This City Is The Best Place In MA To Retire In U.S. News Report

MASSACHUSETTS — Newton is the best place in Massachusetts to retire, according to a new ranking Tuesday from U.S. News & World Report.

The news outlet’s ranking of the 250 Best Places to Retire in the United States includes three cities in Massachusetts.

Newton ranked 73rd, Somerville ranked at 201 and Waltham followed at 238.

The rankings are based on how cities meet American retirees’ expectations against measures that include quality of life, affordability, health care, retiree taxes, job market, and, for the first time, population and migration for retirees aged 55 and older.

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Newton ranked 51st in the publications list of best places to live earlier this year, and scores highly in the job market index while boasting a higher median household income.

Other Massachusetts cities in the top 10 are:

1. Newton
2. Somerville
3. Waltham
4. Brookline
5. Quincy
6. Pittsfield
7. Cambridge
8. Lynn
9. Malden
10. Boston

The rankings were expanded this year to evaluate more than 850 U.S. cities, and the number ranked was increased to 250 from 150 in prior years. Quality of life was the most heavily weighted factor in the rankings, which also includes indexes for affordability, health care quality, retiree taxes, and the job market.

“The expansion of the 2026 Best Places to Retire rankings to evaluate over 850 cities enables retirees to have a more granular starting point when deciding where to spend their golden years,” Tim Smart, contributing editor and author of U.S. News & World Report’s retirement newsletter, “YOLO: Your Smart Guide to Retirement,” said in a news release.

“Whether seeking a bustling city or a quiet town, retirees are now empowered with a more precise view of the best places to settle down,” Smart said.

U.S. News’ expansion of evaluated cities and new data considerations paved the way for first-time entrant, Midland, Michigan, to secure the No. 1 rank. Midland scored high in affordability and retiree taxes, helping it to lock in the top spot.

The top 10 cities for retirees nationwide are:

1. Midland, Michigan
2. Weirton, West Virginia
3. Homosassa Springs, Florida
4. The Woodlands, Texas
5. Spring, Texas
6. Rancho Rio, New Mexico
7. Spring Hill, Florida
8. Altoona, Pennsylvania
9. Palm Coast, Florida
10. Lynchburg, Virginia

See Also:

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