Florida may be the most popular retirement destination in the country, but when it comes to retiree safety and wealth, the Sunshine State is falling behind. In fact, no towns in the Sunshine State made it to GoBankingRates.com’s most recent survey of America’s 50 safest and wealthiest retirement towns. Instead, it is Pinehurst, a small town in North Carolina, known as the “home of American Golf” and the host of major championships, including the U.S. Open, that topped the ranking.
While Pinehurst came in second in 2024, it landed at No. 1 this year, thanks to a few hard numbers. According to GoBankingRates.com’s findings, as of October 2025, almost 40 percent of the population there is 65 and older; the average retirement income before Social Security is $51,767; 78.5 percent of households pay under a third of their income for monthly costs; and the property crime rate and violent crime rates are 2.78 and 0.59 (per 1,000).
Pinehurst is located in Moore County, about 100 miles east of Charlotte. This is a place where playing Donald Ross’s Pinehurst No. 2 course, relaxing at Pinehurst Resort, or strolling through the historic Village at Pinehurst are par for the course (pun completely intended). However, this type of lifestyle doesn’t come cheap. Zillow recently estimated the average home value in Pinehurst is $531,820—and it’s steadily rising.
Pinehurst is followed by Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, in No. 2, where almost 60 percent of the population is of retirement age, and the average retirement income before Social Security is $38,156. Oro Valley, Arizona—recently named the most livable place to retire in the West—ranked third. Rancho Palos Verdes, California, an upscale residential community about 30 miles south of Los Angeles and home to the sprawling Terranea Resort, took the No. 4 spot, while Beavercreek, Ohio, was fifth.
While not a single Florida destination made it into the top 50, there were 10 California towns featured, including Lincoln (No. 20), Laguna Woods (No. 23), and Fountain Valley (No. 27). Arizona also performed well, with eight towns in the top 50, while Ohio had seven.
To calculate this year’s ranking of the safest and wealthiest retirement towns, GOBankingRates.com used data from the U.S. Census to pinpoint places where the percentage of the population ages 65 and up was at least 20 percent.
Check out the full rankings and final numbers on GOBankingRates.com.
