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Wondering where to spend your golden years?
California has some of the best — and worst — cities for retirement in the United States, according to a new study by WalletHub.
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The personal finance platform recently ranked the top places to retire in the United States, based on affordability, healthcare and other factors.
Since many retirees are on fixed incomes, it’s important to choose your retirement destination carefully, according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
“The best cities for retired people are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as have good opportunities for retirees to continue paid work for extra income,” Lupo said. “The top cities provide high-quality healthcare and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees.”
Here’s where California cities ranked on the list, and why:
Where is the best city to retire in California?
San Francisco was the highest-ranking California city on WalletHub’s list of the top spots for retirement, landing at No. 21.
The Bay Area city ranked first in the nation in the activities category, tying with cities including Atlanta and Washington, D.C., for the most museums per capita.
San Francisco also ranked relatively high in terms of quality of life and healthcare.
Only two California cities made the top 40, both in the southern part of the Golden State.
San Diego ranked second-highest among California cities, landing at No. 32, and Los Angeles ranked 39th.
Although California’s top-performing cities offer pleasant weather and plenty to do, Lupo said that “the price of living there is what keeps these areas out of the top tier.”
According to Lupo, cost is the single biggest factor preventing California’s major cities from placing high.
“Adjusted cost of living is the most heavily weighted metric in the entire study, roughly triple the weight of a typical metric,” Lupo told The Sacramento Bee via email. “That’s exactly where these cities struggle the most.”
What are the top 10 cities for retirees?
WalletHub named Orlando, Florida, the No. 1 city for retirees in the United States in 2026, reinforcing the Sunshine State’s reputation as a haven for older folks.
A primary driver behind Orlando’s top ranking is its favorable tax climate. Florida imposes no state income tax, estate tax or inheritance tax, making it ideal for those living off savings.
Orlando provides a “plethora of recreational activities for retirees,” with high numbers of art galleries, music venues and fishing facilities, WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann said in a Monday, Aug. 31, article. plus
In addition to relatively affordable adult daycare, the Florida city ranks among the top 10 spots in the nation for hospitals specializing in geriatrics and home healthcare facilities per capita.
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According to WalletHub, these were the top 10 cities for retirees in 2026:
- Orlando, Florida
- Miami
- Tampa, Florida
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Casper, Wyoming
- Atlanta
- Minneapolis
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Pittsburgh
What are the worst US cities for retirees?
California was home to six of the nation’s worst cities for retirement, according to WalletHub.
“From San Francisco in the low 20s to Stockton at the very bottom, no other state stretches across such a wide range,” Lupo said.
According to WalletHub, Stockton was the nation’s worst city for retirees due to low marks in the activities and healthcare categories. It fared slightly better in terms of affordability and quality of life.
San Bernardino, Fresno and Rancho Cucamonga also placed in the bottom five.
“For these cities, it’s the shortage of amenities and medical access for older adults — not the cost of living — that drives the low overall rankings,” Lupo said.
According to WalletHub, these were the worst 10 cities for retirees in the United States in 2026:
- Stockton
- San Bernardino
- Newark, New Jersey
- Fresno
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Bakersfield
- Tacoma, Washington
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Detroit
- Fontana
Are you ready for retirement?
More than one-third of Americans lack confidence that they will save enough money to fully retire, according to a new survey conducted by WalletHub.
Specifically, only 21% of workers feel highly confident about possessing adequate funds for retirement, the study found.
As a result, many in labor force anticipate pushing back their target exit dates, WalletHub said.
While the median retirement age remains at 65, nearly three-quarters of workers surveyed said they intend to stay employed in some capacity after officially retiring.
About 40% of survey participants said they expect to remain in the workforce for the rest of their lives.
In addition, WalletHub found, more than two in five Americans are prioritizing paying off debts over making routine contributions to retirement accounts.
How did WalletHub rank the best cities to spend retirement?
To evaluate retirement friendliness across the nation, WalletHub analyzed 182 cities, including the 150 most populated U.S. municipalities and at least two of the largest cities in every state.
The personal finance website focused on four main categories: affordability, activities, quality of life and healthcare.
Because living expenses form a critical part of retirement planning, the study operated under the baseline assumption that retirees live on a fixed income. Consequently, cities offering lower day-to-day expenditures and better access to support services received higher overall scores.
WalletHub relied on data from sources including the FBI, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau and Council for Community and Economic Research.
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