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Florida cities sweep top 3 places for retirees in 2026
USA Today • • business
Key Points:
- Florida dominates WalletHub's 2026 Best Places to Retire report, with Orlando, Miami, and Tampa taking the top three spots based on 45 factors including cost of living, taxes, activities, and health care quality.
- Key advantages for Florida cities include no state income, estate, or inheritance taxes, along with strong recreational opportunities and quality geriatric health care services.
- Outside Florida, Scottsdale, Arizona ranks fourth for retirement quality of life despite lower affordability, while Casper, Wyoming is fifth, benefiting from high affordability.
- The worst retirement cities are mostly in California, including Stockton, San Bernardino, Fresno, and Rancho Cucamonga, due to poor rankings in activities, affordability, and health care.
- Experts emphasize that retirees should consider lifestyle, activities, and political factors impacting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits when choosing where to retire.
