10 Best Places to Retire in U.S. Revealed, Santa Barbara Tops List

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According to Livability.com newly released Top 10 Best Places to Retire 2015 study, Santa Barbara gets top billing in the U.S.

As the U.S. population lives longer, the age 65-and-older population is projected to double to 85 million by 2050. Getting to retirement is the culmination of many decisions and, ideally, a long-standing series of life and financial plans. One of the key questions, of course, is where should you live when you retire?

With this in mind, Livability.com states these U.S. cities offer access to affordable and quality health care, a practical cost of living, retiree-friendly businesses and services, as well as several amenities to help keep residents active.

Livability.com examined their own survey research to determine which criteria are most important to this generation: exemplary and affordable health-care services, presence of other seniors, ways to become or stay involved in the community, low crime rates, moderate climates and access to golf courses and other outdoor amenities

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Medicare, Esri, NOAA, Walk Score, the EPA and other sources, they crunched the numbers to derive our shortlist. Then selected the Top 10 Best Places to Retire. Using the data as a guide, they chose cities and towns with a range of populations, climates and locales.

"As the aging population grows and diversifies, so will their ideas of ideal retirement," says Livability.com's Matt Carmichael. "We wanted our list of Best Places to Retire to reflect the breadth of options today's active seniors are considering."

Top 10 Best Places to Retire in 2015 include:

 1. Santa Barbara, CA
 2. Sarasota, FL
 3. Plano, TX
 4. Tacoma, WA
 5. Carson City, NV
 6. Hillsboro, OR
 7. Lincoln, NE
 8. Charlottesville, VA
 9. Rapid City, SD
10. Scottsdale, AZ