The 5 Best Places to Retire in the US
The “best” place to retire usually comes down to the same real-world questions. Can you live comfortably on your budget? Can you get great healthcare without a long drive? Will the day-to-day feel easy and safe, enough that you actually enjoy the place you chose?
For 2026, U.S. News & World Report’s retirement rankings put a spotlight on cities that score well in terms of affordability, retiree tax considerations, healthcare quality, and overall quality of life. Together, let’s take a look at the top five, and see why each one works.
Midland, Michigan
Midland landed at No. 1 on U.S. News’ 2026 list, and the “why” is refreshingly concrete: it scores high on affordability and retiree tax conditions without giving up quality-of-life basics.
Housing is the headline. Zillow places Midland’s typical home value around $232,927, which is well below many metro areas that retirees often consider.
Cost-of-living indexes also trend lower than the national benchmark, which matters when you’re trying to keep monthly expenses down.
Healthcare access is another reason Midland is showing up in these rankings. MyMichigan Medical Center Midland is a 328-bed hospital campus with 24-hour emergency care and Level II trauma care, which is a nice comfort factor if you’d like a smaller-city lifestyle without feeling medically stranded.
Michigan has also been adjusting its retirement tax rules, including changes tied to Social Security deductions for certain age groups in 2026 – 2028. So, it’s a state worth looking at closely with your individual tax situation in mind.
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton came in at No. 2 on the U.S. News 2026 list, and it’s easy to see the pattern: modest housing costs, manageable daily expenses, and gentle retiree tax treatment.
Zillow says Weirton’s typical home value is around $141,033, which is the kind of number that can take retirement math from stressful to workable.
BestPlaces’ cost-of-living index for Weirton is 75.8% versus a U.S. average of 100%, indicating that day-to-day costs that tend to run below national norms.
Taxes are also moving in a retiree-friendly direction. West Virginia’s phaseout of state tax on Social Security benefits will reach 100% in tax year 2026, which will be a great savings for many households.
On the healthcare side of things, Weirton Medical Center is a local anchor facility, and the broader WVU Medicine network gives the area a clearer medical map than most small cities have.
Homosassa Springs, Florida
Homosassa Springs ranks No. 3, and Florida’s usual retirement advantages show up here in a more affordable package than many of the state’s major coastal markets.
Zillow lists the typical home value around $229,335 in Homosassa Springs. Meanwhile, BestPlaces puts the cost-of-living score at 87.8%, which is well below the U.S. average and Florida’s average. This will help retirees who want the Florida weather without the Florida sticker shock.
Florida’s tax story is simple and decisive. There’s no state income tax, which means retirement income isn’t taxed at the state level in the same way it is in many other states.
Healthcare access in the region tends to route through nearby hubs like Crystal River and the broader Tampa Bay area, depending on the specialty you need, which is why many retirees weigh proximity to hospitals when choosing a specific neighborhood.
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is No. 4 on U.S. News’ list, and it stands out for retirees who are looking for suburban ease with big-city infrastructure close by.
Zillow’s metro-level Woodlands data sits inside the Houston region, where the median sale price and list price vary by pocket, but the practical takeaway is that you have a large inventory of housing styles and neighborhoods to match your budget.
The bigger financial lever is Texas taxes. Like Florida, Texas has no state income tax, and Social Security isn’t taxed at the state level.
Healthcare is another major strength here. Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital is a full-service acute care hospital serving the area, and Memorial Hermann’s Woodlands Medical Center is another large regional facility with hundreds of beds and many specialties on campus.
If you’d like retirement to feel convenient, not complicated, that medical density is a real quality-of-life feature, especially as your needs change over time.