Greensboro, N.C., is the 18th-worst place to retire, according to a new WalletHub study comparing more than 180 U.S. cities across 45 key metrics. The analysis considered factors ranging from the cost of living and tax laws to the availability of activities and the quality of healthcare.
Figuring out the right place to retire is important because financial security in retirement is far from guaranteed. Only 21% of workers are very confident they'll have enough money to retire comfortably, and nearly three-quarters expect to continue working in some capacity after they retire.
“It's important to choose wisely when picking where to retire, as many retirees are on a fixed income. The best cities help retirees stretch that income further with low taxes, a low cost of living, and opportunities for continued part-time work,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Seniors deserve to live out their golden years in a place that delivers high-quality healthcare, has a clean and walkable cityscape, and provides an abundance of activities that can help seniors make friends and enjoy their retirement to the fullest.”
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In-Depth Look at Greensboro
Greensboro has the 29th-cheapest homemaker services in the country, so retirees don't have to pay a lot to hire someone to help do chores. In addition, North Carolina doesn't charge an estate or inheritance tax, which is ideal for seniors who want to pass down as much wealth as possible to their children. On top of that, the city has the 31st-most home healthcare facilities per capita.
However, Greensboro has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the city has the ninth-fewest mental health counselors per capita. In addition, Greensboro has the 15th-worst water quality in the study.
How Greensboro Ranks in Key Categories
- 46th for affordability
- 134th for activities
- 178th for quality of life
- 151st for healthcare
Overall, this puts Greensboro in 165th place out of the 182 cities in WalletHub's study.
Best Cities for Retirement
Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Affordability Rank | Activities Rank | Quality of Life Rank | Healthcare Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Orlando, FL | 63.38 | 2 | 17 | 77 | 11 |
2 | Miami, FL | 59.40 | 54 | 6 | 91 | 29 |
3 | Tampa, FL | 59.29 | 41 | 10 | 34 | 89 |
4 | Scottsdale, AZ | 58.87 | 114 | 18 | 1 | 35 |
5 | Casper, WY | 58.79 | 3 | 63 | 23 | 65 |
6 | Atlanta, GA | 58.73 | 56 | 4 | 96 | 52 |
7 | Minneapolis, MN | 57.92 | 97 | 8 | 89 | 20 |
8 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 57.92 | 75 | 13 | 64 | 41 |
9 | Charleston, SC | 57.54 | 29 | 26 | 79 | 59 |
10 | Pittsburgh, PA | 56.58 | 112 | 21 | 57 | 7 |
The methodology can be found on the full version of the article on WalletHub.
