Best cities to retire in 2024

Lancaster, PA made U.S. News' annual list of best cities to retire.
Adobe Stock

There's a new state vying for the title of best place to live in retirement, and it's knocking Florida off its perch. 

U.S. News and World Report's latest ranking of the best cities for retirees listed seven cities in Pennsylvania in their top 10 list. Factors like housing affordability, quality and accessibility of healthcare, and overall happiness influenced where retirees feel the best about their post-work lifestyle. 

Read more: Why women can't afford to retire

To factor in current concerns like inflation and climate change, U.S. News expanded their "Desirability Index" this year to include whether a location is prone to severe weather risks, as well as the financial capacity of residents to recover after natural disasters. Additionally, they expanded their affordability index beyond housing prices to include price parity, which measures the cost of goods compared to the national average.  

"Over the last year, Americans have observed record-high interest rates in the housing market, steadily increasing cost of goods and extreme weather patterns impacting living conditions," Beverly Harzog, personal finance expert at U.S. News, said in the release. "As retirees consider where to spend their golden years, they want areas that not only give them the best bang for their buck, but places where they can live a happy, healthy life." 

Read more: Inflation has crushed retirement dreams for a third of all workers

Locations were given a score out of 10 — Harrisburg, PA took the top spot with an overall score of 7.1. The median home price in this area is $223,842, compared to the national average of $416,100. New York City, despite its exorbitant housing prices, also made it into the top 10, due to high quality of healthcare and overall happiness of retired residents.  

Check out the list of the top 10 cities for retirees: 

10: Pittsburgh, PA

9: Youngstown, OH

8: Daytona Beach, FL

7: York, PA

6: New York City

5: Allentown, PA

4: Scranton, PA

3: Lancaster, PA

2: Reading, PA

1: Harrisburg, PA

MORE FROM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS