For the second year running, Saratoga, California, is America’s richest retirement town. The affluent Silicon Valley suburb ranked first in GOBankingRates’ study on the nation’s 50 richest retirement towns in 2025 and boasts a median income of $250,000, which is $8,652 more than the 2025 number for the city.
For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed qualifying cities with populations of 15,000 and 25% or more of the population ages 65 and older. Each city’s median income and livability index were also sourced, along with the average retirement income amount for households receiving it.
Key Findings
- Saratoga (CA), Lake Forest (IL) and Naples (FL) are America’s three richest retirement towns in 2026. While Saratoga and Lake Forest retain their spots from 2025, Naples moved up from eighth last year. Of the three towns, the average retirement income is greatest in Naples at a whopping $93,499.
- Twelve California enclaves received mentions in the top 50, a slight drop-off from 2025, when the state had 13 in the top 50. These towns and ranks are as follows for 2026: Saratoga (#1), Rancho Palos Verdes (#4), Beverly Hills (#9), Laguna Beach (#10), Cerritos (#13), Walnut Creek (#14), Rancho Mirage (#21), Fair Oaks (#23), La Quinta (#30), Lincoln (#32), Arroyo Grande (#39) and Seal Beach (#49).
- Florida is rapidly catching up to California. Ten suburbs, including Naples (#3), Palm Beach Gardens (#17), Venice (#18), Tarpon Springs (#20), Marco Island (#22), Palm City (#24), Bonita Springs (#25), Estero (#27), Merritt Island (#46) and Punta Gorda (#48) ranked in the top 50. Compared to nine towns in 2025, this growth signals The Sunshine State’s wealthy retirement population may be increasing.
- Retirement income is the highest in three Florida cities. Retirees receive an average of $93,499 in Naples, $81,769 in Venice and $78,696 in Tarpon Springs.
See which 50 towns are among America’s richest for retirees in 2026.
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1. Saratoga, California
- Population 65+ (%): 26.5%
- Median household income: $250,000
- Livability: 81
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $61,054
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2. Lake Forest, Illinois
- Population 65+ (%): 26.7%
- Median household income: $235,081
- Livability: 67
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $61,485
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3. Naples, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 55.8%
- Median household income: $153,182
- Livability: 79
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $93,499
4. Rancho Palos Verdes, California
- Population 65+ (%): 26.8%
- Median household income: $179,623
- Livability: 58
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $69,250
5. Bainbridge Island, Washington
- Population 65+ (%): 27.4%
- Median household income: $172,188
- Livability: 78
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $55,921
6. Northbrook, Illinois
- Population 65+ (%): 26.6%
- Median household income: $157,782
- Livability: 80
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $53,982
7. Melville, New York
- Population 65+ (%): 28.8%
- Median household income: $159,922
- Livability: 61
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $51,085
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8. Glenview, Illinois
- Population 65+ (%): 25.5%
- Median household income: $143,056
- Livability: 78
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $60,506
9. Beverly Hills, California
- Population 65+ (%): 25.4%
- Median household income: $132,977
- Livability: 76
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $64,157
10. Laguna Beach, California
- Population 65+ (%): 30.1%
- Median household income: $143,843
- Livability: 66
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $55,577
11. Mequon, Wisconsin
- Population 65+ (%): 25.4%
- Median household income: $144,051
- Livability: 69
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $44,644
12. Paramus, New Jersey
- Population 65+ (%): 26.2%
- Median household income: $144,349
- Livability: 82
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $42,814
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13. Cerritos, California
- Population 65+ (%): 26.5%
- Median household income: $135,439
- Livability: 74
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $47,358
14. Walnut Creek, California
- Population 65+ (%): 29.5%
- Median household income: $130,432
- Livability: 77
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $50,670
15. Chesterfield, Missouri
- Population 65+ (%): 25.5%
- Median household income: $133,037
- Livability: 71
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $46,699
16. Creve Coeur, Missouri
- Population 65+ (%): 25.2%
- Median household income: $127,188
- Livability: 83
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $50,637
17. Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 32.5%
- Median household income: $106,947
- Livability: 70
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $63,164
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18. Venice, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 61.4%
- Median household income: $76,755
- Livability: 79
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $81,769
19. Pinehurst, North Carolina
- Population 65+ (%): 41%
- Median household income: $109,802
- Livability: 73
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $56,772
20. Tarpon Springs, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 30%
- Median household income: $79,529
- Livability: 69
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $78,696
21. Rancho Mirage, California
- Population 65+ (%): 52.6%
- Median household income: $107,364
- Livability: 49
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $57,169
22. Marco Island, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 59.3%
- Median household income: $101,523
- Livability: 70
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $61,392
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23. Fair Oaks, California
- Population 65+ (%): 25.1%
- Median household income: $116,975
- Livability: 57
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $49,868
24. Palm City, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 28.9%
- Median household income: $125,820
- Livability: 81
