Florida Absent from Top Cities for Seniors

Today's seniors want more than surf, sand and sun...unfortunately for Florida.

In a recent report that listed the top 10 large and small cities for seniors, the Milken Institute left one state almost completely out: Florida. The state was not left out in the cold because the sun no longer shines or the air is no longer balmy; instead, according to Milken CEO Paul Irving, the sunshine state just doesn’t fit the mold for today’s retirees. “Seniors are as complex and motivated as any other population,” says Irving, adding that the “traditional notions about retirement” do not really apply to today’s retirees[1]. Milken evaluated the cities for quality healthcare, educational and employment opportunities, a strong economy, and transportation quality in order to determine which areas topped the lists. For large cities, Provo, Utah; Madison, Wisconsin; and Omaha, Nebraska made up the top three. No Florida cities cracked the top ten for large cities. On the small city roster, Gainesville, Florida, did place sixth. It was the only Florida city to make it into either top 10.

While some have scoffed at the notion that Florida might not be the prime retirement destination for today’s retirees, Irving emphasizes that the report is based on research and is not a survey[2]. “These are not just opinions; these are facts,” he said, while UCLA Longevity Center director Gary Small added that “there’s more than just good weather that determines how well we age.”

Can you believe Florida barely made an appearance?

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