Midland, Michigan, has kept its crown as the best place to retire in America — for the second year in a row. The Midwestern city of about 42,500 people held on to the top spot in the latest ranking by U.S. News & World Report, thanks to a combination the report highlights again and again: low cost of living, high quality of life and favorable taxes for retirees.
Midland, Michigan (Credits: MarketWatch)
Someone turning 65 today can expect to live nearly two more decades, which makes choosing where to retire one of the biggest decisions Americans face. With the cost of living top of mind for people of all ages, Midland’s affordability stood out once again.
Midland Michigan best place to retire: what drove the ranking
Midland’s affordability metrics cover shelter costs, including rents and mortgages, as well as utilities, transportation, fuel and consumer goods and services, according to the report. The city does not impose a local sales or income tax, and Michigan does not tax Social Security income — two factors that weigh heavily for retirees on fixed incomes.
“The whole country is feeling the pinch right now, so it’s not a surprise that affordability is a top priority,” Megan Wood, managing editor of home services and real estate at U.S. News, told MarketWatch.
Last year, Midland took the top spot on quality of life as well as affordability. This year, the report says, affordability drove the ranking — but the quality-of-life case remains strong. The community is active, with abundant senior programming for social and cultural events and many options for senior housing, Wood said. About 23% of residents are over 45 and 20% are over 65.
Life in America’s top retirement city
The city sits about two hours from Detroit and near Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay. It is the headquarters of chemical company Dow, and beyond industry it is known for a thriving arts and cultural scene, an abundance of midcentury modern architecture, and the Great Lakes Loons minor league baseball team.
Midland’s repeat win sends a clear message about what the ranking rewards: not flash or fame, but a place where everyday costs stay manageable and community life stays full. In a year when affordability dominates retirement decisions across the country, that combination proved hard to beat — two years running.
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Source: MarketWatch — read the full story there.