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $42,789
25. Bonita Springs, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 44.2%
- Median household income: $95,210
- Livability: 70
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $65,137
26. Kaneohe, Hawaii
- Population 65+ (%): 25.7%
- Median household income: $125,613
- Livability: 72
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $39,713
27. Estero, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 51.9%
- Median household income: $104,102
- Livability: 79
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $54,870
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28. Pearl City, Hawaii
- Population 65+ (%): 26.9%
- Median household income: $118,112
- Livability: 70
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $42,648
29. Oro Valley, Arizona
- Population 65+ (%): 35.7%
- Median household income: $107,117
- Livability: 81
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $50,724
30. La Quinta, California
- Population 65+ (%): 31.6%
- Median household income: $99,250
- Livability: 57
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $55,671
31. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Population 65+ (%): 26.4%
- Median household income: $110,886
- Livability: 82
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $46,124
32. Lincoln, California
- Population 65+ (%): 27%
- Median household income: $111,990
- Livability: 67
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $44,906
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33. Westlake, Ohio
- Population 65+ (%): 25.1%
- Median household income: $112,200
- Livability: 81
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $44,308
34. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Population 65+ (%): 39.2%
- Median household income: $94,657
- Livability: 63
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $56,387
35. Fountain Hills, Arizona
- Population 65+ (%): 40.7%
- Median household income: $112,654
- Livability: 69
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $42,468
36. Murrysville, Pennsylvania
- Population 65+ (%): 30.2%
- Median household income: $121,823
- Livability: 73
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $35,586
37. Tinton Falls, New Jersey
- Population 65+ (%): 25.1%
- Median household income: $117,308
- Livability: 68
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $38,024
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38. Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Population 65+ (%): 25.1%
- Median household income: $107,274
- Livability: 88
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $43,953
39. Arroyo Grande, California
- Population 65+ (%): 27.4%
- Median household income: $102,553
- Livability: 77
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $45,564
40. Somerset, Massachusetts
- Population 65+ (%): 25.3%
- Median household income: $112,677
- Livability: 65
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,694
41. Georgetown, Texas
- Population 65+ (%): 26.2%
- Median household income: $95,062
- Livability: 83
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $46,841
42. Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
- Population 65+ (%): 25.5%
- Median household income: $107,090
- Livability: 82
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $34,687
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43. Fairhope, Alabama
- Population 65+ (%): 26%
- Median household income: $94,274
- Livability: 76
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $44,156
44. Dyer, Indiana
- Population 65+ (%): 25.6%
- Median household income: $107,159
- Livability: 77
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $33,783
45. Anacortes, Washington
- Population 65+ (%): 32%
- Median household income: $91,951
- Livability: 80
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $44,161
46. Merritt Island, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 27.6%
- Median household income: $94,012
- Livability: 69
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $42,494
47. Westchester, Illinois
- Population 65+ (%): 29%
- Median household income: $98,954
- Livability: 79
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $37,695
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48. Punta Gorda, Florida
- Population 65+ (%): 53.6%
- Median household income: $85,779
- Livability: 76
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $45,682
49. Seal Beach, California
- Population 65+ (%): 43.7%
- Median household income: $85,964
- Livability: 61
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $44,048
50. Westerly, Rhode Island
- Population 65+ (%): 25.2%
- Median household income: $95,207
- Livability: 73
- Average retirement income for households that receive it: $36,684
Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Photo disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of the city/county mentioned in the article was used.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed retirement towns to find the richest places to live. To qualify for this study, the city has to have a total population of at least 15,000 and a population percent of 25% or more for the population ages 65 and older as sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 ACS along with the total households, median household income, number of households receiving retirement income, and average retirement income for households that receive it. For each location the cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for retired households, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired consumer units, the average expenditure costs could be calculated. The average single family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year mortgage rate of 6.11%, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data on 2/9, the average mortgage can be calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and expenditure cost, the total cost of living can be calculated. The median household income was scored and weighted at 1.00 and the average retirement income for households that receive it was scored and weighted at 0.50. Both scores were summed and sorted to show the richest retirement towns. All data is up to date as of February 9th, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: America’s Richest Retirement Towns in 2026
