Best Counties for Retirement in America 2026
We scored all 3,144 U.S. counties on the factors that matter most for retirees.
How We Score Retirement Counties
Our retirement score weights: Health Care Access (35%), Safety (30%), Property Tax (20%), and Cost of Living (15%). Each factor uses percentile-rank scoring across all 3,144 U.S. counties.
Best Retirement County in Every State
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a county good for retirement?
The best retirement counties combine quality healthcare access, low crime rates, affordable property taxes, and a reasonable cost of living. Our scoring weights health care access at 35%, safety at 30%, property tax at 20%, and cost of living at 15%.
Which states have the best counties for retirees?
States with top-ranked retirement counties tend to have strong healthcare systems, low crime, and moderate property taxes. Browse our state-by-state rankings to find the best options near you.
How is the retirement score calculated?
Each county receives a percentile-rank score (0-100) for health care access, safety, property tax burden, and cost of living. We combine these into a weighted retirement score: Health 35%, Safety 30%, Property Tax 20%, Cost of Living 15%.
Are these rankings based on recent data?
Yes. Our scores use the latest available data from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR crime reports, CDC health data, and other federal sources.
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.