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 48.15
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $44,823
Single-family average home value: $1,086,655
Livability score: NA

25. Niles, Illinois

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 18.42
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $24,710
Single-family average home value: $390,387
Livability score: 80

26. Bullhead City, Arizona

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.33
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 20.62
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $25,343
Single-family average home value: $319,536
Livability score: 64

27. Gloucester, Massachusetts

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.57
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.10
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $41,304
Single-family average home value: $763,752
Livability score: 71

28. Banning, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.99
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.94
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $37,920
Single-family average home value: $414,314
Livability score: NA

29. Palm Desert, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.78
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 36.27
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $48,118
Single-family average home value: $627,545
Livability score: 51

30. Palm Springs, California

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.75
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 36.86
Ages 65+ average retirement income: $46,012
Single-family average home value: $1,015,431
Livability score: 65

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