The geography of retirement in the United States shows, by 2026, a notable concentration in the state of Florida. Three cities —Fort Lauderdale, St. Augustine and Quincy— top the lists based on a survey of 2,000 retired Americans.
A recent survey assigned scores out of 100 points considering variables such as climate, cost of living, access to health services, and recreational offer. The results place Fort Lauderdale at the top with 64 points, while St. Augustine and Quincy share second place with 59 points each.
No State Income Tax: Florida’s Fiscal Appeal for Retirees
The fiscal context partly explains the state’s continued preference. Florida does not apply state income tax, which includes investment income, benefits from Social Security, plan withdrawals from 401(k) and the IRA accounts. There is also no wealth or inheritance tax.
For senior citizens, the state also offers a 6% exemption on sales of groceries and prescription drugs. This combination of tax incentives acts as a key factor in the retirement decisions of thousands of people each year.
Florida Captures 11% of Interstate Retiree Moves
The demographic impact of this phenomenon is significant. According to the annual report by Hire A Helper, which uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida captured 11% of all retirees who moved between states in 2023. No other state reached that percentage during the same period.
The four most popular metropolitan areas for retirees nationwide are located between Florida and Texas, reinforcing the geographic concentration of this phenomenon.
Fort Lauderdale: Top-Ranked but Costly Retirement Hub
Fort Lauderdale. It receives the highest score in The Motley Fool report. The city combines coastal access, consolidated urban infrastructure, and a regional referral healthcare network.
Parallel studies conducted by WalletHub, which evaluated 182 US cities using 45 indicators distributed across four categories—affordability, recreational activities, quality of life, and access to healthcare—also place Fort Lauderdale among the best-positioned Florida cities for retirement.
The city is part of the South Florida metropolitan area, which ensures connectivity to regional hospitals and a range of services difficult to find in smaller cities.
Urban Convenience Meets High Real Estate Prices
The data point that the reports themselves identify as a limitation is the cost of living. Fort Lauderdale has high values, in some cases comparable to or higher than those of Miami, especially in the real estate market.
This characteristic doesn’t exclude it from the top rankings, but it does define the profile of the retiree who can afford to live in the city. The combination of a wide range of options and high costs makes it a destination geared towards those with above-average retirement income.
The urban infrastructure of Fort Lauderdale also includes access to transportation, shops, and residential areas designed for older adults. These operational factors directly impact the daily experience of those who decide to establish their permanent residence there.
The Second Position and the Weight of Historical Heritage
St. Augustine, for its part, has a different profile than Fort Lauderdale. Recognized as the oldest city in the United States, its ranking is less about economic indicators and more about factors of quality of life linked to historical heritage. The manageable urban scale and cultural offerings.
Colonial spaces, museums, and a compact urban layout create an environment that the surveyed retirees consistently valued. The report, however, identifies a specific limitation: the intensive tourism.
St. Augustine Is More Affordable
The constant flow of visitors affects the daily mobility of permanent residents and causes congestion in certain areas of the city, especially during peak seasons. This fact is explicitly stated in the survey results as one of the factors that retired residents themselves identify as problematic.
The cost of living in St. Augustine is more accessible than Fort Lauderdale, which broadens the range of retirees who might consider the city a viable destination. The combination of moderate price. Its cultural heritage and human size explain its position in the ranking, despite the drawbacks associated with tourism.
Quincy and the Conditions of Retirement in a Rural Environment
Quincy, located in Gadsden County, is the third option for a good-life retirement. With fewer than 8,000 residents, the town represents the model of rural retreat within the Florida map. Its cost of living is below the national average, which distinguishes it from the other two destinations in the ranking and makes it the most cost-effective alternative of the three.
The Motley Fool survey, however, reveals specific limitations. The availability of restaurants, shops, and healthcare is limited within the borough, forcing residents to travel to other areas, such as Tallahassee, to access certain basic services. This dependence on an external city shapes daily life and represents an operational factor that the reports accurately identify.
The Authentic Florida Is in Quincy
The appeal of Quincy resides in the atmosphere of traditional Florida, far removed from the metropolitan bustle of the coast. For retirees who prioritize tranquility with space and reduced expenses over proximity to urban services, the city offers conditions that the other two cannot replicate.
WalletHub’s analysis, which incorporated additional indicators on part-time employment opportunities. For retirees, the report emphasizes that economic factors remain the most decisive in choosing a retirement destination.
“It’s important to choose your retirement location wisely, as many retirees rely on a fixed income,” noted analyst Chip Lupo. “The best cities for retirees are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as those that offer good opportunities for retirees to continue working for pay to earn additional income if they wish.”