Surprisingly, this riverside city is the best place to retire

Harrisburg, PA Overtakes as the Top Retirement Destination

According to the latest ranking by U.S. News & World Report, Harrisburg, Pa., has been named the best place to retire in 2024. The rankings praise Pennsylvania for having seven cities within the top 10 retirement destinations, surpassing Florida in the number of top cities for retirees.

What Makes Harrisburg the Best Place to Retire?

Harrisburg earned its position as the top city for retirement due to its exemplary healthcare for seniors, favorable tax rates for retirees, and the overall happiness of its residents, according to U.S. News. “Harrisburg has a great community feel and offers several outdoor activities like running, biking, nearby hiking, and camping. Its location is also favorable as it’s not far from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York,” stated Beverly Harzog, a consumer-finance analyst at U.S. News.

Other Top Cities for Retirement

Other Pennsylvania top retirement cities include Reading, Scranton, Allentown, York, and Pittsburgh. Outside Pennsylvania, New York City came in sixth, with Youngstown, Ohio, landing at the ninth spot on the list of top retirement cities.

The Evaluation Process for Retirement Destinations

The new list evaluated the country’s 150 most populous metropolitan areas, assessing factors such as affordability, healthcare, desirability, retiree taxes, job market, and overall happiness. The cost of living, exemplified by housing and the general cost of goods, was the most heavily weighted factor in this retirement destinations evaluation.

Florida’s Fall in Rankings

The addition of weather to the methodology significantly impacted Florida’s rankings due to the state’s extreme weather and high temperatures. Rising housing costs in Florida also contributed to a decrease in its desirability as a retirement destination. However, Florida still managed to secure six cities among the top 25.

Newcomers in the Top 25

Newcomers to the top 25 best retirement cities included Winston-Salem, N.C.; Trenton, N.J.; and Rochester, N.Y.

Source of Data for the Rankings

For the rankings, data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Risk Index, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health and wellness company Sharecare, and U.S. News’ Best Hospitals rankings.