It’s not cheap to own a car in retirement. Retirees pay $3,989 on average annually for gas, vehicle finance charges, maintenance, repairs and insurance. For those who would rather pocket these savings and be car free, a new study from GOBankingRates has identified 50 retirement hotspots across America where you can walk, bike and live comfortably without a car.
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All qualifying cities in this study feature at least 20% of their populations at retirement age (65 and up). Each city’s walkability index was sourced from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Walkability Index and used to determine the ability to live without driving a car. Scores of 15.26 to 20 indicate the most walkable cities while above-average walkable cities are marked by scores of 10.51 to 15.25. Supplemental information includes every metro’s livability index. The best places were ranked by their total livability and walkability scores.
Key Findings
- Wilton Manors, Florida, is the best place in America to retire without a car. The suburb’s annual cost of living is $73,020, and it has a walkability score of 17.
- Five Florida cities landed in the top 50. The cost of living does not exceed more than $77,000 annually in Wilton Manors (#1), Tavares (#16), New Port Richey (#24), Miami Springs (#31) and North Port (#49).
- All eight ranking California cities have six-figure annual cost of living. La Palma (#33) is the cheapest California city to retire without a car, with the annual cost of living at $102,637. Los Altos is more than double this amount at $314,851, making it the most expensive California city for retiring without a car.
- Nineteen of the best spots are in the Midwest. Northbrook, Illinois, is noteworthy for the highest cost of living at $77,761 while Mason City, Iowa, is the cheapest at $31,771 annually.
See the 50 best places where you can retire without a car in the United States. And don’t forget to check out the nation’s 30 safest and wealthiest retirement towns.
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1. Wilton Manors, Florida
- Livability: 91
- Walkability: 17.0
- Cost of living (annually): $73,020
- Cost of transportation index: 130.3
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2. Lexington, Massachusetts
- Livability: 92
- Walkability: 15.7
- Cost of living (annually): $135,228
- Cost of transportation index: 102.6
3. Metairie, Louisiana
- Livability: 85
- Walkability: 17.7
- Cost of living (annually): $46,719
- Cost of transportation index: 119.5
4. Rockville Centre, New York
- Livability: 86
- Walkability: 16.7
- Cost of living (annually): $99,127
- Cost of transportation index: 172.8
5. Ocean Springs, Mississippi
- Livability: 84
- Walkability: 17.3
- Cost of living (annually): $41,399
- Cost of transportation index: 90.2
6. Saugus, Massachusetts
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 17.2
- Cost of living (annually): $71,854
- Cost of transportation index: 107.6
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7. Riverview, Michigan
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 17.2
- Cost of living (annually): $41,630
- Cost of transportation index: 134.3
8. Beachwood, Ohio
- Livability: 82
- Walkability: 17.3
- Cost of living (annually): $55,405
- Cost of transportation index: 85.9
9. Solon, Ohio
- Livability: 90
- Walkability: 14.2
- Cost of living (annually): $52,995
- Cost of transportation index: 89.2
10. Grand Haven, Michigan
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 18.0
- Cost of living (annually): $48,685
- Cost of transportation index: 92.0
11. Peabody, Massachusetts
- Livability: 78
- Walkability: 18.7
- Cost of living (annually): $72,899
- Cost of transportation index: 96.3
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12. Millbrae, California
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $164,761
- Cost of transportation index: 147.4
13. Trenton, Michigan
- Livability: 86
- Walkability: 15.2
- Cost of living (annually): $41,548
- Cost of transportation index: 129.2
14. Northbrook, Illinois
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 17.5
- Cost of living (annually): $77,761
- Cost of transportation index: 129.3
15. Red Wing, Minnesota
- Livability: 79
- Walkability: 17.8
- Cost of living (annually): $41,157
- Cost of transportation index: 71.0
16. Tavares, Florida
- Livability: 76
- Walkability: 19.0
- Cost of living (annually): $46,517
- Cost of transportation index: 104.3
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17. Lafayette, California
- Livability: 84
- Walkability: 15.8
- Cost of living (annually): $153,026
- Cost of transportation index: 123.8
18. Springfield, Virginia
- Livability: 89
- Walkability: 13.5
- Cost of living (annually): $74,701
- Cost of transportation index: 127.3
19. Plainview, New York
- Livability: 85
- Walkability: 15.0
- Cost of living (annually): $95,938
- Cost of transportation index: 171.7
20. Mill Valley, California
- Livability: 87
- Walkability: 14.2
- Cost of living (annually): $162,474
- Cost of transportation index: 122.4
21. New Providence, New Jersey
- Livability: 84
- Walkability: 15.2
- Cost of living (annually): $91,581
- Cost of transportation index: 142.8
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22. Wabash, Indiana
- Livability: 77
- Walkability: 17.8
- Cost of living (annually): $32,746
- Cost of transportation index: 64.6
23. Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $36,198
- Cost of transportation index: 65.0
