How Retirement Lists evaluates destinations
Retirement Lists covers more than choosing a place to live. This methodology library focuses on the evidence used in our destination pages, rankings, and collections, including what the numbers can and cannot tell you.
Research and methodology writing by Grant Gibson. Editorial Policy.
How destination evidence becomes a useful comparison
1.
Find relevant evidence
We gather public data and other documented evidence for the destination measures we publish, using sources suited to the place and question being examined.
2.
Make careful comparisons
Where the evidence allows, we organize measures so readers can compare destinations more consistently. The underlying geography, time period, coverage, and calculation still matter.
3.
Explain context and limits
Our methodology pages document current sources, calculations, freshness, and important limitations. When required evidence is absent, affected destination information remains unavailable or limited.
Explore the destination methodology library
The library is organized into five topics: Cost, Healthcare, Safety, Climate, and Lifestyle. Each topic links to published explanations for evidence used across destination pages, rankings, collections, and tools, including current methods and limitations.
Cost
Examines expenses that can affect retirement decisions, including everyday spending, housing, monthly budgets, taxes, and insurance. The Cost, Monthly Budget, and Housing pages document their current methods, evidence boundaries, and limitations.
Healthcare
Documents separate Hospital Access, Country Care Context, Primary Care planning context, and direct Pharmacy counts, each with its own source and eligibility boundaries.
Safety
Examines violent crime, property crime, local risk, and Stability as separate forms of evidence rather than interchangeable measures. The Stability page documents its current method, evidence boundaries, and limitations.
Climate
Examines summer heat, winter comfort, air quality, and storms and seasonal risk. Each measure addresses a different part of day-to-day climate conditions or exposure.
Lifestyle
Examines practical aspects of daily life, including walkability, transit and errands, internet access, and recreation. The Recreation page documents its current method, evidence boundaries, and limitations.
How rankings and collections are organized
Rankings use defined eligibility rules, criteria, and ordering. Collections bring together destinations around a retirement goal and may or may not be ranked. Each list should explain which places qualify, what evidence it uses, and how its order was determined.
How to read destination numbers
Treat scores and estimates as comparison aids, not guarantees, predictions, or personal advice. Read each number with its source, geographic coverage, limitations, and city-specific context. Also check what the displayed date represents, such as the period measured, the source release, or the latest update.
Browse rankings and collections