WalletHub reveals where to spend your Golden Years in Arizona

Don’t let me (or David Bowie) hear you say life is taking you nowhere. Look at the Arizona sky, life’s begun, the nights are warm and the days are young, or young at heart at least. 

Whether you’re a young adult or in your, ahem, Golden Years, Scottsdale is turning out to be the place to live (if it’s your jam, of course). It’s the best city for renters. It’s highly ranked for first time homebuyers and it’s a great place to start your career. Apparently it’s one of the best places to retire too. 

Scottsdale ranked fourth in the nation in a new WalletHub study ranking the best and worst places to retire in the United States. It far out scored the other seven Phoenix-metro area cities that made the cut. 

The financial site analyzed data for 182 cities in the United States. The list was made up of the top 150 most populous cities and at least two of the most populated cities per state. WalletHub determined “retirement-friendliness” by considering four factors: affordability, activities, quality of life and health care. It analyzed data from multiple sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, AARP, WalletHub’s own research to calculate each city’s score for the ranking. 

Out of all of the cities ranked, Scottsdale came in second place (it was beat out by Pearl City in Hawaii) for having the highest percentage of its population over the age of 65. So don’t worry. You won’t be a trendsetter, forging ahead alone into a city filled with rambunctious youths starting their careers and buying their first homes. 

And as difficult as it may be to believe given how hot our summers get, Scottsdale also ranked fourth overall for mild weather. Seems like Scottsdale is a great place to be no matter what stage of life you’re in. 

Here’s how different cities in the Valley ranked: 

8. Mesa

Ranked 117 out of 182 cities

7. Glendale

Ranked 100 out of 182

6. Gilbert

Ranked 94 out of 182

5. Peoria

Ranked 90 out of 182

4. Phoenix

Ranked 76 out of 182

3. Chandler

Ranked 49 out of 182

2. Tempe

Ranked 17 out of 182

1. Scottsdale

Ranked 4 out of 182