It would be great to live forever … if every loved one got to live forever along with us. In the meantime, a long and healthy life in a cool city should make for a great retirement.
A recent article published in TIME, which quotes AARP's livability index, ranks cities based on factors that would make them desirable for the 50+ population to live. The rankings are broken down into three population categories, each containing 10 cities.
The AARP index is based on analysis by the AARP Public Policy Institute of 60 community factors in seven categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement and opportunity. It also includes a national survey of 4,500 people in that age group.
Don't see your city or neighborhood on this list? The AARP also has a nifty calculator where you can see your community's "livability score." Enter your home or work address, see how it ranks, and zoom out on the map to see a larger area. The score goes from 0 to 100 with the average community receiving 50 points. The higher the score, the more livable the neighborhood. Though the tool could be very useful for pre-retirees looking to move to more affordable cities, they should always take into account property values in cities that are experiencing rapid growth, which are not reflected in the score.
Large livable cities:
Population: 500,000+
If you like the vibe of a huge city where millions of busy bees work, live and play, then these cities are right up your alley.
1. San Francisco
The home of Ghirardelli chocolates, the city is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2017, notes AARP.
Livability score: 66
Housing (Affordability and access): 62
Neighborhood (Access to life, work and play): 76
Transportation (Safe and convenient options): 85
Environment (Clean air and water): 57
Health (Prevention, access and quality): 85
Engagement (Civic and social involvement): 58
Opportunity (Inclusion and possibilities): 37
2. Boston
You might need a dictionary to understand the slang, but a city partnership with the navigation app Waze makes Beantown's real-time road conditions easy to check, according to the AARP. So, the only fun thing left to figure out would be the slang. Wicked.
Livability score: 65
Housing: 80
Neighborhood: 76
Transportation: 84
Environment: 65
Health: 65
Engagement: 61
Opportunity: 25
3. Seattle
AARP recommends that boomers visit the 27-mile Burke-Gilman Trail and Camp Long, with 10 rustic cabins, which help make the city tops for parks in the big-city category.
Livability score: 63
Housing: 59
Neighborhood: 70
Transportation: 70
Environment: 64
Health: 75
Engagement: 54
Opportunity: 51
4. Milwaukee
Older residents are eligible for low-interest loans from the city to make essential home repairs, according to the AARP article.
Livability score: 62
Housing: 73
Neighborhood: 62
Transportation: 80
Environment: 53
Health: 54
Engagement: 64
Opportunity: 47
5. New York
Even though the "City that Never Sleeps" might seem like an odd choice for boomers looking for a retirement paradise, the AARP says that this city lists 59 initiatives that are focused on improving living standards for older residents.
Livability score: 62
Housing: 68
Neighborhood: 81
Transportation: 83
Environment: 49
Health: 61
Engagement: 47
Opportunity: 43
6. Philadelphia
Some might come for the cheesesteak, while others for the mussels (go to Monk's Cafe if you want the best mussels in town), but residents age 65 and older get free or reduced-fare transit rides, claims AARP.
Livability score: 62
Housing: 75
Neighborhood: 70
Transportation: 78
Environment: 57
Health: 51
Engagement: 69
Opportunity: 31
7. Portland, Oregon
Keep Portland weird! If you haven't seen the TV show Portlandia, watch it — Portlanders say that it really captures the quirky essence of the city. Portland made the AARP list because of its top-notch parks and transportation systems within easy walking distance; the city is also an inaugural member of AARP's Network of Age-Friendly Communities, according to AARP's article.
Livability score: 61
Housing: 60
Neighborhood: 65
Transportation: 78
Environment: 27
Health: 72
Engagement: 78
Opportunity: 44
8. Denver
Though many believe that Denver is nestled between ski lifts and feet of snow, it is actually located on the South Platte River Valley, east of the Rocky Mountain Foothills, with a relatively temperate climate. And, it's still 5,280 feet (or a mile) above sea level. The air might be thin, but the people are welcoming. The city made the AARP list due to a $10 million city initiative supporting the development of affordable housing.
Livability score: 60
Housing: 71
Neighborhood: 66
Transportation: 68
Environment: 58
Health: 73
Engagement: 54
Opportunity: 32
9. Washington, D.C.
Who wouldn't want to stroll by 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue every morning? Plus, the AARP credits the bike lanes on city streets in the nation's capital, which could extend to 76 miles by year's end, as one of the many reasons why it made their list.
Livability score: 58
Housing: 68
Neighborhood: 69
Transportation: 75
Environment: 32
Health: 60
Engagement: 85
Opportunity: 20
10. Baltimore
The AARP credits B-HiP (Baltimore Homeownership Incentive Program), a program that a variety of financial sweeteners to encourage homebuyers, as the reason why the 26th most populous city in the U.S. made the list.
Livability score: 56
Housing: 81
Neighborhood: 62
Transportation: 76
Environment: 45
Health: 41
Engagement: 54
Opportunity: 34
Medium livable cities:
Population: 100,000 – 500,000
A haven for the laid-back but not-too-laid-back folks, these medium-sized cities offer a little bit of both worlds: a bustling city life with less stress, and, hopefully, a less expensive alternative to living in a bigger city.
1. Madison, Wisconsin
The second largest city in Wisconsin, after Milwaukee, Madison is also the capital of "America's Dairyland." The AARP says that top rankings for air quality and a great ratio of parks-to-people put Madison at the top of many green-city lists.
Livability score: 68
Housing: 70
Neighborhood: 64
Transportation: 72
Environment: 63
Health: 73
Engagement: 79
Opportunity: 57
2. St. Paul, Minnesota
The second most-populous city in Minnesota, this city helps developers rehabilitate structures left vacant by foreclosures, according to the AARP, which would make for a great retirement project: flipping houses!
Livability score: 66
Housing: 69
Neighborhood: 65
Transportation: 79
Environment: 67
Health: 71
Engagement: 65
Opportunity: 48
3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Known by some as the "Queen City of the West," Sioux Falls has a bit more than 160,000 residents. AARP credits their 25-mile walking and biking trail that loops the entire city, offering views of the historic core, as one of the main reasons for making the list.
Livability score: 66
Housing: 61
Neighborhood: 54
Transportation: 70
Environment: 65
Health: 60
Engagement: 83
Opportunity: 71
4. Rochester, Minnesota
Home to the Mayo Clinic, Rochester is certain to attract many boomers looking for the best health care in the state. The city also has the highest hospital satisfaction rate among these most livable cities, says the AARP.
Livability score: 64
Housing: 54
Neighborhood: 55
Transportation: 69
Environment: 69
Health: 71
Engagement: 67
Opportunity: 65
5. Minneapolis
The trails and parks are attracting both boomers and millennials alike. Plus, a new 11-mile light-rail line is spurring economic development, according to the AARP.
Livability score: 64
Housing: 64
Neighborhood: 70
Transportation: 82
Environment: 61
Health: 67
Engagement: 68
