The Motley Fool’s 2026 Best Places to Retire report found that these three cities combine great advantages.
Retirement is a big step and often involves physical relocation as retirees seek to maximize their benefits after quitting their jobs. The Motley Fool’s 2026 Best Places to Retire report did the heavy lifting so you can quickly narrow your search to a small number of the best choices. If you’re looking for low costs, low stress, and lots of amenities, these three southern cities should be on your radar.
What do you look for in a nursing home?
The Motley Fool’s Best Places to Retire Index was created to help you find the right place to live when you quit your job. The index was developed with input from 2,000 retirees ages 55 and older to determine what’s important to them. The main factors examined were affordability, safety, access to healthcare, and quality of life.
With that foundation, The Motley Fool pitted cities against cities across the United States. But if you’re looking for warmer weather, there’s really only one direction to go: south. That’s where The Motley Fool’s list of the best places to retire in the South comes in. If cost, comfort, and a stress-free lifestyle are important to you, here are three great options…and they’re all located in Florida.
1. Fort Lauderdale
Located in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale offers a coastal location, easy access to beaches, and a walkable lifestyle. The cost of living is relatively low, and the region has attractive health care options. Condo prices will be higher if you live along the coast, but you should be able to find more attractive housing costs if you move away from the coast.
2. St. Augustine
St. Augustine, located in St. Johns County, ranks second on the list. We share many of the positives and negatives of Fort Lauderdale, most notably the ease of access to water. If you like historic buildings and a walkable downtown, it may be your preferred option. However, if you have special needs, your access to healthcare may be more limited. But Jacksonville, a much larger city, is not far away.
3. Quincy
Quincy, located in Gadsden County, had a reputation for offering “the best of small-town living.” It’s not as close to the ocean as the two cities above, but it’s close to Tallahassee, Florida’s capital. This means you can enjoy the best of both worlds, enjoying living in a small community while still being able to access the culture that city living has to offer with just a short drive. State parks, on the other hand, offer many recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.
The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
