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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe best place to retire in the Midwest depends on what matters most to you: a manageable budget, access to healthcare, a larger city’s services, or the ability to handle long, cold winters. This practical shortlist covers 10 destinations across the region; it is not a ranking, and no one city is best for every retiree.
The figures below are reported by Kiplinger, whose guide selects one destination in each of the 12 Census-defined Midwest states. Its list is alphabetical by state, not ordered from best to worst. The opened city profiles do not consistently identify the data vintage, so treat the numbers as source-reported comparisons rather than current quotes or a calculated score.
How to compare Midwest retirement destinations
A city’s cost-of-living figure is only a starting point. Housing, property taxes, state and local tax rules, insurance, transportation, and the healthcare you actually use can change the budget substantially. Kiplinger’s city profiles also describe amenities and services, but they do not establish current home prices, crime rates, healthcare quality, insurance-network participation, or appointment availability across all these places.
- Housing and budget: Compare current rents or sale prices and property taxes in neighborhoods you would consider, not just a citywide cost-of-living figure.
- Healthcare: Check that your clinicians, specialists, pharmacies, and preferred hospitals accept your insurance and are accessible from the places you might live.
- Taxes: Review how the state and municipality treat Social Security, pensions, retirement-account withdrawals, and property. The city profiles do not provide a consistent, personalized tax comparison.
- Winter and mobility: Think about snow and cold, but also how you will get to appointments, shops, and social activities if driving becomes difficult.
- Day-to-day fit: Decide whether you want a large-city service base, a college-town atmosphere, parks and trails, or a smaller-city pace.
10 Midwest places to consider for retirement
This table compares the 10 destinations featured here using figures reported by Kiplinger. “Cost of living” is a comparison with the national average, not a housing-price estimate. The older-resident income and 65-plus share are descriptive statistics, not measures of what an individual retiree will earn or spend. Kiplinger does not consistently state the vintage of these figures in the opened profiles.
#1 Best Overall
| Place | Reported cost of living | Residents age 65+ | Reported older-resident income | Reported well-being |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, Illinois | 24.4% below U.S. average | 19% | $52,000 | 60/100 |
| Fort Wayne, Indiana | 18% below U.S. average | 14.9% | $47,000 | 56/100 |
| Des Moines, Iowa | 13.4% below U.S. average | 11.8% | $49,000 | 62/100 |
| Ann Arbor, Michigan | 5.5% above U.S. average | 10.7% | $82,000 | 74/100 |
| Kansas City, Missouri | 11.6% below U.S. average | 13% | $52,000 | 61/100 |
| Lincoln, Nebraska | 7.4% below U.S. average | 11.6% | $58,230 | 63/100 |
| Fargo, North Dakota | 9.4% below U.S. average | 10.3% | $57,000 | 66/100 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 8.6% below U.S. average | 11% | $53,880 | 62/100 |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | 9.3% below U.S. average | 13% | $54,000 | 63/100 |
| Green Bay, Wisconsin | 13.9% below U.S. average | 13.8% | $48,250 | 60/100 |
These are source-reported comparisons, not a new composite ranking. Kiplinger says its evaluation considered cost of living, safety, income and poverty among retirement-age residents, well-being, and recreational and healthcare facilities. Its methodology names PayScale and BestPlaces for cost of living; Sharecare/Gallup for state well-being; Kiplinger’s retiree tax guides; Zillow for average home values; Point2 Homes for 65-plus income; and Genworth and the American Council on Aging for nursing-home costs. The guide highlights population and the 65-plus share, but says they were not factors in its ranking.
Peoria, Illinois: affordability with parks and culture
Kiplinger’s profile points to Peoria for its comparatively low reported cost of living, riverfront, parks, and cultural facilities. It also reports an average home value of $132,671, but that figure’s vintage is not specified in the opened profile; check current listings and property taxes before using it to plan a purchase.
Fort Wayne, Indiana: trails and arts in a lower-cost city
Fort Wayne offers a network of parks and trails alongside arts amenities, according to Kiplinger. It is one of the more affordable places in the guide’s reported cost comparison. Consider how close a prospective home is to the services and activities you expect to use regularly.
Rank #2
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Des Moines, Iowa: a larger-city service base
Kiplinger highlights Des Moines for larger-city services and healthcare facilities, including age-related services. That description is a useful lead, not confirmation that a particular clinician, specialist, or treatment is available to you; verify provider access and insurance directly.
