To identify the best places to retire, U.S. News analyzed data for the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. to assess how well they meet Americans' retirement needs and expectations. Top 10 Best Cities to Retire 10. Okay, folks. W e compared data on more than 750 places, with populations above 10,000, in all 50 states. The biggest factors we take … Top criteria include the happiness of local residents, housing affordability, tax rates and health care quality. With those factors in mind, check out some of the best cities to retire. Let’s take a look! Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Not just limited to retirement homes, communities, Sperling’s Best Places is a great site to learn about different locations and compare them to others. 1 For each one, I’ve included a brief description, a short list of stats and a special feature that distinguishes each city from the rest. alamy. Methodology. The overall cost of living is 1.2% below the national average, according to Sperling's BestPlaces, making it much more affordable than Manchester—about 50 miles …