The capital of Massachusetts, and largest city in the state, Boston is named by Bankrate.com as the second-best city in the U.S. to retire, largely due to its access to leading health care facilities, low crime rates and overall quality of life. Its vibrant downtown area is full of historic sites, entertainment venues and unique attractions, and while it’s known as America’s walking city, seniors can easily get around on the public transportation system, known locally as the “T.” Boston is currently home to over 76,000 seniors, though it’s projected that by 2030, seniors will make up one-fifth of the population. With this in mind, Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) manages two stand-alone senior centers, dedicated spaces at local venues and various partnership programs with local senior-focused services.
To help seniors discover the most senior-friendly cities around the country, Caring.com conducted a new study, “The Best Places for Seniors.” This survey analyzes and ranks 300 cities and 50 states on the quality of senior living in that area. The cities were graded using 70 metrics across six categories: senior housing, engagement, affordability, quality of life, health care and transportation.