25 Cities Where Retirees Face the Shortest Life Expectancy

Where you retire has a real impact on how long you live. That might sound like an overstatement, but public health data consistently back it up. Geography shapes healthcare access, environmental quality, economic stress, and the kind of social infrastructure that quietly influences health outcomes over decades.

It also matters to your finances in ways that are easy to overlook. How long your money needs to last is one of the foundational assumptions behind every retirement plan. Get that number wrong and everything built on top of it is off.

The 25 cities on this list rank among the lowest in the country for life expectancy at retirement age. The reasons differ by place, but the common threads are familiar: limited healthcare options, high rates of chronic illness, and economic conditions that have compounded over a long time. If you are seriously weighing a retirement move, these are numbers worth knowing before you decide.

• Life Expectancy: 76.6 years

Las Vegas is the only city in the American West that sits among the bottom 25 for life expectancy. Even so, its lack of a state income tax on retirement income makes it attractive to retirees, and the entertainment options are arguably unmatched for those seeking a constant flow of activity. Retirees should carefully evaluate healthcare quality and the challenges of extreme summer heat.

• Life Expectancy: 76.5 years

No state income tax has helped make Pensacola attractive to retirees, thereby preserving Social Security, pensions, and investment income. The city is home to beautiful beaches on the state's Emerald Coast, but its life expectancy is notably below Florida's typical senior health outcomes and trails the national average of 79 years, according to the CDC.

• Life Expectancy: 76.5 years

If you are 65 or older, Augusta, Georgia, offers a retirement income exclusion of up to $65,000 per person, which can be a meaningful savings. The area's golf-centric living is very appealing to active seniors, and, thanks to the city's inland location, it has reduced hurricane risk. The area is also a regional medical hub.

• Life Expectancy: 76.5 years

For those looking for affordable Midwest living, Springfield, Missouri, is a regional healthcare hub with strong access to medical care. However, the shorter life expectancy is concerning, and retirees should investigate specific health outcomes in their desired area before moving, as local conditions can vary significantly.

• Life Expectancy: 76.4 years

Lubbock, Texas, offers a full tax advantage for retirees, with no state income tax on retirement income. However, Lubbock is somewhat isolated, hours from another major metro, which means that travel for specialized care or family visits requires significant pre-planning. If a retiree has respiratory concerns, the drier climate may be appealing, so that is in favor of Lubbock.

• Life Expectancy: 76.4 years

Tulsa combines low costs with significant cultural investments that appeal to retirees, all while offering a low cost of living. However, Oklahoma faces the same population health challenges as other Plains and Southern states, all while offering less generous tax treatment of retirement income.

• Life Expectancy: 76.4 years

Yet another southern city with a low cost of living, Shreveport, Louisiana, also fully exempts Social Security income from retirement income, while 401(k)s, IRAs, and the like are only partially exempt for taxpayers 65 and older. On the plus side, healthcare access is available locally in Dallas or Little Rock.

• Life Expectancy: 76.4 years

The heart of Cajun and Creole, Louisiana, Lafayette, offers a strong retirement destination thanks to its culture, festivals, and food. The state only partially exempts retirement income that isn't from Social Security, but you have to consider the state's high humidity and heat, which might not be ideal for those with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

• Life Expectancy: 76.3 years

With no state income tax on retirement income, Amarillo, Texas, is tax-friendly, but retirees will still have to contend with some of the nation's highest property taxes. Summers are hot, and the city is relatively isolated, so access to specialized medical care might require some travel.

• Life Expectancy: 76.3 years

Savannah combines the beauty of coastal living with historic charm, making it an attractive retirement destination. This is especially true when you factor in its wilder winters, and Georgia fully exempts Social Security from state income tax if you are 62 or older. Like other cities on this list, Savannah's heat can be a challenge for those with certain health conditions.

• Life Expectancy: 76.3 years

Small-city living in Lynchburg means a slower pace of life, which appeals to those who want to get out of larger urban areas. Virginia fully exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax as long as your income is under certain levels. Retirees should evaluate healthcare access due to Lynchburg's smaller area.

