These are the best real estate markets for retirees in 2026, data suggests

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Published  January 9, 2026 2:16pm MST
FOX Local

FILE-People walk alongside along the running, walking, and bicycling scenic trail at  a state park in New York. (Photo by Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • Saginaw, Michigan ranks as the top real estate market for retirees this year.
    • Many of the best markets are in Midwest cities, according to a GOBankingRates report.

Whether you’re planning to retire this year or considering it down the road, one of the major steps in this decision is figuring out where to live.

And if the goal is to relocate and settle down in a new place, researching housing markets that offer affordable options is key.

RELATED: Best places to retire in 2026 ranked in new study, see the list

In a new report, GOBankingRates delves into this topic by ranking the 20 best and the 20 worst housing markets for retirees in 2026. 

The personal finance website sourced multiple housing markets from Zillow data and information containing household values and retirement income levels from the U.S. Census. 

Best cities for retirees in 2026

Top real estate markets for retirees in 2026 

Local perspective:

Based on the findings released by GOBankingRates, cities in the Midwest made up most of the top 20 best housing markets for retirees this year and the report also lists the income necessary to afford a new home in these areas.  Here is the list of cities.

  1. Saginaw, Michigan ($48,048—Income required to afford a new home)
  2. Mansfield, Ohio ($47,546—Income required to afford a new home)
  3. Kokomo, Indiana ($49,883—Income required to afford a new home)
  4. Bay City, Michigan ($49,692—Income required to afford a new home)
  5. Midland, Michigan ($62,612—Income required to afford a new home)
  6. Weirton, West Virginia ($35,589—Income required to afford a new home)
  7. Youngstown, Ohio ($47,070—Income required to afford a new home)
  8. Lima, Ohio ($50,475—Income required to afford a new home)
  9. Muncie, Indiana ($43,339—Income required to afford a new home)
  10. Decatur, Illinois ($37,676—Income required to afford a new home)
  11. Springfield, Ohio ($53,480—Income required to afford a new home)
  12. Utica, New York ($58,006—Income required to afford a new home)
  13. Binghamton, New York ($52,167—Income required to afford a new home)
  14. Peoria, Illinois ($52,145—Income required to afford a new home)
  15. Charleston, West Virginia ($38,278—Income required to afford a new home)
  16. Rockford, Illinois ($64,950—Income required to afford a new home)
  17. Flint, Michigan ($52,889—Income required to afford a new home)
  18. Sandusky, Ohio ($62,241—Income required to afford a new home)
  19. Wausau, Wisconsin ($68,419—Income required to afford a new home)
  20. Beckley, West Virginia ($37,538—Income required to afford a new home)

To see the full GOBankingRates report, click here.

Meanwhile, GOBankingRates noted in its report that an estimated 6.5 million Americans are expected to retire in 2026.

The Source: Information for this story was provided from a GOBankingRates report that ranked the 20 best and the 20 worst housing markets for retirees in 2026. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.  


 

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