Where to Age Well

I always caution about studies that rank areas of the country for retirement or other purposes, but especially for retirement. Yet, they always are good to read and review if you’re considering moving during retirement. (Keep in mind that most people don’t move in retirement.) The Milken Institute has perhaps the most interesting survey of places to live in retirement. It’s called the Best Cities for Successful Aging. (It also ranks the worst.) Unique features of the survey are that it is data-driven rather than relying on the opinions and preferences of one or more people and consider 84 factors the Institute believes affect the quality of life of older people. It also surveys a large number of metro areas. I’ll tell you that Madison, Wis., came out on top for large metro areas and Iowa City for small metro areas. You might want to read it simply to see the factors that are considered important and how your area rates.