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Ranking
Best Retirement Cities Research Shortlist
A retirement research shortlist using cost pressure, healthcare/education sector signals, city scale, and climate-check priority while healthcare access, taxes, and weather-risk layers remain queued. Rankings are transparent research aids. Verify rent, wages, school programs, crime, commute, taxes, and neighborhood details before making a relocation decision.
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| City | Catalog | Grad fit | Median rent | Median income | 2025 population | City unemployment | Growth | Jobs | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, Alaska | #76 | 63/100 | $1,489 | $103,284 | 287,155 | 4.6% | -1.40% | cautious | rent-friendly |
| Frisco, Texas | #97 | 78/100 | $2,014 | $150,212 | 236,955 | 4.6% | +18.16% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Charleston, West Virginia | State starter | 62/100 | $908 | $65,812 | 46,117 | 6.5% | -5.52% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Hoover, Alabama | Alabama coverage | 72/100 | $1,457 | $109,253 | 93,550 | 3.5% | +1.12% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Madison, Alabama | Alabama coverage | 84/100 | $1,453 | $134,655 | 67,968 | 2.2% | +19.43% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Decatur, Alabama | Alabama coverage | 65/100 | $896 | $61,563 | 58,056 | 4.5% | +1.29% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Juneau, Alaska | Alaska coverage | 66/100 | $1,444 | $101,661 | 31,609 | 4.0% | -2.00% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Sitka, Alaska | Alaska coverage | 64/100 | $1,341 | $101,727 | 8,319 | 6.8% | -1.60% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Kenai, Alaska | Alaska coverage | 75/100 | $1,138 | $87,083 | 7,924 | 7.4% | +6.76% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Bethel, Alaska | Alaska coverage | 70/100 | $1,678 | $117,255 | 6,626 | 8.3% | +4.78% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Rogers, Arkansas | Arkansas coverage | 79/100 | $1,270 | $86,728 | 76,956 | 2.5% | +10.47% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Bentonville, Arkansas | Arkansas coverage | 83/100 | $1,344 | $112,792 | 63,057 | 3.1% | +16.31% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Benton, Arkansas | Arkansas coverage | 78/100 | $1,072 | $72,876 | 38,898 | 3.4% | +11.05% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Roswell, Georgia | Georgia coverage | 68/100 | $1,810 | $128,654 | 91,505 | 3.8% | -1.43% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Idaho Falls, Idaho | Idaho coverage | 82/100 | $1,075 | $73,110 | 71,785 | 4.2% | +9.42% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Elizabethtown, Kentucky | Kentucky coverage | 75/100 | $909 | $60,760 | 35,448 | 5.2% | +12.93% | cautious | rent-friendly |
| Tupelo, Mississippi | Mississippi coverage | 68/100 | $976 | $66,257 | 38,087 | 5.2% | +0.45% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Cary, North Carolina | North Carolina coverage | 77/100 | $1,738 | $134,905 | 183,582 | 3.5% | +5.03% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Edmond, Oklahoma | Oklahoma coverage | 77/100 | $1,344 | $103,183 | 100,479 | 3.3% | +6.41% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Enid, Oklahoma | Oklahoma coverage | 61/100 | $914 | $62,125 | 50,297 | 5.3% | -1.88% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Greer, South Carolina | South Carolina coverage | 80/100 | $1,198 | $82,626 | 50,007 | 2.4% | +41.02% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Lehi, Utah | Utah coverage | 86/100 | $1,964 | $131,299 | 95,313 | 4.0% | +25.56% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| South Jordan, Utah | Utah coverage | 84/100 | $1,991 | $134,047 | 87,614 | 2.4% | +13.07% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Weirton, West Virginia | West Virginia coverage | 56/100 | $746 | $59,575 | 18,133 | 7.1% | -5.41% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Fairmont, West Virginia | West Virginia coverage | 63/100 | $916 | $63,032 | 18,035 | 6.7% | -2.07% | competitive | rent-friendly |
| Raleigh, North Carolina | #39 | 77/100 | $1,572 | $85,395 | 506,306 | 4.4% | +8.16% | competitive | rent watch |
| Durham, North Carolina | #70 | 73/100 | $1,508 | $81,619 | 305,561 | 3.8% | +7.64% | competitive | rent watch |
| Fargo, North Dakota | State starter | 83/100 | $946 | $66,998 | 136,275 | 3.8% | +8.20% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | State starter | 88/100 | $1,035 | $75,970 | 213,748 | 2.5% | +10.90% | strong | rent-friendly |
| Cheyenne, Wyoming | State starter | 73/100 | $1,118 | $78,839 | 66,507 | 3.7% | +1.71% | strong | rent-friendly |