Casper, Wyo., is the fifth-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 Casper
Casper is one of the best places to retire because it's among the most tax-friendly cities for retirees, and Wyoming has the fifth-lowest state tax rates in the country. The city also has the third-lowest percentage of seniors living in poverty, a sign that retirement income tends to stretch further here than almost anywhere else.
However, Casper does have some room for improvement as a haven for retirees. For example, the city has the eighth-highest share of seniors living alone, which can make it harder for older residents to access day-to-day support. In addition, it has the 14th-worst water quality in the study, with a relatively high number of drinking water violations, which is dangerous for seniors, who often have weaker immune systems.
How Casper Ranks in Key Categories
- Third for affordability
- 63rd for activities
- 23rd for quality of life
- 65th for healthcare
Overall, this puts Casper in fifth 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.
