Florida cities rank high on list of best places to retire

Tampa ranked second in a poll of best cities to retire to, according to the personal-finance website WalletHub’s analysis.

WalletHub compared the affordability, quality of life, health care and availability of recreational activities in the 150 largest U.S. cities. Its data set of 31 key metrics ranged from "cost of living" to "public-hospital rankings" to "percentage of the 65 and older population."

Topping the list was Orlando. Other Florida cities in the Top 10 were Miami, No. 4; and Cape Coral, No. 7.

This is how Tampa ranked:

3rd – Affordability.

17th – Activities.

11th – Health care.

"Americans are actually working more years compared with previous generations yet only grow further from financial freedom," the report summary said, citing another survey that shows how meager retirement savings have grown in the past decades.

In 2015, 21 percent of workers expected to retire at age 65, but only 9 percent actually were able to do so, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s latest Retirement Confidence Survey. A fourth of Americans near quitting age don’t even have enough cash on hand for their golden years and 40 percent cited cost of living and daily expenses as impediments to saving for retirement.

WalletHub hopes its ranking will help pre-retirees consider their options, including relocation. "So if simply making ends meet prevents workers from growing a nest egg for the future," the report adds, "what other options provide a pathway to a comfortable retirement?"

Other cities in the Top 10 were Scottsdale, Ariz., No. 3; Sioux Falls, S.D., No. 5; Las Vegas, No. 6; Atlanta, No. 8; Minneapolis, No. 9; and Los Angeles, No. 10.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 10:58 AM with the headline "Florida cities rank high on list of best places to retire."