50 Safest Places To Retire in the US
There are many factors to consider when deciding where you want to retire, from affordability to the scope of amenities available to you.
Another issue that is often top of mind for retirees is finding a safe and secure place to call home in these golden years, while still living within your means.
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To find the 50 safest places to retire in the U.S., GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the U.S. using crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer. The data showed the number of property-crime-related reported crimes, the number of violent-crime-related reported crimes, and the population associated with the reporting area. Additionally, GOBankingRates also sourced cost of living data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A large number of cities on this list were on the East Coast, with both New York and New Jersey well represented, plus Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as midwestern states like Indiana and Ohio.
Read on to find out which cities you can retire in with the greatest security.
50. Randolph, New Jersey
Population: 26,500
Violent crime rate: 0.264
Property crime rate: 3.321
Monthly cost of living: $2,093
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49. Madison, Connecticut
Population: 17,581
Violent crime rate: 0.114
Property crime rate: 4.778
Monthly cost of living: $2,173
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48. Glocester, Rhode Island
Population: 10,147
Violent crime rate: 0.394
Property crime rate: 1.971
Monthly cost of living: $1,919
Pictured: Providence, Rhode Island
47. Dyer, Indiana
Population: 16,351
Violent crime rate: 0.245
Property crime rate: 3.364
Monthly cost of living: $1,794
Pictured: Anderson, Indiana
46. Melissa, Texas
Population: 20,071
Violent crime rate: 0.249
Property crime rate: 3.189
Monthly cost of living: $1,858
Pictured: Georgetown, Texas
45. Denville, New Jersey
Population: 17,119
Violent crime rate: 0.000
Property crime rate: 5.491
Monthly cost of living: $2,075
Pictured: Margate City, New Jersey
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44. Clinton, Massachusetts
Population: 15,432
Violent crime rate: 0.518
Property crime rate: 0.324
Monthly cost of living: $1,895
Pictured: Lynn, Massachusetts
43. Smithfield, Utah
Population: 14,455
Violent crime rate: 0.208
Property crime rate: 3.251
Monthly cost of living: $1,815
Pictured: Park City, Utah
42. East Hampton, New York
Population: 25,765
Violent crime rate: 0.155
Property crime rate: 3.726
Monthly cost of living: $2,221
41. Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Population: 17,716
Violent crime rate: 0.169
Property crime rate: 3.5
Monthly cost of living: $1,882
Pictured: Providence, Rhode Island
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40. Zionsville, Indiana
Population: 32,575
Violent crime rate: 0.153
Property crime rate: 3.592
Monthly cost of living: $1,837
39. Waldwick, New Jersey
Population: 10,055
Violent crime rate: 0.199
Property crime rate: 3.083
Monthly cost of living: $2,081
Pictured: Vorhees Township, New Jersey
38. Holly Springs, Georgia
Population: 18,511
Violent crime rate: 0.162
Property crime rate: 3.403
Monthly cost of living: $1,993
37. New Providence, New Jersey
Population: 13,548
Violent crime rate: 0.074
Property crime rate: 4.207
Monthly cost of living: $2,082
Pictured: Lambertville, New Jersey
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36. Wauconda, Illinois
Population: 13,945
Violent crime rate: 0.287
Property crime rate: 2.080
Monthly cost of living: $1,827
Pictured: Naperville, Illinois
35. Granby, Connecticut
Population: 11,011
Violent crime rate: 0.091
Property crime rate: 3.996
Monthly cost of living: $2,112
Pictured: Westport, Connecticut
34. Libertyville, Illinois
Population: 20,434
Violent crime rate: 0.294
Property crime rate: 2.006
Monthly cost of living: $1,811
33. West Milford, New Jersey
Population: 24,373
Violent crime rate: 0.205
Property crime rate: 2.872
Monthly cost of living: $2,098
Pictured: Moorestown, New Jersey
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32. New Castle, New York
Population: 17,777
Violent crime rate: 0.056
Property crime rate: 4.275
Monthly cost of living: $2,407
Pictured: Brooklyn, New York
31. Hillsborough, New Jersey
Population: 42,893
Violent crime rate: 0.140
Property crime rate: 3.007
Monthly cost of living: $2,105
Pictured: Avalon, New Jersey
30. Woolwich, New Jersey
Population: 13,625
Violent crime rate: 0.073
Property crime rate: 3.596
Monthly cost of living: $1,965
Pictured: Newark, New Jersey
29. Hillsdale, New Jersey
Population: 10,011
Violent crime rate: 0.100
Property crime rate: 3.296
Monthly cost of living: $2,122
Pictured: Newark, New Jersey
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28. Plattekill, New York
Population: 10,534
Violent crime rate: 0.190
Property crime rate: 2.373
Monthly cost of living: $2,181
Pictured: Ithaca, New York
27. New Millford, New Jersey
Population: 16,897
Violent crime rate: 0.059
Property crime rate: 3.492
Monthly cost of living: $2,122
Pictured: Morristown, New Jersey
26. Jefferson, New Jersey
Population: 20,498
Violent crime rate: 0.195
Property crime rate: 1.854
Monthly cost of living: $2,100
Pictured: Edison, New Jersey
25. Western Springs, Illinois
Population: 13,175
Violent crime rate: 0
Property crime rate: 3.719
