Tulsa, Okla., is the 110th-best 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 Tulsa
Tulsa is an affordable place to retire, with the eighth-lowest cost of living in the country. Plus, Oklahoma doesn't charge an estate or inheritance tax, so seniors have the opportunity to pass down more wealth to their children. On top of that, Tulsa has the 18th-most family medicine physicians per capita, ensuring seniors with medical problems can get their issues evaluated quickly.
However, Tulsa has room for improvement in other areas. For example, the city has the 34th-lowest life expectancy. Safety is also a concern, as the city has the 30th-highest violent crime rate.
How Tulsa Ranks in Key Categories
- 30th for affordability
- 103rd for activities
- 145th for quality of life
- 148th for healthcare
Overall, this puts Tulsa in 110th 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.

