For retirees seeking the perfect spot to settle, “livable” and “budget-friendly” don’t have to be at odds. There are dozens of locales in states across the nation where you can stretch a decent nest egg for decades and live well while doing it.
A new GOBankingRates analysis rounds up the top 50 American cities earning AreaVibes livability scores of at least 85 and offering moderate living cost. In each of these 50 cities, it’s possible for a $1 million nest egg to cover at least 24 years.
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To compile its list, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census, Zillow, the Federal Reserve, Sperling’s BestPlaces and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cities were evaluated based on living costs, livability scores and other factors to find the strongest combinations of affordability and overall quality of life.
Read on for some key findings as well as the 50 best places in the U.S. to retire with $1 million.
Also see the 50 best small towns to retire in 2026.
Key Findings
- The Midwest is well represented in the list. Ohio has 12 cities in the top 50, followed by Wisconsin (8), Michigan (7) and Illinois (3). Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska each placed one city on the list.
- Nutter Fort, a tiny town in West Virginia, was the highest non-Midwest city on the list at No. 2. Retirees in Nutter Fort enjoy a strong livability rating of 87, and the ability to stretch $1 million in retirement savings for more than 30 years.
- Several cities with modest costs still post AreaVibes livability scores in the 90s, including University Heights, Ohio (93) and Jerome, Illinois (92).
- Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, has the highest percentage of residents age 65 and up at 25.4%. Maplewood, Missouri, has the lowest 65-and-up percentage, with just 1 in 10 residents in that age group.
Here’s a look at each city that made the cut, along with annual living costs, how long $1 million lasts, the AreaVibes livability score and the 65-plus population percentage.
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1. Sandusky, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $28,192
- How long $1 million lasts: 35.5 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 16.9%
- Livability: 87
2. Nutter Fort, West Virginia
- Annual cost of living: $31,348
- How long $1 million lasts: 31.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 15.8%
- Livability: 87
3. Meadville, Pennsylvania
- Annual cost of living: $31,661
- How long $1 million lasts: 31.6 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 18.3%
- Livability: 85
4. South Euclid, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $32,049
- How long $1 million lasts: 31.2 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 17.0%
- Livability: 87
5. Jerome, Illinois
- Annual cost of living: $32,745
- How long $1 million lasts: 30.5 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 16.5%
- Livability: 92
6. Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $33,565
- How long $1 million lasts: 29.8 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 19.2%
- Livability: 88
7. Wyandotte, Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $34,836
- How long $1 million lasts: 28.7 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 18.1%
- Livability: 88
8. Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Annual cost of living: $34,995
- How long $1 million lasts: 28.6 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 19.0%
- Livability: 85
9. Southgate, Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $35,117
- How long $1 million lasts: 28.5 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 19.5%
- Livability: 85
10. Luverne, Minnesota
- Annual cost of living: $35,191
- How long $1 million lasts: 28.4 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 23.2%
- Livability: 85
11. Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
- Annual cost of living: $35,488
- How long $1 million lasts: 28.2 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 25.4%
- Livability: 85
12. Kent, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $35,934
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.8 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 11.4%
- Livability: 88
13. Allen Park, Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $35,951
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.8 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 18.5%
- Livability: 88
14. Roosevelt Park, Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $36,066
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.7 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 16.9%
- Livability: 85
15. Wausau, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $36,207
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.6 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 19.4%
- Livability: 90
16. Covington, Kentucky
- Annual cost of living: $36,284
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.6 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 14.6%
- Livability: 85
17. Superior, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $36,469
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.4 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 17.9%
- Livability: 85
18. Mogadore, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $36,588
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.3 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 24.1%
- Livability: 86
19. Holdrege, Nebraska
- Annual cost of living: $36,783
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.2 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 21.8%
- Livability: 87
20. Bowling Green, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $37,039
- How long $1 million lasts: 27.0 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 10.9%
- Livability: 89
21. Dundalk, Maryland
- Annual cost of living: $37,189
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 16.1%
- Livability: 85
22. Dubuque, Iowa
- Annual cost of living: $37,291
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.8 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 20.7%
- Livability: 87
23. Bluffton, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $37,654
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.6 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 23.0%
- Livability: 91
24. Highland Heights, Kentucky
- Annual cost of living: $37,884
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.4 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 15.8%
- Livability: 85
25. Deer Park, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $37,886
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.4 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 20.2%
- Livability: 86
26. Ferndale, Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $38,049
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.3 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 11.9%
- Livability: 89
27. University Heights, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $38,106
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.2 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 13.0%
- Livability: 93
28. Bellevue, Kentucky
- Annual cost of living: $38,123
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.2 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 13.6%
- Livability: 92
29. Trenton, Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $38,320
- How long $1 million lasts: 26.1 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 24.0%
- Livability: 86
30. North Olmsted, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $38,569
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 21.6%
- Livability: 85
31. Maplewood, Missouri
- Annual cost of living: $38,666
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 10.0%
- Livability: 87
32. Stevens Point, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $38,675
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 13.5%
- Livability: 85
33. Lynchburg, Virginia
- Annual cost of living: $38,691
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 14.3%
- Livability: 91
34. Kimberly, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $38,727
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.8 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 17.1%
- Livability: 87
35. Normal, Illinois
- Annual cost of living: $39,205
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.5 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 12.1%
- Livability: 86
36. Lancaster, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $39,326
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.4 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 18.7%
- Livability: 87
37. East Syracuse, New York
- Annual cost of living: $39,413
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.4 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 11.8%
- Livability: 88
38. Little Chute, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $40,070
- How long $1 million lasts: 25.0 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 14.4%
- Livability: 87
39. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Annual cost of living: $40,147
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 12.9%
- Livability: 85
40. Clawson, Michigan
- Annual cost of living: $40,170
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 19.3%
- Livability: 92
41. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $40,176
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.9 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 16.6%
- Livability: 86
42. Lakewood, Ohio
- Annual cost of living: $40,316
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.8 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 15.3%
- Livability: 87
43. Shiner, Texas
- Annual cost of living: $40,388
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.8 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 21.0%
- Livability: 85
44. Neenah, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $40,556
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.7 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 15.7%
- Livability: 86
45. North Tonawanda, New York
- Annual cost of living: $40,562
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.7 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 21.9%
- Livability: 86
46. Mauldin, South Carolina
- Annual cost of living: $40,585
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.6 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 18.4%
- Livability: 85
47. Kaukauna, Wisconsin
- Annual cost of living: $40,735
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.6 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 14.7%
- Livability: 89
48. Tangelo Park, Florida
- Annual cost of living: $40,893
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.5 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 19.1%
- Livability: 87
49. Evergreen Park, Illinois
- Annual cost of living: $41,467
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.1 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 15.7%
- Livability: 86
50. Willimantic, Connecticut
- Annual cost of living: $41,527
- How long $1 million lasts: 24.1 years
- Percentage of population 65-plus: 11.0%
- Livability: 85
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates first identified cities with a livability index of 85 of higher as sourced from AreaVibes, representing places with the highest quality of life. GOBankingRates then collected total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and median household income (all sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 five-year ACS). Single-family home values were sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate (sourced from Federal Reserve Economic Data), the average mortgage was calculated for each city. Cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Using the national average expenditure costs for retiree households (sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired consumer units), the average expenditure costs were calculated for each city. Using the average expenditure and mortgage costs, the total cost of living was calculated by city. Using $1 million in savings, the years to draw down savings were calculated for each city. The cities were sorted to show the cities with the longest drawdown for $1 million in savings. All data is up to date as of March 12, 2026.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Best Places in America To Retire With $1 Million in Savings