Monthly cost of living: $1,930
Pictured: Galena, Illinois
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24. Park Ridge, New Jersey
Population: 10,040
Violent crime rate: 0.100
Property crime rate: 2.689
Monthly cost of living: $2,095
Pictured: Trenton, New Jersey
23. Raritan, New Jersey
Population: 24,202
Violent crime rate: 0.165
Property crime rate: 1.735
Monthly cost of living: $2,079
22. New Philadelphia, Ohio
Population: 17,508
Violent crime rate: 0.228
Property crime rate: 1.085
Monthly cost of living: $1,738
Pictured: Cleveland
21. Northborough, Massachusetts
Population: 15,699
Violent crime rate: 0.318
Property crime rate: 0.127
Monthly cost of living: $1,908
Pictured: Williamstown, Massachusetts
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20. Montgomery, New Jersey
Population: 23,441
Violent crime rate: 0.043
Property crime rate: 2.816
Monthly cost of living: $2,155
Pictured: Elizabeth, New Jersey
19. Lowell, Indiana
Population: 11,204
Violent crime rate: 0.000
Property crime rate: 2.856
Monthly cost of living: $1,834
18. Bernards, New Jersey
Population: 27,682
Violent crime rate: 0.036
Property crime rate: 2.384
Monthly cost of living: $2,111
Pictured: Flemington, New Jersey
17. Scituate, Rhode Island
Population: 10,385
Violent crime rate: 0.096
Property crime rate: 1.637
Monthly cost of living: $1,922
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16. Shawangunk, New York
Population: 13,680
Violent crime rate: 0.073
Property crime rate: 1.827
Monthly cost of living: $2,229
15. Broadview Heights, New York
Population: 19,490
Violent crime rate: 0.103
Property crime rate: 1.437
Monthly cost of living: $1,715
Pictured: Bronx, New York
14. Wayland, Massachusetts
Population: 13,601
Violent crime rate: 0.074
Property crime rate: 1.691
Monthly cost of living: $2,004
13. Chatham, New Jersey
Population: 10,897
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 2.386
Monthly cost of living: $2,172
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12. Weston, Connecticut
Population: 10,350
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 2.126
Monthly cost of living: $2,364
11. Hobart, Wisconsin
Population: 16,948
Violent crime rate: 0.059
Property crime rate: 1.357
Monthly cost of living: $1,748
Pictured: Fitchburg, Wisconsin
10. Ringwood, New Jersey
Population: 11,456
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 1.833
Monthly cost of living: $2,067
Pictured: Red Bank, New Jersey
9. New Ulm, Minnesota
Population: 14,067
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 1.635
Monthly cost of living: $1,575
Pictured: St. Paul, Minnesota
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8. Vernon, New Jersey
Population: 22,623
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 1.547
Monthly cost of living: $2,099
7. Rye, New York
Population: 16,243
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 1.539
Monthly cost of living: $2,417
6. Ridgefield, Connecticut
Population: 25,048
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 1.397
Monthly cost of living: $2,325
Pictured: Manchester, Connecticut
5. Franklin, Ohio
Population: 10,484
Violent crime rate: 0.000
Property crime rate: 1.145
Monthly cost of living: $1,757
Pictured: North Royalton, Ohio
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4. Bedford, New York
Population: 16,989
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 0.942
Monthly cost of living: $2,373
Pictured: Binghampton, New York
3. Lewisboro, New York
Population: 11,912
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 0.168
Monthly cost of living: $2,227
2. Campton Hills, Illinois
Population: 10,802
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 0.093
Monthly cost of living: $1,840
1. Sleepy Hollow, New York
Population: 12,088
Violent crime rate: 0.0
Property crime rate: 0.083
Monthly cost of living: $2,274
Pictured: Upstate New York
Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the writing for this article.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the United States to find the safest places to retire. GOBankingRates used the crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer. The data from the FBI showed the number of property-crime related reported crimes, the number of violent-crime related reported crimes, and the population assosiated with the reporting area. Using the FBI’s data the property crime rate per 1,000 residents and the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents can be calculated. The violent crime rate per 1,000 residents and the property crime rate per 1,000 residents can both be scored and summed to show the safest places in the US. To find the best places, all the cities with a population below 10,000 residents was removed. For each of the safest cities on the list, the cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces. Using the Consumer Expenditure Survey for Retired Residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average overall monthly cost of living can be found. This includes all the average expenditure costs including; grocery, healthcare, utilities, transportation, housing, and misc and is only provided for supplemental information. Only the property crime rate and violent crime rate were scored for this study. All the data was collected and is up to date as of April 2, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Safest Places To Retire in the US
