FORT MYERS, FL (Oct. 9, 2019) – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, has named Fort Myers as the #1 best place to retire in the United States. Topping the 2020 list, Fort Myers had increases in desirability, health care quality, job market strength, and happiness, moving up from its number two spot on the list last year. “You can’t beat the combination of location, environment and weather we enjoy in Fort Myers,” said Mayor Randy Henderson. “The attraction of this area is irresistible.”
This year U.S. News increased the number of metropolitan areas evaluated from 100 to 125, in hopes to provide a more accurate reflection of where Americans can retire. The 2020 Best Places to Retire were determined based on a methodology that factored in happiness, housing affordability, health care quality, desirability, retiree taxes and job market ratings. These measures were weighted based on a public survey of individuals across the U.S. who are nearing retirement age (ages 45-59) and those who are of retirement age (60 or older) to find out what matters most when considering where to retire.
Survey respondents said happiness and housing affordability were their most important criteria when selecting a retirement spot. Data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as U.S. News rankings of the Best Hospitals. To see the full list of the Best Places to Retire, visit https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-retire.
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