Methodology
In order to determine the most ideal places in California to retire, WalletHub compared a sample of 257 cities in the state across three key dimensions: 1) Quality of Life, 2) Health and 3) Activities.
We evaluated those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for retirement. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Quality of Life – Total Points: 50.00
- Adjusted Cost of Living: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Share of Population Aged 65 Years & Older: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Share of Households with Severe Housing Problems: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Note: This composite metric measures the share of households with at least one or more of the following housing problems:- Housing unit lacks complete kitchen facilities;
- Housing unit lacks complete plumbing facilities; and/or
- Household is severely overcrowded.
- Discount Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Elderly-Friendliness of Labor Market: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
Note: This composite metric measures the following:- Share of workers aged 65 years & older
- Ratio of part-time to full-time workers aged 65 years & older
- Share of Commuters Who Use Public Transit: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Violent-Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~11.11 Points)
- Property-Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~11.11 Points)
- Air Quality: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
- Drinking-Water Violations: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
Health Care – Total Points: 40.00
- Health-Care Facilities per Capita: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Home-Care Facilities per Capita: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Family & General Physicians per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Dentists per 10,000 Residents: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Nurses per 1,000 Residents: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Life Expectancy: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
- Death Rate for Population Aged 65 Years & Older: Full Weight (~5.71 Points)
Activities – Total Points: 10.00
- Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, zoos, museums and theaters. - Senior Centers per Capita: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Fitness & Recreational Sports Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Golf Courses & Country Clubs per Capita*: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Fishing Facilities per Capita*: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Museums per Capita*: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Theaters per Capita*: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Art Galleries per Capita*: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Availability of Adult Volunteer Activities: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
- Ideal Weather: Full Weight (~0.91 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-to-retire-in-california/38260/