What Are the Best Cities in America for Senior Citizens?
Watching old episodes of the hit television series ‘Seinfeld’ can lead a person to believe that all senior citizens flock to Florida to live in the sultry confines of places like Del Boca Vista, but a new study suggests that might not be exactly accurate.
The Milken Institute recently conferred with an advisory board in an attempt to develop a set of guidelines used to determine the top cities in American for senior living.
These guidelines consisted of 78 various points of interest ranging from the number of healthcare providers and fast-food restaurants to the overall cost of living.
According to the results, Provo-Orem, Utah tops the ranks of this year’s list of the country’s 100 most popular metropolitan regions for senior citizens, scoring off the charts for wellness, low obesity and an abundance of healthcare options, not to mention stellar financial conditions.
However, after an assessment of small cities, the Milken Institute found that Sioux Falls, South Dakota topped the ranks of the smaller metropolitan areas with one of the strongest economic foundations of any other city.
Places like the New York metro area, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania topped the charts in the area of transportation, which was unfortunately eclipsed by economic turbulence and high taxes.
Other factors used to determine the top cities for senior living included the number of museums, cultural experiences, volunteer rates, number of public libraries and YMCA’s, as well as funding for seniors.
Top 10 largest metropolitan cities for senior living
1. Provo, Utah
2. Madison, Wisconsin
3. Omaha, Nebraska
4. Boston, Massachusetts
5. New York, New York
6. (tie) Des Moines, Iowa
6. (tie) Salt Lake City, Utah
8. Toledo, Ohio
9. Washington, DC
10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Top 10 small metropolitan cities for senior living
1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2. Iowa City, Iowa
3. Bismarck, North Dakota
4. Columbia, Missouri
5. Rochester, Minnesota
6. Gainesville, Florida
7. Ann Arbor, Michigan
8. Missoula, Montana
9. Durham, North Carolina
10. Rapid City, South Dakota