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Ann Arbor stands out for university resources, public transportation, and geriatric-care resources in Kiplinger’s profile. The trade-off in the guide is cost: it is the only featured city reported above the national cost-of-living average, with housing costs flagged as a particular concern. Compare neighborhood-level housing and transit options against your budget.
Kansas City, Missouri: metro-scale cultural choices
Kansas City offers museums and other metro-scale cultural options. The metropolitan area crosses the Missouri-Kansas state line, so identify which side of the metro fits your tax, healthcare, and service needs; city and state boundaries can matter to a retirement plan.
Rank #3
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Lincoln, Nebraska: parks, museums, and older-adult services
Kiplinger describes Lincoln as a college town with parks and museums, along with healthcare and social-service facilities for older residents. Those broad amenities do not establish availability for an individual’s medical needs, so confirm specific providers and services before moving.
Fargo, North Dakota: cultural amenities, with a demanding winter
Fargo combines college and cultural amenities with a lower reported cost of living, but winter is a substantial consideration. Kiplinger reports an average January low of minus one degree and average snowfall of 51.4 inches per winter season; the figures’ vintage is not specified in the opened profile. Consider the practicalities of snow removal, winter driving, and access to daily needs during severe weather.
Columbus, Ohio: large-city services and university amenities
Columbus offers large-city services, Ohio State University, and arts districts. Kiplinger describes its average home value as comparatively affordable, but the opened profile does not establish a consistent current home-price comparison for all cities. Check current housing costs, taxes, and transportation routes in the specific neighborhoods you are considering.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: recreation and senior programming
Kiplinger points to geriatric hospital services, recreation, and senior programming in Sioux Falls. The profile also notes cold January weather. For healthcare, confirm the services and clinicians you personally need; for daily life, check whether winter conditions affect the routes and transportation options you would rely on.
Green Bay, Wisconsin: a walkable downtown and a tax caveat
Green Bay’s profile highlights a walkable downtown, culture, and medical care. Kiplinger cautions that Wisconsin’s tax picture is less favorable, but that broad state-level characterization does not determine an individual household’s tax bill. Review your income sources and likely property-tax costs under current rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other Midwest candidates for a different kind of fit
Kiplinger’s state-by-state guide also includes Manhattan, Kansas, and Mankato, Minnesota. Manhattan is a college town with more than 40 miles of trails; the profile says its average home value is above the state figure. Mankato offers a smaller-city setting and college-town amenities, while its profile flags cold winters and state taxes. They are reasonable alternatives to investigate if those characteristics fit your priorities better than the 10 places above.
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Why this is a shortlist, not a definitive ranking
Kiplinger’s guide names one destination in each of the 12 Census-defined Midwest states and orders them alphabetically by state. Its sequence does not establish a best-to-worst ranking. The Census-defined Midwest comprises Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
U.S. News announced its 2026 Best Places to Retire ranking on November 4, 2025. It evaluated more than 850 U.S. cities nationally using quality of life, affordability, healthcare, retiree taxes, job market, and—new for 2026—population and migration patterns for retirees age 55 and older. U.S. News said quality of life was the most heavily weighted factor and that a survey of people age 45 and older informed the weighting. Its national top three were Midland, Michigan; Weirton, West Virginia; and Homosassa Springs, Florida; those results are not a Midwest-specific top three. U.S. News also noted changes in measures and city coverage, so year-to-year rank comparisons can reflect methodology as well as a place’s attributes.
Quick Recap
What to verify before choosing a city
- Build a local budget. Price housing, utilities, transportation, insurance, and property taxes in the neighborhoods you are considering. Do not treat a cost-of-living comparison or an older home-value figure as your personal retirement budget.
- Check taxes against your income. Confirm current state and local treatment of Social Security, pensions, retirement-account withdrawals, and property, ideally with a qualified tax professional familiar with the relevant state.
- Call healthcare providers. Confirm insurance acceptance, specialist availability, location, and practical access for each service you need; a city-level mention of healthcare facilities does not establish any of these details.
- Test transportation and accessibility. Map the routes between potential homes and regular destinations, and determine what alternatives are available if you do not want to drive.
- Experience the climate and daily routine. If possible, visit during the season you expect to find most challenging and assess snow, cold, and everyday mobility for yourself.
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