Two California Cities Land On List Of Best Places To Retire

When it comes time to retire, seniors have many factors to consider.

Most of them deal directly with finances – figuring out if they have saved enough money over the years to retire comfortably, or how to change their daily financial routines to live on a more rigidly fixed income.

But there are other things that matter to seniors too once they stop having to endure the grind of a 40-hour or more work week.

Health care is also going to be at or near the top of the list, and quality of life issues like access to nature in nearby parks, walking paths and trails, recreation, such as golf, or tennis and, yes, even entertainment.

All of these things culminate in one key decision for retirees – where is the best place to live in those golden years?

According to a recent study, two California cities land on a Top 10 list of the best cities to retire in the United States.

Beverly Hills ranked No. 3 while Westlake Village came in at No. 8.

SmartAsset.com, a financial technology company that offers consumers tools to assist with homebuying, retirement planning and taxes, recently published a list of the 10 best places to retire in the United States.

Their retirement experts began by compiling data about factors that matter most to retirees, like an area’s tax burden, the ease of access to medical facilities and recreational activities, and more.

They also measured the percentage of the population that is made up of senior citizens so there’ll be a surplus of others also enjoying their later years.

Naples, Fla. Ranked No. 1 in the study.

Ask most folks at or near retirement age, and they’ll likely tell you that they want to stay right where they are. That’s no surprise as it’s difficult to uproot your life in your sixties and move away.

But, ask younger people if they want to live where they currently do once they reach retirement age and you’ll start to find more people who would like to live out their retirement somewhere else.

Younger generations are more willing to move about the country than their predecessors. Advancements in communication technology make it easier to maintain relationships with friends and family even from a long distance, which has given people more relocation options to consider than ever before.

Which of the following cities would you consider for retirement?

• Naples, FL
• Cumming, GA
• Beverly Hills, CA
• Gig Harbor, WA
• Media, PA
• Farmington, MI
• New Port Richey, FL
• Westlake Village, CA
• Grosse Pointe, MI
• Orange Park, FL

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That “somewhere else” could well be in California, especially places like Beverly Hills and Westlake Village that have a lot to offer the pending retiree.

Beverly Hills offers the opportunity to live in a locale that most people only see on post cards. But the fact is 19.5 percent of Beverly Hills’ population consists of senior citizens. SmartAsset.com highlighted some of the city’s most popular attractions like the Paley Center for Media, the Virginia Robinson Gardens, and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation as destinations popular among seniors. Additionally, there is great health care in the city as there are more than 24 medical facilities per capita.

Westlake Village is one of the most popular retirement destinations in California as 25 percent of its population is made up of seniors. Some of its most popular attractions include the Sherwood Country Club, the Westlake Golf Course and the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village.

The town also has more than eight recreational centers per capita. So, it’s easy to stay active and have fun with others also enjoying retirement.

The rest of the Top Ten list includes, Cumming, Ga. (No. 2) Gig Harbor, Wash. (No. 4), Media, Pa. (No. 5), Farmington, Mich. (No. 6), New Port Richey, Fla. (No. 7), Grosse Pointe, Mich. (No. 9) and Orange Park, Fla. (No. 10).