Retirement Retired Life

12 U.S. Cities With the Best Health Care for Retirees

Uncover the cities where retirees thrive with exceptional healthcare amenities.

doctor in uniform with stethoscope
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Good health care and a great quality of life are inextricably linked.

That is especially true as you grow older. Even if you retire early and are relatively fit, you'll almost certainly spend more time — and money — at the doctor's office as your golden years progress.

As a result, retiring to an area where you can receive top-notch medical care as you age should be a priority. Here are 12 cities where health care for seniors isn't an afterthought.

Find Medicare plans with low or $0/month premium
Compare Medicare Advantage plans side-by-side to find what’s right for you
— Select a state below —

Rochester, Minnesota

Bill E. Reh/Adobe rochester minnesota civic center river skyline

Rochester frequently ends up on lists of the cities with the best health care, and that should be no surprise: The world-renowned Mayo Clinic is located here.

The massive campus treats patients both from the United States and around the world. This is the place to be if you seek cutting-edge medical treatment, including access to potentially revolutionary clinical trials.

Truckee, California

Karl Le/Adobe donner summit bridge at sunset

As a small town in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Truckee is a popular destination for skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Its proximity to Lake Tahoe means it’s an ideal retirement spot for seniors who enjoy fishing and boating opportunities.

Truckee is home to the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center. The high-quality cancer center balances state-of-the-art treatment with support programs, such as targeted exercise groups for cancer patients and survivors.

St. George, Utah

Jeremy/Adobe saint george hiking trail

Although Utah has the lowest percentage of seniors of any state in the nation, it earns high marks for senior health and health care.

With 11 local golf courses and eight more within a 20-mile radius, St. George is a hit with retired golfers who stay active on the links. The city is also home to St. George Regional Hospital, the primary medical center for broad swaths of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.

Earn $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Active Cash Card puts cash back into your wallet. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — easy! That's one of the best cash rewards options available.

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Salt Lake City, Utah

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe The skyline of Salt Lake City, Utah

Located in the northern half of Utah, Salt Lake City is much snowier than St. George. Still, it offers ample opportunities to get outdoors and stay active, from senior center pickleball courts to senior-friendly hikes in the Wasatch Mountains.

Salt Lake City is home to many highly rated medical centers. For instance, the University of Utah Hospital excels in areas such as cancer treatment, ophthalmology, and lung surgery.

Pinehurst, North Carolina

aheflin/Adobe Mountain road

Pinehurst is a small village in North Carolina’s Moore County. Over the past decade, it has consistently earned praise for being one of the safest cities in North Carolina.

Pinehurst’s position as the regional center for various medical services means you shouldn’t struggle to find care. The village has a regional hospital and recently opened a cancer center. You will also find a heart center and a specialty surgical center.

Naples, Florida

Bailey Rapp/Unsplash silhouette of dock during golden hour

Florida is one of the most popular states among retirees. In Naples, health-conscious retirees can stay in shape by touring tropical botanical gardens, visiting the nearby Everglades, or spending time at city parks along the beach.

You will also have access to the NCH Baker Hospital, which offers top-of-the-line medical care as part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network of hospitals.

The Villages, Florida

Ryan Tishken/Adobe steel bridge for golf carts

The Villages is a master-planned 55-plus community located in central Florida. The area’s many golf courses, pools, pickleball courts, and lakes help its 145,000 senior residents stay healthy.

As a senior-centric community, The Villages has nine care centers with specialists and primary care physicians alike.

Lincoln, Nebraska

Christopher Boswell/Adobe orange tree leaves nebraska state capital

As Nebraska’s capital, Lincoln offers a rich array of healthy, senior-friendly activities, from green spaces like Pioneers Park Nature Center to college courses at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

While Omaha is home to more hospitals than Lincoln, the two cities are only an hour apart, ensuring you can get fast health care from either city.

Portland, Maine

Patrick Lalonde/Unsplash boats in water between buildings

Portland is surrounded by beaches, forests, and parks, so finding ways to stay active outside shouldn’t pose a problem.

The geriatric center at the city’s top hospital, the Maine Medical Center, is an outpatient program offering assessments, consultations, and advice on health for aging retirees.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today” 
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions 
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

You’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning. And you’ll get access to AARP’s Fraud Watch Network to help you protect your money, as well as tools to help you plan for retirement.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Seattle, Washington

Thom Milkovic/Unsplash aerial photography of seattle skyline

Seattle might be colder and rainier than many of the cities on our list, but it's still an outdoor lover's dream. Here, you'll find acres upon acres of urban parks criss-crossed with trails.

Plus, according to a recent WalletHub study, Seattle is the second-healthiest city in the U.S. thanks to its access to green space, healthy food, and high-quality health care. UW Medical Center gets high marks for its care.

Scottsdale, Arizona

tim/Adobe scottsdale arizona downtown phoenix

If you're looking for a sense of community as you grow older, look no further than Scottsdale. The city has the highest percentage of seniors aged 65 and older in the country — and it takes second place for those aged 85 and older.

Scottsdale's year-round sun and temperate winters are certainly a draw for outdoor-loving retirees. You'll also find a branch of the Mayo Clinic here.

Atlanta, Georgia

Luciano Mortula-LGM/Adobe beautiful landscape in atlanta georgia usa

For city-sponsored senior support, it’s hard to do better than Atlanta. The city’s Office of Recreation offers senior programs throughout the city.

Atlanta is also home to world-class hospitals, including Emory University Hospital.

Bottom line

Max Harlynking/Unsplash senior couple sitting besides lake

It’s hard to overstate how vital good medical care is during your retirement years.

Whether you end up living in one of the 12 cities on our list or somewhere else, make sure to check out hospital accessibility, ratings, and availability before you retire and make a move.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details