10 Great Cities for Older Singles

If you're hoping to meet someone new or find a welcoming place to live alone, check out these spots

by: John Briley, from: AARP, June 12, 2012

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AARP recommends ten cities where older singles can retire well- a woman laughing while sitting in a cafe

AARP recommends 10 cities with a vibrant singles scene. — John Norman / Getty Images

Let's start with a caveat: Trying to rate places on how they appeal to older singles is like picking a vacation spot for someone else. You could roam the hot spots of a town for months without meeting that special someone, then find a soul mate in a chance encounter at the post office.

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Still, some cities are better than others for older singles, especially those who are seeking some place to retire. We plied the country to find 10 great cities in which to retire for older singles, focusing primarily on places with convivial locals, a solid percentage of AARP-age residents and, of course, a lot of things to do — either solo or with a date.

We also kept an eye on health care resources and costs (although in some cases — notably San Francisco and New York — the sheer single-friendliness of the city trumped its admittedly steep cost of living). Read on, and let us know from your experience what other cities and towns are particularly single-friendly, and why.

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