In a major win for Southwest Florida’s lifestyle and real-estate appeal, Naples has been ranked as the top city in the United States for retirement in the 2025 edition of the U.S. News & World Report rankings. The new methodology, which placed greater emphasis on factors such as happiness, quality of life and city-level data, saw Naples rise to the No. 1 spot among roughly 150 cities evaluated nationwide.
The report underscores several strengths that boosted Naples: abundant sunshine, premier Gulf-coast beaches, golf and outdoor-recreation access, strong health-care infrastructure and the tax-favourable environment of Florida for retirees. These factors collectively address what today’s retirees are prioritizing: a place that not only stretches the dollar but delivers enjoyment and lifestyle.
The shift in methodology for the rankings is worth noting. U.S. News moved away from broader metropolitan statistical-area data toward city-specific metrics, and increased the weight of “happiness” as a factor. That change allowed Florida municipalities to surge in the rankings.
Florida as a whole had a dominant showing: in the top 10 list of best places to retire, several Florida cities are included (for example, Sarasota and Jacksonville).
Why this matters for Naples & the local real-estate market
For your audience at NNN, this ranking matters on multiple fronts:
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Real-estate values – When a city is named the best place to retire, pressure tends to build in housing demand, especially for second homes, retirement buyers and premium-amenity properties.
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Marketing & branding – This gives local brokers, developers and hospitality operators a fresh badge to use: “#1 U.S. city for retirement” enhances storytelling, lead-gen, advertising angles.
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Demographic shift – More retirees often mean changes in housing needs: single-level homes, maintenance-free communities, premium amenities, medical-service proximity. Providers and investors should lean into that.
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Pricing sensitivity – While quality of life wins big, affordability often takes a back seat in such rankings; expect higher pricing tiers and a more competitive market. (Indeed, Naples’ recognition acknowledges this dynamic.)
What to keep watching
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Homes per square foot and luxury-segment sales: will the “best place to retire” tag result in upward pressure on premium product?
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Re-purposing or new development of retirement-friendly housing: smaller-lot homes, age-friendly design, community amenities.
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Spin-off effects in the rental market: retirees may also rent or part-rent resort-style properties; short-term vs. long-term rental dynamics.
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Affordability constraints: With rising interest, monitoring for market-heat risk, especially if inventory remains limited.
