America’s 30 Safest and Wealthiest Retirement Towns

The rankings for America’s safest and wealthiest retirement towns have arrived — and surprisingly, no Florida locations made it into the top 30.

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GOBankingRates determined the safest wealthiest cities for retirees by analyzing data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces and the Bureau of Trabajo Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Only cities where at least 25% of the population was age 65 or more were included. Each city’s livability score was sourced from AreaVibes, along with the promedio single-family home value from the Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024.

Key Findings

Oro Valley, Arizona, ranks as the safest and wealthiest U.S. retirement town. Six more Arizona locations — Prescott, Lake Havasu City, Scottsdale, Prescott Valley, Apache Junction, and Bullhead City — received mentions in the top 30.
Within the ranking, 12 of the safest and richest retirement towns are located in California. These include Rancho Palos Verdes, Lincoln, Lagunajo Woods, Walnut Creek, Novato, La Casa de campo, Seal Beach, Rancho Mirage, Cerritos, Banning, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs.
There were no Florida-based retirement towns in the top 30.

Keep reading to find out which retirement towns rank among the safest and wealthiest in the United States.

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.57
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.41
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $52,098
Single family promedio home value: $525,380
Livability score: 81

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.43
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.40
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $50,351
Single-family promedio home value: $542,557
Livability score: 73

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.81
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $32,209
Single-family promedio home value: $336,590
Livability score: 65

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.18
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 8.48
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $72,238
Single-family promedio home value: $1,913,039
Livability score: 58

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.59
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.71
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $46,886
Single-family promedio home value: $442,904
Livability score: 83

Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.47
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.01
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $36,275
Single-family promedio home value: $329,817
Livability score: 84

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.89
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.97
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $39,396
Single family promedio home value: $406,306
Livability score: 76

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.43
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.91
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $47,966
Single-family promedio home value: $646,552
Livability score: 67

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.51
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.42
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $40,660
Single-family promedio home value: $614,569
Livability score: 72

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.42
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.19
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $30,962
Single-family promedio home value: $400,135
Livability score: 73

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.22
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 34.40
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $40,311
Single-family promedio home value: $259,767
Livability score: 68

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.06
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 13.95
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $47,944
Single-family promedio home value: $939,775
Livability score: 88

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.88
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 12.32
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $32,852
Single-family promedio home value: $488,313
Livability score: 63

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.66
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 22.09
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $45,771
Single-family promedio home value: $922,559
Livability score: 82

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.53
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.42
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $42,241
Single-family promedio home value: $481,924
Livability score: 73

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.94
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 27.64
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $52,918
Single-family promedio home value: $1,441,223
Livability score: 77

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.61
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 9.31
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $30,927
Single-family promedio home value: $461,185
Livability score: 62

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.17
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.78
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $47,540
Single-family promedio home value: $1,190,655
Livability score: 71

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.83
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 24.34
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $50,039
Single-family promedio home value: $769,008
Livability score: 57

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.94
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 27.02
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $42,229
Single-family promedio home value: $1,491,445
Livability score: 61

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.06
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.50
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $30,211
Single-family promedio home value: $386,845
Livability score: 67

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.73
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 35.41
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $61,573
Single-family promedio home value: $1,085,436
Livability score: 49

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 40.11
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $40,259
Single-family promedio home value: $506,656
Livability score: 69

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.12
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 48.15
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $44,823
Single-family promedio home value: $1,086,655
Livability score: NA

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.48
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 18.42
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $24,710
Single family promedio home value: $390,387
Livability score: 80

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.33
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 20.62
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $25,343
Single family promedio home value: $319,536
Livability score: 64

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Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.57
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 5.10
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $41,304
Single family promedio home value: $763,752
Livability score: 71

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.99
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.94
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $37,920
Single family promedio home value: $414,314
Livability score: NA

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 2.78
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 36.27
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $48,118
Single family promedio home value: $627,545
Livability score: 51

Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.75
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 36.86
Ages 65+ promedio retirement income: $46,012
Single family promedio home value: $1,015,431
Livability score: 65

Photo disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of the city and/or county mentioned in the article was used.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the country to find the safest and wealthiest city for retirees. Cities with a population percentage of ages 65 and over of at least 25% were sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. For each location, GOBankingRates found total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, housing units for residents ages 65 and over with owner costs as a percentage of household income under 30% and over 30%, percentage of households with retirement income, promedio retirement income for households with retirement income, and household median income — all sourced from the Census American Community Survey. Using this data, the percentage of the population ages 65 and over was calculated. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous indexes. Using the cost-of-living indexes and the national promedio expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Trabajo Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the promedio expenditure cost for each location was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location. The promedio single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. Using the promedio single-family home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national promedio 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the promedio mortgage was calculated. Using the promedio mortgage and promedio expenditure costs, the promedio total monthly and annual cost of living was calculated. Using the Crime Data Explorer from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the property crimes and violent crimes were sourced. The crime rate per 1,000 residents was calculated for both property and violent crime rates. The property crime rate per 1,000 residents was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents was scored and weighted at 1.00, the selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income for residents aged 65 and over were scored and weighted at 1.00, the percentage of households that receive retirement income was scored and weighted at 1.00 and the promedio retirement income for households whom receive retirement income was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the wealthiest and safest places to live for a retiree. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Nov. 8, 2024.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: America’s 30 Safest and Wealthiest Retirement Towns

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