- Certain US cities are the worst places to live when you retire, according to a recent ranking.
- Choosing the best place to retire in the US means weighing affordability, quality of life, activities, and health care.
- More than 20 of the 50 worst cities for retirement are in California.
Your golden years may be better spent in some places than others.
That’s according to a report from WalletHub, which ranked the 150 largest US cities for their suitability for retirement.
Unlike working years, retirement is often filled with trips to the doctor’s office and leisure time. In the twilight of life, reliable health care and low-cost happiness are important benchmarks when determining where to live.
Taking that into account, Wallethub scored each city on its list based on affordability, activities, quality of life, and health care. The four categories were weighted equally, and each city was given a total score and then ranked, with the lowest overall score designating the worst city. Wallethub used data for the city only, not the surrounding metro area.
Having a high score in one or two categories isn't enough to stay off the list of worst places to live in retirement. Instead, having a balanced approach between the four measurements is important.
San Jose, for example, ranks in the top 10 for quality of life and the top 15 for health care, but still manages to be one of the 50 worst cities for retirement because of its relative lack of activities and affordability. California cities account for 22 of the 50 worst places to retire, likely due to the high cost of living in the Golden State.
Keep reading to see the worst places to retire in the US, according to Wallethub. We've included the total score for each city, out of a possible 100, as well as its individual ranking for each of the four categories.
50. Buffalo, New York
Total score: 45.26
Affordability: 85
Activities: 61
Quality of life: 84
Health care: 123
49. Arlington, Texas
Total score: 45.16
Affordability: 46
Activities: 118
Quality of life: 68
Health care: 82
48. Glendale, California
Total score: 45.10
Affordability: 135
Activities: 99
Quality of life: 4
Health care: 37
47. Corpus Christi, Texas
Total score: 44.95
Affordability: 16
Activities: 74
Quality of life: 104
Health care: 147
46. North Las Vegas, Nevada
Total score: 44.84
Affordability: 22
Activities: 133
Quality of life: 37
Health care: 135
45. Tacoma, Washington
Total score: 44.65
Affordability: 95
Activities: 54
Quality of life: 136
Health care: 94
44. Boston, Massachusetts
Total score: 44.61
Affordability: 146
Activities: 24
Quality of life: 40
Health care: 65
43. Toledo, Ohio
Total score: 44.32
Affordability: 39
Activities: 116
Quality of life: 131
Health care: 88
42. Spokane, Washington
Total score: 44.27
Affordability: 96
Activities: 76
Quality of life: 105
Health care: 112
41. Santa Rosa, California
Total score: 44.11
Affordability: 143
Activities: 70
Quality of life: 10
Health care: 54
40. Anchorage, Alaska
Total score: 44.04
Affordability: 120
Activities: 71
Quality of life: 82
Health care: 30
39. Irving, Texas
Total score: 44.03
Affordability: 46
Activities: 122
Quality of life: 78
Health care: 95
38. Norfolk, Virginia
Total score: 44.01
Affordability: 53
Activities: 78
Quality of life: 108
Health care: 117
37. Wichita, Kansas
Total score: 43.94
Affordability: 105
Activities: 67
Quality of life: 121
Health care: 72
36. Mobile, Alabama
Total score: 43.70
Affordability: 14
Activities: 104
Quality of life: 135
Health care: 146
35. Garland, Texas
Total score: 43.56
Affordability: 46
Activities: 139
Quality of life: 47
Health care: 103
34. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Total score: 43.39
Affordability: 73
Activities: 100
Quality of life: 118
Health care: 105
33. Santa Clarita, California
