Wyse Awards: Best Cities for Retirement
For many of us, the city or town we live and work in isn't the ideal location to settle down for our golden years. You've worked hard, provided for your family, and now it's time to find the perfect place to relax, enjoy, and importantly, make your dollars go far. We've crunched the data so you don't have to. Our awarded cities are two-parts Wyse and one part fun, relaxing, and activity-filled locales to maximize your retirement adventure.
Wyse-Bronze: Spokane, WA
For more adventurous retirees, Spokane offers a generous balance of city offerings and outdoor escapes. Despite having snowy winters and fewer sunny days than many retirees may desire, Spokane offers easy access to skiing, boating, hiking, wine tasting, waterfalls, and more. In fact, there are 7 ski resorts within a 3 hour drive of Spokane if you love to hit the slopes. Not to mention great bodies of water such as Lake Coeur d'Alene are an easy drive in the summers. The best part? Washington state does not collect income tax and the housing costs in Spokane are relatively low.
Wyse-Silver: Scottsdale, AZ
While Arizona does have an income tax, it's under 5%, which is fairly low. Scottsdale also has relatively low cost of living with reasonable housing costs. The obvious benefit to living in Tucson is the hot weather which makes for year round golf, swimming, and outdoor activities. Generally, Arizona isn't associated with skiing, but yes in under three hours you can be on the slopes - or skip the skiing in favor of a day by the pool or on the golf course.
Wyse-Gold: Tampa, FL
Tampa is the retiree's dream. Your money will go far because housing costs are low (scores 250 on our WW Affordability Index) and Florida imposes no state income tax. Moreover, Tampa has almost 250 days of sunshine and an average daily temperature of 70°F. Beaches, golf, and healthcare are easily accessible making Tampa our top choice for retirees looking to stretch their dollar and their legs.
