• Scottsdale, Arizona, topped Niche.com’s annual best places to retire list.
• The city offers retirees an abundance of outdoor activities, great weather, and an excellent quality of life.
• However, Niche.com gave it a C+ for housing.

A record number of Americans are set to retire in the next two years, and many will move to a new place to enjoy their golden years.

In March, Niche.com, a platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools, released its 11th annual Best Places to Live in America list. The company created the rankings using data from the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the CDC, but most importantly, it combined this data with millions of resident reviews. Using these data points, it considered 230 cities and over 18,000 communities nationwide, ranking them for affordability, housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools, and walkability.

And Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the best city to live in retirement. 

“Boasting some of the best weather in the United States, Scottsdale is the perfect oasis for retirement,” Zach Chatham, the public relations manager for Niche.com, shared with Travel + Leisure. “With its abundance of outdoor activities and health and fitness options, this Arizona city is ideal for maintaining an active lifestyle focused on longevity.”

The Niche.com team noted on its website that Scottsdale earns an overall A rating, as living here “offers residents a dense suburban feel, and most residents own their homes.” It added that the median rent price is just above $1,900 per month, while the median home buying price falls just under $710,000. It also gained a B+ rating for ethnic and economic diversity. 

“Scottsdale, Arizona, is a really cool place with a mix of modern city life and Old West charm,” one Niche.com reviewer wrote about their time living here. “The desert scenery is beautiful, and there’s a lot to do, from hiking Camelback Mountain to checking out the art scene and nightlife in Old Town.” The reviewer noted that while the summers can get rather warm, the winters are always perfect. “It’s definitely on the pricier side, especially in North Scottsdale, but there are great restaurants, shopping spots, and tons of outdoor activities. If you’re into golf, luxury resorts, or just a lively atmosphere, it’s a great place to be.”

Scottsdale is joined at the top of the list by Clearwater, Florida; Metairie, Louisiana; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Cape Coral, Florida, rounding out the top five of the best places to retire.

Last year, WalletHub also ranked Scottsdale among the top retirement cities, mainly for its high quality of life and the variety of activities. According to U.S. Census data, over a quarter of the city’s residents are aged 65 or over.

You can see the full list of the best places to retire at niche.com.