While personal priorities vary (climate, cost, healthcare, family, lifestyle), here are some of the most popular or highly ranked retirement destinations right now in the U.S.:

• Florida — Consistently ranks at or near the top for retirement due to no state income tax and warm weather.
• North Carolina — Strong net retiree migration thanks to affordable living and varied geography.
• Arizona — Especially Southwestern cities like Mesa, Scottsdale, and Henderson seeing retiree growth.
• South Carolina — Growing in popularity for its climate, lifestyle, and lower cost of living.

Retirees are moving away from some high-cost states (like California and New York) toward more livable, lower-cost regions with mild climates.