24. New Port Richey, Florida
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $45,577
- Cost of transportation index: 102.0
25. Anacortes, Washington
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $71,255
- Cost of transportation index: 89.5
26. Rocky River, Ohio
- Livability: 88
- Walkability: 13.3
- Cost of living (annually): $52,240
- Cost of transportation index: 87.5
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27. Mentor, Ohio
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 15.2
- Cost of living (annually): $41,838
- Cost of transportation index: 84.9
28. Mason City, Iowa
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 16.3
- Cost of living (annually): $31,771
- Cost of transportation index: 59.1
29. Xenia, Ohio
- Livability: 76
- Walkability: 17.8
- Cost of living (annually): $39,104
- Cost of transportation index: 81.6
30. Los Altos, California
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 15.0
- Cost of living (annually): $314,851
- Cost of transportation index: 139.7
31. Miami Springs, Florida
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 15.0
- Cost of living (annually): $76,859
- Cost of transportation index: 139.8
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32. Marshfield, Wisconsin
- Livability: 79
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $39,413
- Cost of transportation index: 75.8
33. La Palma, California
- Livability: 76
- Walkability: 17.7
- Cost of living (annually): $102,637
- Cost of transportation index: 120.8
34. Gladstone, Oregon
- Livability: 89
- Walkability: 12.5
- Cost of living (annually): $60,080
- Cost of transportation index: 128.9
35. La Grange Park, Illinois
- Livability: 84
- Walkability: 14.3
- Cost of living (annually): $57,438
- Cost of transportation index: 128.9
36. Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 14.5
- Cost of living (annually): $88,982
- Cost of transportation index: 124.0
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37. Ashland, Oregon
- Livability: 83
- Walkability: 14.5
- Cost of living (annually): $60,139
- Cost of transportation index: 84.0
38. Bloomington, Minnesota
- Livability: 76
- Walkability: 17.2
- Cost of living (annually): $49,035
- Cost of transportation index: 103.4
39. Los Gatos, California
- Livability: 84
- Walkability: 14.0
- Cost of living (annually): $201,843
- Cost of transportation index: 149.6
40. Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan
- Livability: 84
- Walkability: 13.8
- Cost of living (annually): $48,674
- Cost of transportation index: 133.2
41. Larkspur, California
- Livability: 86
- Walkability: 13.0
- Cost of living (annually): $180,789
- Cost of transportation index: 121.7
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42. Jenison, Michigan
- Livability: 73
- Walkability: 18.0
- Cost of living (annually): $46,952
- Cost of transportation index: 96.6
43. Stoneham, Massachusetts
- Livability: 87
- Walkability: 12.5
- Cost of living (annually): $81,620
- Cost of transportation index: 102.3
44. Amherst, Ohio
- Livability: 81
- Walkability: 14.8
- Cost of living (annually): $39,641
- Cost of transportation index: 71.9
45. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Livability: 85
- Walkability: 13.2
- Cost of living (annually): $79,869
- Cost of transportation index: 83.8
46. Milford, Connecticut
- Livability: 88
- Walkability: 11.8
- Cost of living (annually): $63,597
- Cost of transportation index: 112.9
47. Oceanside, New York
- Livability: 85
- Walkability: 13.0
- Cost of living (annually): $84,096
- Cost of transportation index: 171.2
48. Piedmont, California
- Livability: 79
- Walkability: 15.3
- Cost of living (annually): $172,762
- Cost of transportation index: 119.8
49. North Port, Florida
- Livability: 76
- Walkability: 16.5
- Cost of living (annually): $45,422
- Cost of transportation index: 97.0
50. Greenwich, Connecticut
- Livability: 80
- Walkability: 14.8
- Cost of living (annually): $191,842
- Cost of transportation index: 130.8
Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: Using the U.S. Census 2024 1-Year American Community Survey, GOBankingRates sourced total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, median household income, and mean household income were all sourced for this study. To qualify for this study, the city had to have a percentage of the population ages 65 and over of at least 20%. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the average expenditure costs for retired consumer units were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the transportation cost-of-living index for each city and national average costs for various transportation-related expenses, the average cost of those services was calculated for each city. The average mortgage, calculated using Zillow Home Value Index and Federal Reserve Economic Data, was added to the expenditures. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and used to determine the quality of life. The walkability index was sourced from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Walkability Index and used to determine the ability to live without driving a car. The livability was scored and weighted at 1.00, the walkability was scored and weighted at 1.00. The scores were summed and sorted to show the best places in America to retire without a car. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 20, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Best Places in America To Retire Without a Car