Total score: 43.34
Affordability: 135
Activities: 112
Quality of life: 7
Health care: 62
32. Little Rock, Arkansas
Total score: 43.28
Affordability: 78
Activities: 81
Quality of life: 148
Health care: 111
31. San Jose, California
Total score: 43.27
Affordability: 145
Activities: 90
Quality of life: 6
Health care: 14
30. Newport News, Virginia
Total score: 43.05
Affordability: 53
Activities: 143
Quality of life: 85
Health care: 104
29. Columbus, Georgia
Total score: 42.91
Affordability: 25
Activities: 127
Quality of life: 86
Health care: 150
28. Garden Grove, California
Total score: 42.46
Affordability: 135
Activities: 120
Quality of life: 24
Health care: 38
27. Moreno Valley, California
Total score: 42.18
Affordability: 88
Activities: 149
Quality of life: 81
Health care: 127
26. Vancouver, Washington
Total score: 42.17
Affordability: 119
Activities: 110
Quality of life: 72
Health care: 61
25. Aurora, Illinois
Total score: 42.06
Affordability: 126
Activities: 106
Quality of life: 69
Health care: 71
24. Indianapolis, Indiana
Total score: 41.95
Affordability: 89
Activities: 82
Quality of life: 144
Health care: 107
23. Fremont, California
Total score: 41.56
Affordability: 149
Activities: 137
Quality of life: 3
Health care: 25
22. Riverside, California
Total score: 41.56
Affordability: 101
Activities: 131
Quality of life: 91
Health care: 97
21. Yonkers, New York
Total score: 41.46
Affordability: 147
Activities: 86
Quality of life: 38
Health care: 64
20. Oakland, California
Total score: 40.67
Affordability: 148
Activities: 40
Quality of life: 130
Health care: 26
19. Anaheim, California
Total score: 40.53
Affordability: 140
Activities: 109
Quality of life: 49
Health care: 31
18. Baltimore, Maryland
Total score: 40.47
Affordability: 112
Activities: 59
Quality of life: 141
Health care: 125
17. Oceanside, California
Total score: 40.33
Affordability: 131
Activities: 103
Quality of life: 25
Health care: 96
16. Jersey City, New Jersey
Total score: 40.14
Affordability: 122
Activities: 96
Quality of life: 59
Health care: 119
15. Ontario, California
Total score: 39.92
Affordability: 100
Activities: 146
Quality of life: 99
Health care: 128
14. Oxnard, California
Total score: 39.79
Affordability: 121
Activities: 132
Quality of life: 53
Health care: 118
13. Santa Ana, California
Total score: 39.52
Affordability: 140
Activities: 84
Quality of life: 71
Health care: 58
12. Bakersfield, California
Total score: 39.23
Affordability: 91
Activities: 123
Quality of life: 96
Health care: 148
11. Chula Vista, California
Total score: 39.22
Affordability: 131
Activities: 142
Quality of life: 29
Health care: 73
10. Rancho Cucamonga, California
Total score: 39.09
Affordability: 115
Activities: 147
Quality of life: 63
Health care: 121
9. Fontana, California
Total score: 39.00
Affordability: 97
Activities: 150
Quality of life: 89
Health care: 136
8. Modesto, California
Total score: 38.99
Affordability: 98
Activities: 140
Quality of life: 97
Health care: 144
7.Stockton, California
Total score: 38.79
Affordability: 93
Activities: 121
Quality of life: 126
Health care: 142
6. Fresno, California
Total score: 38.68
Affordability: 94
Activities: 128
Quality of life: 119
Health care: 139
5. Detroit, Michigan
Total score: 38.41
Affordability: 90
Activities: 79
Quality of life: 149
Health care: 137
4. Worcester, Massachusetts
Total score: 36.63
Affordability: 114
Activities: 141
Quality of life: 126
Health care: 124
3. San Bernardino, California
Total score: 36.44
Affordability: 71
Activities: 148
Quality of life: 142
Health care: 138
2. Providence, Rhode Island
Total score: 32.31
Affordability: 133
Activities: 87
Quality of life: 146
Health care: 143
1. Newark, New Jersey
Total score: 32.23
Affordability: 116
Activities: 108
Quality of life: 150
Health care: 145