California cities dominate list of worst places to retire in the US

By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-09-02 14:06:19 | Updated at 2026-09-02 16:44:51 2 hours ago

California may be the Golden State, but it’s looking pretty grim for retirees.

Six California cities landed among WalletHub’s 10 worst places to retire in the US, with Fresno ranking a shocking 179th out of 182 cities in the personal finance platform’s 2026 study.

Fresno was joined by Stockton, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Bakersfield and Fontana, giving California more spots on the worst list than any other state.

California may be the Golden State, but it’s looking pretty grim for retirees. Getty Images/iStockphoto

The cities were ranked using factors including affordability, healthcare, activities and quality of life, and Fresno took some particularly hard hits.

The Central Valley city performed worst in activities and healthcare, while doing somewhat better in affordability and quality of life.

Fresno also ranked among the 30 worst cities nationwide for adult volunteer opportunities per capita and the percentage of employed adults ages 65 and older.

An aerial view of downtown Fresno, California, and the radio tower on top of the Pacific Southwest Building. Getty Images

Here’s how the bottom 10 shook out:

Stockton, California
San Bernardino, California
Newark, New Jersey
Fresno, California
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Bakersfield, California
Tacoma, Washington
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Detroit, Michigan
Fontana, California

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said retirees living on fixed incomes should be especially careful about where they settle.

“The best cities for retired people are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as have good opportunities for retirees to continue paid work for extra income,” Lupo said. “The top cities provide high-quality healthcare and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees.”

California’s retirement rankings looked even worse compared with the cities at the top. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Meanwhile, California’s retirement rankings looked even worse compared with the cities at the top.

Orlando, Florida, took the No. 1 spot in WalletHub’s 2026 ranking, followed by Miami and Tampa.

Florida’s lack of a state income tax, estate tax or inheritance tax helped make it attractive to retirees living off their savings.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said retirees living on fixed incomes should be especially careful about where they settle. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Orlando also offers plenty of recreational options, with high numbers of art galleries, music venues and fishing facilities.

The city additionally ranks among the nation’s top 10 for hospitals specializing in geriatrics and home healthcare facilities per capita, according to WalletHub.

The top 10 retirement destinations were: