This Florida city is the best place in America to retire. Here’s why

U.S. News & World Report has released its latest ranking of the best places to retire in the U.S.

The study examines six main indices — happiness, affordability, healthcare quality, retiree taxes, desirability and job markets — to determine how cities across the country fared in the ranking.

According to the study, those six indices used the following metrics:

• HAPPINESS INDEX: Crime rates, air quality index, well-being and FEMA national risk index
• AFFORDABILITY INDEX: Comparative cost of housing and price parity between cities
• HEALTHCARE QUALITY INDEX: Availability of top-rate health care in each city
• RETIREE TAXES INDEX: Sales tax and income tax rates
• DESIRABILITY INDEX: Survey data, weather temperateness and establishments-to-population ratio
• JOB MARKET INDEX: Ease of finding employment, earning potential and unemployment rate

Many cities made the list, though the No. 1 spot went to a city from the Sunshine State: Naples in South Florida.

Being a hotspot for wealthy residents in the state (a sizable chunk of Naples’ inhabitants are retirees), the cost of living in many parts of the area is generally higher than other locales.

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But the study points out that those costs drop as you move closer to the area’s rural interior. Along with Florida’s lack of an income tax and the homestead exemption, property taxes there could be much lower than other parts of the country. A low crime rate also contributes to the high quality of life.

In addition, Naples offers tons of different activities, such as its “sugary beaches” (Collier County residents can receive free parking), several nearby nature preserves, gaming options at the local Seminole Casino Hotel, museums, festivals, concerts, and plenty of restaurants.

“Long known as a preferred retirement spot for the rich, powerful and cold-averse, the greater Naples area supplies pristine beaches, sprawling golf courses, and fine dining and shopping. Closer to the area’s rural interior, meanwhile, cattle graze and seasonal workers pick tomatoes in the fields around Immokalee, a farming community an hour’s drive outside of Naples...

Much of the Naples area is subject to a seasonal ebb and flow as residents from cold-weather states – often called “snowbirds” – flock to the region during the winter months to enjoy Florida’s seemingly endless supply of sunshine and warm weather. Those seasonal residents leave their second homes in Naples as the sweltering summer months approach.”

U.S. News & World Report, "What's it like to live in Naples, FL?"

However, Naples isn’t the only Florida city on this list.

Of the top 50 cities to make the list, eight others hail from the Sunshine State: Sarasota (No. 4), Jacksonville (No. 7), Pensacola (No. 17), Tampa (No. 18), Port St. Lucie (No. 19), Melbourne (No. 20), Fort Myers (No. 24) and Lakeland (No. 34).

The top 50 cities on this list are as follows:

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