Some of the Best Places to Live and Retire in the U.S. in 2023 and Beyond

While many people seek out beachfront or lakefront, one-of-kind communities that are suitable for all ages, much like Northern Florida’s brand new Beacon Lake neighborhood that’s anchored by a 43-paddle friendly lake along with close to 400 acres of nature preserve, others are looking for a place to settle down in their golden years.

In the age of the internet and working from home, the golden years can translate into anyone who is 50 years of age or older. What this means is, people can retire to anywhere they wish and even maintain a part time gig or continue to work full-time (which technically isn’t retirement, but for the sake of argument, let’s just say it feels like retirement).

With this in mind, what are some of the best places to live and/or retire in the U.S. in 2023 and beyond? According to a new article by the Queen Creek Independent, for most people, retirement is like a reward for a life spent raising a family and working hard. It’s also a time when people who have saved enough money find they can pull up stakes and move anywhere they want. But making the decision on where to live can be a hard one.

Recently, Stacker compiled a list of what they determined were the best 100 plated to live in the U.S. The data they used was based on 2022 data that was compiled by Niche.com. The rankings of each location were based on a number of factors like access to health care, weather, social opportunities, proximity to lakes, oceanfront, forests, and more. 

While warm, sun-drenched weather was said to be a common denominator, people were looking for cultural and even cold weather opportunities also. That said, here are just a few of the best places to live and retire in the U.S. in 2023 and beyond.

Timonium, Maryland - Population: 10,642

A suburb of Baltimore, Timonium, Maryland is said to boast terrific accessibility to restaurants, public transportation, and shopping opportunities. It has its own light rail system that can carry people from downtown Baltimore to the airport if they wish. The old Timonium racetrack is now the site of the huge Maryland State Fair.  

Greenville, Delaware-Population: 2,448

Nestled in New Castle County, Greenville, is described as a woodsy suburb which is situated close to the Brandywine Valley. Over half of the residents rent their homes. Even President Biden is said to keep a private home here.

Mammoth Spring, Arkansas-Population: 1,117

Situated on the Arkansas border along with Missouri, Mammoth Spring is said to be a little town of barely more than 1,000 souls. The town gets its namesake from what’s considered one of the largest natural springs not just in the U.S. but the world. The spring has also created a 10-acre lake along with the Spring River which offers optimum flyfishing opportunities for trout.

Belmont Estates, Virginia-Population: 1,204

Located west of Harrisonburg, Virginia inside the Shenandoah Valley, Belmont Estates offers lots of outdoor fun, including biking trails, hiking, paddle-boating, fishing, and more. It’s also home to over 200 restaurants. It’s also the location of Madison University. 

Riverwoods, Illinois-Population: 3,536

Riverwood, Illinois is a community that’s filled with trees. Situated only 24 miles north of downtown Chicago, the community has laws in place that are designed to protect its woodlands. The small village borders the Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area which consists of a 565-acre nature preserve that offer cross-country skiing along the Des Plaine River in the winter and hiking in the warm weather months.

Highland Beach, Florida-Population: 3,907

The size of this location is only one square mile and it’s nestled in between Delray Beach on the north and Boca Raton on the south. It’s said to be mostly residential, but the population doubles during the winter. While lots of gig workers live here and work out of their homes, retirees also love the place for its peace, fun, and sun.  

Lake Success, New York—Population: 3,228

Said to be an incorporated small town situated in the village of North Hempstead, New York, it is less than 20 miles from Manhattan. It’s 2-square miles contains 43 lakes. It also is home to the Village Golf Club of Lake Success which is set on the Vanderbilt’s private family golf club.

Pelican Bay, Florida-Population: 6,257

Pelican Bay is flat out luxurious. It’s only about 3-square miles in size but it is surrounded by beautiful beaches and parkland. At present it contains around 6,500 homes (many for rent), and offers a ton of fun-in-the-sun activities like kayaking, fishing, sailing, tennis, golf, and more. The beaches can only be reached by boardwalk or the Pelican Bay tram network.