• Life Expectancy: 76.2 years

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke generally has higher costs than other deep South states, making it one of the more affordable areas in the region. However, the life expectancy figure suggests that community healthcare may need improvement, making this a destination well worth careful research.

• Life Expectancy: 76.2 years

Fully exempting Social Security benefits from state income tax, Greenville is one of the Southeast's most popular retirement destinations. The city's rising popularity has increased housing costs, and the region has invested in medical infrastructure as a result. Still, the life expectancy trails the national average, which means there is still work to do.

• Life Expectancy: 76.1 years

Scranton is one of the few cities on this list not located in the Southern part of the country, so this Rust Belt retirement destination offers a distinct cost and health profile. Housing and daily expenses are less expensive than in other Northeast locations, though higher than in Southern alternatives. Pennsylvania also exempts Social Security benefits and other retirement income from state income tax.

• Life Expectancy: 76.1 years

Florida has no state income tax, which makes Jacksonville, the state's largest city, an incredibly appealing destination. Florida has long been a retirement destination and has one of the highest concentrations of seniors in the country. Jacksonville is more expensive than other deep-South cities, but its life expectancy ranks among the lowest in Florida.

• Life Expectancy: 76.0 years

Striking a balance between affordability and quality of life, Chattanooga has seen housing costs rise in recent years, all without offering a state income tax on wages. This means that all sources of retirement income are exempt, allowing retirees in Tennessee to keep every dollar of their benefits and retirement distributions.

• Life Expectancy: 75.6 years

Little Rock residents spend around 12% less than the national average on the cost of living, all while most retirement income has various exemptions depending on income levels and age. The city does offer exceptional value for retirees in terms of home prices, but the trade-off is hot, humid summers combined with a high sales tax rate that can eat into the cost of living.

• Life Expectancy: 75.5 years

Knoxville's median home value is lower than the national average, and as housing is the largest retirement expense, Knoxville's lower costs will give retirees more room to reduce monthly expenses. Tennessee also has no state income tax, which allows retirement income to stretch further. Medical costs also track below the national average, which is a positive sign for overall life expectancy.

• Life Expectancy: 75.5 years

Another Tennessee destination, Memphis, will also benefit from the state's lack of income tax and retirement tax. Better yet, Social Security alone can cover over 100% of the monthly cost of living in some areas of Memphis, the highest coverage rate among major Southern cities.

• Life Expectancy: 75.2 years

Beaumont is one of the few cities where residents can live on Social Security alone, with the monthly benefit in 2025 ranging around $1,976. This makes the area extremely affordable for retirees, with groceries, transportation, and utilities all costing less than the national average. Best of all, there is no state income tax or taxes on other retirement income sources.

• Life Expectancy: 74.7 years

Montgomery's cost of living is below the national average, with housing costs among the most affordable. Health care costs are also well below the national median, making it a compelling case for retirement, especially when you consider that all retirement income is fully exempt. However, the city's poverty rate is worrisome, as is its high unemployment rate, reflecting economic challenges in the area.

• Life Expectancy: 74.6 years

Considered one of Alabama's best retirement destinations, Birmingham offers big-city amenities within a large metropolitan area. Alabama does not tax pension income, and property taxes remain low, while Social Security and other retirement income sources are also fully exempt. The city has plenty to do, but some areas have more limited access to healthcare than others, which should be a consideration.

• Life Expectancy: 74.4 years

Healthcare insurance premiums in Mobile are high, a notable concern given that around 18% of the area's population is 65 and older, making it home to a substantial retirement community. Alabama does exempt retirement income, which is a positive, but the concern around insurance premiums is a definite factor for anyone who is pre-existing health conditions.

• Life Expectancy: 74.4 years

Looking at Jackson, you have an overall cost of living well below the national average, which allows Social Security and other retirement income sources to stretch more. Mississippi exempts retirement income from taxes, which is a good thing for those on a fixed income. However, high poverty rates and unemployment in the state are a major concern.

• Life Expectancy: 74.3 years

Notably lower than the national average, Spartanburg's life expectancy is not helped by the county's low birth weight of 9.0%, which is also higher than the national average. The state fully exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax, while other retirement income sources are mixed. According to various sources, around 17% of adults in Spartanburg report being in poor or fair general health, which is above the national rate of 14.4%.