U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday released its rankings of the 2027 Best Places to Retire, determining that small markets in Michigan, Florida and West Virginia rated best across six metrics.
The publication’s annual rankings evaluated more than 850 U.S. cities and ranked the top 250 based on how well they meet expectations among older Americans. The six metrics used in the rankings included quality of life, affordability, healthcare, retiree taxes, job market prospects, and population and migration trends among the 55-and-older population.
The list was also weighted based on the results of a public survey conducted in February 2026 among people 45 and older to uncover what matters most when someone is considering a retirement destination.
For a second straight year, Midland, Michigan, was named the No. 1 city for retirees. It was followed by Homosassa Springs, Florida; Weirton, West Virginia; The Woodlands, Texas; and Spring, Texas.
“Retirees are seeking a place that gives them a sense of security and comfort as they live out their golden years,” Megan Wood, assistant managing editor for home services and real estate at U.S. News & World Report, said in a statement accompanying the rankings.
“Whether that comfort prioritizes scenic nature spots, access to multi-cultural experiences or everyday affordability, places like Midland, Michigan, offer financial safety while still providing a good quality of life.”
The publication noted that Midland scored high in affordability and retiree tax metrics. The city of roughly 42,000 residents has a median household income of $77,812 and an unemployment rate of 5.73%, according to an analysis conducted by Applied Geographic Solutions that uses private and public sources like the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Homosassa Springs (population 15,000) scored well for affordability, 55+ population growth and retiree taxes. The median household income is $52,459 and the unemployment rate is 7.88%.
Weirton (population 18,000) performed well for quality of life, retiree taxes and affordability, with a median income of $58,341 and a jobless rate of 4.98%. Meanwhile, the Texas cities of The Woodlands (population 113,000) and Spring (69,000) are relatively affluent cities with median incomes of $141,000 and $89,000, respectively.
U.S. News & World Report noted that it adjusted its 2027 rankings to reflect perceived affordability concerns across the country. This change resulted in multiple cities within the top 25 making double-digit jumps compared to the prior year, with No. 8 Paducah, Kentucky, moving into the top 10 for the first time.
Other retirement-friendly cities on the list included Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Altoona, Pennsylvania; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Palm Coast, Florida.
Small cities, small prices
A HousingWire Data analysis of the top 10 markets in the report shows that eight of them have median list prices for single-family homes below the national median as of Oct. 23.
Housing professionals, including reverse mortgage originators and servicers, can use these details in their business development efforts. Markets with lower home prices may represent prime opportunities for reverse mortgage for purchase deals, which involve senior homeowners using their accumulated equity to purchase a new property without a required monthly mortgage payment.
Seven of these 10 cities have median list prices that are at least 10% less than the U.S. median of $430,000. In Altoona, the median price of $169,999 is a whopping 60% below the national median. Weirton, Paducah and Lynchburg came in between 27% and 51% below the national median.
In terms of sales activity, the analysis found that Midland stood out as the clear leader. Homes in Midland are spending a median of only 42 days on the market, far below the national average of 70 days, while the city’s 1.4 months of inventory at the current sales pace is less than half the U.S. average of 3.3 months.
In Homosassa, the current inventory of 216 properties includes a median list price of $362,450, with a median of $399,000 for new listings. The median time on market is 105 days. About 38% of properties have a price reduction and 12% have been relisted.
In Weirton, the current inventory of 40 properties has a median list price of $209,950. New listings posted in the past week had a median price of $159,900. Homes there are are spending a median of 46 days on the market, with 40% having a price cut and 5% being relisted.
