Best places to retire in the US? This Eastern Washington city made Forbes’ list

Choosing where to spend your retirement is a big decision.

With countless options across the United States, it can be hard to pick a place to settle down.

Forbes recently released its list of the 25 best places to enjoy retirement in 2025 to aid your decision making.

The list differs from Forbes’ ranking of the best places to retire overall by focusing on locales ripe with recreation and entertainment opportunities for retirees rather than economic factors.

One Washington city made the list. Here’s where — and why.

Where are best places in the US for enjoying retirement?

To determine the best places to enjoy retirement, Forbes said it screened nearly 1,000 cities across the United States with populations of at least 10,000 residents.

The publication narrowed down its list of candidates by focusing on “metrics that affect the chances for a healthy and happy retirement,” including air quality, crime rates, the availability of primary care doctors and walkability.

Forbes then screened the remaining cities based on how well they supported leisure pursuits, looking at six main categories:

• Arts and culture
• Fine dining
• Lifelong learning
• Outdoor activities on water
• Outdoor activities on land
• Golf

What’s the best Washington city to enjoy retirement?

Walla Walla is one of the top 25 places to enoy your retirement in the United States, according to Forbes.

The Walla Walla County seat is situated just above the Washington-Oregon border, and about an hour from Tri-Cities.

Walla Walla had an estimated population of about 34,800 people in 2025, according to the Port of Walla Walla.

Residents of the Eastern Washington city include students at Whitman College and Walla Walla University, as well as workers in the wine industry.

Full of vineyards and tasting rooms, Walla Walla boasts more than 100 wineries as well as esteemed restaurants.

“In addition to its fine dining, Walla Walla makes the list for its outdoor land activities, including numerous hiking and biking trails, especially through nearby parks,” Forbes senior contributor William P. Barrett wrote.

Walla Walla also has several options for golfers, including a golf course that’s ranked among the toughest in the country.

According to Forbes, other reasons to settle down in the scenic area include entertainment options such as a local symphony and multiple art galleries.

Is Walla Walla an affordable place to retire?

Forbes called Walla Walla “a bargain for those who savor good wine, good food and scenic views.”

For starts, the city’s cost of living is lower than the national average, according to Forbes.

The median home price in Walla Walla is $412,000, 3% below the national median of $423,000.

Where are the best places to retire in the West?

Forbes narrowed down its list of the top spots to enjoy your retirement to 25 cities across the nation, listed alphabetically.

Only 16 states are represented on the list.

Here are the other cities in the Western United States made the list:

• Ashland, Ore.
• Bend, Ore.
• Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• Eugene, Ore.
• San Francisco, Calif.

This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Best places to retire in the US? This Eastern Washington city made Forbes’ list."