U.S. News & World Report has unveiled its 2020-2021 ranking for the best places to live and retire in the United States. The assessment was carried out among the 150 most populous metropolitan areas in the country.
The rating was compiled based on the preferences of thousands of people surveyed in the labor market, housing affordability, quality of life, desirability and net migration ratings. The ranking also uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Gallup National Health and Wellness Index, and U.S. Domestic Resources. News.
The best places to retire were determined based on a survey of people aged 45 and over. Factors taken into account included feelings of happiness, affordability of housing, quality of health care, taxes for retirees, desirability, and employment prospects. Used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Internal Revenue Service, Wolters Kluwer, the Gallup National Health and Wellbeing Index, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and U.S. Resources. News.
Ranking of the best cities in the US to live:
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder was ranked # 1 on the list of the best places to live. The reason is its high attractiveness, quality of life, and assessment in the labor market. It was also ranked 7th in the magazine’s 2019 ranking of the safest places to live.
Boulder is home to 321,030 people. It is a city with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, an average annual salary of $ 64,690, an average home price of $ 524,517, and an average monthly rent of $ 1,411.
The Boulder area has a highly educated population. Almost three quarters of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and about 39% have an advanced degree. The average age of residents is 36 years. The average time to commute to work is 22.8 minutes, 4.3 minutes below the national average.
Denver, Colorado
This city came in second for its high attractiveness, clean migration, and quality of life.
The population of the city is 2,850,221 people. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. The median annual salary is $ 59,440, the median home price is $ 401,542, and the median monthly rent is $ 1,292. The average time to commute to work is 27.7 minutes, slightly more than the national average of 27.1 minutes.
The city is home to many immigrants from other states. Denver’s population is fairly young, with a quarter of people under 20, with an average age of 36. The city is known as a good area for singles, with a 50/50 male to female ratio.
Austin, TX
This city dropped to third compared to last year due to declining desirability, net migration and quality of life scores.
It is home to 2,058,351 people. It is a city with an unemployment rate of 2.7%. The median annual salary is $ 53,810. The median home price is $ 313,308 and the median monthly rent is $ 1217. Austin is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country.
The median selling price of a single-family home in Austin is well above the national median. But at the same time, residents of the city do not pay income tax. It also has low state and local tax rates. The average travel time to work is 27.1 minutes, which is in line with the national average.
Although Austin attracts a wide range of people, it is not that geographically diverse. The average age of the city’s residents is 34 years.
Top cities in the US for retirement:
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota took first place due to its increased attractiveness and rankings in the labor market. The city also ranks in the top 25 best places to live and the best places for quality of life. It ranks 4th in the ranking of the fastest growing places.
785,997 people live here. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. The median annual salary is $ 44,230. The median home price is $ 227,754 and the median monthly rent is $ 1152. The average commuting time to work is 24.9 minutes, 2.2 minutes below the national average.
While the median age for the area is 52, Sarasota has a significant population over the age of 65. In addition, this population is expected to grow. The area offers many activities for retirees, from shopping to golf.
There are schools, parks and local attractions for families to enjoy. Young people are unlikely to have a varied nightlife, but there are bars, clubs and restaurants.
Fort Myers, Florida
Despite the fact that Fort Myers fell below Sarasota in desirability and quality of life this year, it remained stable and ranked high in net migration. In addition, the city ranks in the top 100 places to live at 58th place and is the fastest-growing metropolis in the country. It also ranks 21st in the top 25 most expensive places to live.
718 679 people live here. It is a city with an unemployment rate of 3.2%. The average annual salary is $ 43,000. At the same time, the average home value is $ 226,825 and the average monthly rent is $ 1,093. The average travel time to work is 27.3 minutes, which is several seconds longer than the national average.
While Fort Myers residents, like all Florida residents, benefit from the absence of state income taxes, home prices are rising. City residents also pay higher fares than the average American, although other daily expenses such as groceries are more affordable.
The average age of Fort Myers residents is 48 years. Although more than a quarter of the population is over 65, Fort Myers is home to many working professionals and a significant number of young families. Married couples are ahead of singles by several percentage points.
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
The assessment of housing affordability in Port Saint Lucie declined slightly. In addition, the city’s growing popularity, labor market and health care assessments helped it take third place.
It is home to 463,172 people. It is a city with an unemployment rate of 3.7%. The average annual salary is $ 44,070. At the same time, the average house price is $ 221,758 and the average monthly rent is $ 1126. The average travel time to work is 26.8 minutes, which is roughly equal to the national average of 26.9 minutes.
Retirees are attracted by the warm climate, low cost of living, access to waterways and an abundance of quality medical facilities. Families are attracted to the good schools in the region and the low crime rate. The average age is 47, and the ratio between married couples and singles is almost equal.
The cost of groceries in Port Saint Lucie is slightly higher than in other parts of central and northern Florida. However, the total cost of living is lower than in other areas of a similar size.
