This Is the Fastest-growing Retirement Hot Spot in the U.S. — and No, It’s Not in Florida

Over four million Americans will reach retirement age in 2024 alone, a record-breaking number for the country and its retirement communities. And while many may choose to spend their golden years under the warm Floridian sun, others may head southwest. According to a new report by GoBankingRates.com, a suburb in Arizona is the fastest-growing retirement spot in America. 

Goodyear, a city of about 98,000 west of Phoenix, has seen a whopping 61 percent increase in residents 65 and over between 2017 and 2022. This brought the city’s median age to 40, with 18 percent of the general population being of retirement age.

So, what makes Goodyear a retirement hotspot? It’s a safe city with a crime rate 12.7 percent lower than the national average and many housing options for seniors with resort-like amenities. The median home value is $485,000, while the average monthly rent is $1,713. Residents also enjoy access to the scenic Estrella Mountain Regional Park, offering 20,000 acres worth of wetland, desert, and mountain recreation, including a golf course, fishing, miles of hiking, and horseback riding. However, the cost of living in Goodyear is higher than the national average, and it is one of the top three cities in America with the highest benefit income.

Second on GoBankingRates’s list of fastest-growing retirement places is Sugar Land, Texas. The city is located just 20 miles southwest of Houston and is home to top-notch baseball facilities, excellent dining, and museums, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land. According to BankigRates.com, the city’s retirement age population increased by 58 percent between 2017 and 2022, bringing the median age to 42.5.

And the third spot goes to the beautiful lakefront community of Clermont, Florida. Clermont is home to the President’s Hall of Fame and has often been touted as one of the best places to retire in the Sunshine State, thanks to low crime rates, bicycle-friendly communities, access to Orlando’s top-notch entertainment, and excellent healthcare facilities. 

And while Florida didn’t land the top spot on the list, the website notes that the state had the most cities in the top 50—12. The study also found that four cities experienced population growth of over 50 percent among retirement-aged adults, including Goodyear, Sugar Land, Clermont, and El Dorado Hills in California.

You can read the full list on gobankingrates.com.