“For new families, recent college graduates, retirees, or seasoned professionals, Boston is a place that can foster your next stage of life,” the magazine said.
US News ranked the cities based on data gathered from more than a dozen government agencies and private organizations. The three main indexes were happiness (weighted at 27 percent), affordability (25 percent), and quality of health care (15 percent).
Other factors considered in the methodology include the strength of the job market — since many retirees seek some level of part-time employment — as well as desirability and tax friendliness.
Boston earned an overall score of 6.6 out of 10 for 2025, according to US News. The publication gave the city a 5.6 for health care and a 4.8 for housing affordability.
On last year’s list, the highest-ranked city in New England was Manchester, N.H., at number 15; the top-ranked city in Massachusetts was Springfield, at 32, closely followed by Worcester at 33. Boston ranked outside the top 40.
This year, though, US News changed its methodology. The 2025 rankings rely on city-specific data rather than metro area data. The rankings also place more weight on “happiness,” after a US News survey of people approaching or at retirement age (age 45 and older) said that day-to-day satisfaction was the most important factor in their lives.
“While affordability remains a top concern for retirees, a greater preference for happiness led to a few major cities earning high placements,” said Dawn Bradbury, an assistant managing editor for real estate at U.S. News.
Other major cities that took top spots under the new methodology were New York City (which ranked 3rd), Washington, D.C. (12th), and San Francisco (14th), Bradbury said.
This year, Manchester, N.H., fell to 31 on the list, not far behind Boston. Worcester fell 100 spots to 133rd on the list; its health care score dropping from 7.4 to 3.9 out of 10. Springfield fell to 140th.
Other New England cities on the list this year include Portland, Maine (58th), Providence, R.I. (126th), and New Haven and Hartford, Conn. (148th and 149th, respectively).
US News ranked Naples, Fla., as the best city for retirees, with an overall score of 7.0. Cities in the South posted high scores for affordability and retiree taxes, taking 15 spots of the list’s top 25.
Here are the top destinations for retirees, according to US News & World Report:
1. Naples, Fla.
2. Virginia Beach, Va.
3. New York City
4. Sarasota, Fla.
5. Boise, Idaho
6. Raleigh, N.C.
7. Jacksonville, Fla.
8. Huntsville, Ala.
9. Charlotte, N.C.
10. Fort Wayne, Ind.
11. Green Bay, Wis.
12. Washington, D.C.
13. Charleston, S.C.
14. San Francisco
15. South Bend, Ind.
16. Lexington, Ky.
17. Pensacola, Fla.
18. Tampa
19. Port St. Lucie, Fla.
20. Melbourne, Fla.
21. Anchorage, Alaska
22. Seattle
23. Oklahoma City, Okla.
24. Fort Myers, Fla.
25. Omaha, Neb.
26. Honolulu
27. Portland, Ore.
28. Des Moines, Iowa
29. Boston
30. Greenville, S.C.
Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.