The 10 LGBTQ-Friendly Cities for Retirement in 2024

 

For LGBTQ seniors, finding a welcoming and inclusive retirement community that embraces diversity and fosters a sense of belonging is paramount. Outside of opting for LGBTQ or gay retirement communities, LGBTQ seniors will also want to evaluate the culture and setting of the surrounding city. But what makes a city truly LGBTQ-friendly, and how does that intersect with cities known for their desirability as retirement destinations?  To help you get started on your search for your ideal retirement community, we’ve compiled our list of 2024’s best places for LGBTQ retirement and outlined the top factors you’ll want to consider. 

Merging the Data: Pairing Gay-Friendly Cities & Retirement Hotspots

Our list of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities for retirees in 2024 was created through the analysis of several resources, including The Journal of Consumer Affairs’ 2024 list of LGBTQ-friendly cities, Senior Advice’s 2019 report on the best LGBTQ-friendly destinations for seniors, and Realtor’s Top 10 Retirement Towns for 2024. Collectively, these resources considered more than 100 metrics, such as:

 

• The Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index (HRC MEI) score
• Local and state legislation
• Access to certified LGBTQ-friendly healthcare
• The overall quality of healthcare
• Median age and cost of living
• Weather and scenery
• Number of LGBT-friendly retirement communities

As a final step, cities were then filtered through AARP’s Livability Scoring System. Each city listed below has a final average score of more than 50 across seven categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity. A location’s total livability score is an average of those seven category scores.

 

2024’s Top Cities for LGBTQ Retirees

 

1. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Coined the “Gay Capital City of Florida,” Fort Lauderdale is a favorite among LGBTQ locals and visitors alike. An hour north of Miami, Fort Lauderdale boasts 23 miles of sandy Atlantic coastline, including many gay-specific beaches.

Fort Lauderdale has much to offer the LGBTQ community beyond sunny beaches and resorts. Just north of the city is the welcoming community of Wilton Manors, one of South Florida’s most famous gayborhoods. Wilton Manors combines a small-town atmosphere with all the amenities of urban life, including many gay-friendly businesses, bars, and restaurants.

Fort Lauderdale and Broward County enforce local ordinances protecting LGBTQ rights. Pride Center Florida was established to meet the distinct health, social, educational, socio-economic, and safety needs of the LGBTQ community and its allies.

Compared to national averages, Fort Lauderdale’s overall cost of living is very high, but there’s no state income tax, and assisted living and home health care costs are low.

 

2. Austin, Texas

Austin is a diverse, liberal oasis in an otherwise politically conservative state that is welcoming to all. But what would you expect from a city whose motto is “Keep Austin Weird”? Austin is famous for its music and burgeoning foodie scene. It also stands out for its warm weather, friendly residents, low crime rate, recreational activities, gay-owned businesses, and the annual gay pride festival and parade.

Home to the state capital and the University of Texas, it’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the country but still maintains a small-town heart. At nearly 6%, Austin has one of the largest LGBTQ communities in the country.

Austin continually advocates for the LGBTQ community. In 2017, the city council formed the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Quality of Life Advisory Commission to enhance government accountability and advise on issues regarding the LGBTQ community.

Austin’s cost of living is average, and Texas has no state income tax. It has over 100 area senior living facilities, including LGBTQ-friendly senior communities.

 

3. Alexandria, Virginia

Located along the Potomac River a few miles south of Washington, D.C., Alexandria is considered a cultural U.S. hotspot. You can enjoy practically any type of cultural, historical, sport, or recreational experience you can imagine, along with diverse dining, shopping, and an excellent transit system to navigate it all. 

More than this, Alexandria is very supportive of its LGBTQ community. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recognized Alexandria as a top LGBTQ city due to practices such as local nondiscrimination laws, providing transgender-inclusive health benefits for city employees, and offering LGBTQ-inclusive services.

The metro area, which includes our nation’s capital and Arlington, Virginia, comprises approximately 13% of adults aged 65 and older, which is average among major U.S. cities. The overall cost of living is 37% higher than the national average, stemming primarily from a more expensive housing market. Arlington has over 175 area senior living facilities, including LGBTQ senior communities and specialized senior wellness centers.

 

4. West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach is home to year-round sunshine and over 40 miles of pristine, sandy-white beaches along Florida’s Atlantic coast. The downtown area comprises four distinct districts that buzz with activity, including fine dining, music and theater, art museums, unique festivals, and plenty of shopping, including the popular Antique Row in its Arts and Design District.

The city’s significant LGBTQ legislation has opened the door for other U.S. cities with their demonstration of support and policies protecting their LGBTQ community. West Palm Beach earned a perfect score on the HRCME index, and several elected city and county officials are openly gay.

While the cost of living in West Palm Beach is significantly higher than the national average, the bustling senior population of Palm Beach County, reaching nearly 24%, showcases the region’s popularity among older adults.

 

5. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a vibrant city with a thriving arts scene, beautiful parks, and a welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ seniors. As of 2023, the city has a nearly perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index (HRC MEI) and offers several resources and organizations specifically catering to the LGBTQ community. In fact, Consumer Affairs ranks Minneapolis as the most gay-friendly city in 2024, citing a high ratio of same-sex households per 1,000, a lack of antitransgender or anti-LGBTQ+ bills, and extensive legislation protecting those in the LGBTQ+ community.

With a growing senior population and a variety of senior living options, Minneapolis provides a supportive and engaging environment for LGBTQ seniors to enjoy their retirement years.

 

6. Seattle, Washington

Known for its stunning natural beauty and progressive values, Seattle is a welcoming city for LGBTQ seniors. The city's diverse neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and outdoor recreational opportunities make it an attractive destination for seniors seeking an active and fulfilling retirement. 

With a perfect score on the HRC MEI, Seattle boasts a vibrant LGBTQ community and numerous resources and organizations dedicated to supporting LGBTQ individuals. 

Seattle's commitment to inclusivity extends to its healthcare system, which is renowned for its cultural competency and LGBTQ-friendly providers. Whether you’re seeking urban excitement or outdoor adventures, Seattle offers a welcoming environment for LGBTQ seniors to enjoy a fulfilling retirement.

 

7. King City, Oregon

King City, Oregon, offers a quieter setting for LGBTQ seniors seeking a relaxed retirement lifestyle. The city is ranked among Realtor.com’s top retirement destinations for seniors in 2024 and has an AARP senior livability score of 60. While it may not have the same bustling LGBTQ scene as larger cities, King City provides a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. 

King City is also located just 25 minutes outside of Portland, which has an LGBTQ population of around 6% — one of the highest in the nation. This means that LGBTQ seniors in King City are within easy distance of one of the nation’s largest queer communities and plenty of exciting events. The city's beautiful scenery, affordable housing options, and access to outdoor recreational activities make it an appealing choice for LGBTQ retirees seeking a peaceful and affordable retirement.

 

8. Tampa, Florida

Metro Tampa Bay is a diverse, inclusive, senior-dense region encompassing Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Tampa has some of the best beaches in the country and has long been a welcoming place for LGBTQ seniors.

The area offers big-city amenities, including a vibrant restaurant scene, great shopping, world-class museums, arts and culture. It’s also home to many LGBTQ venues, businesses and events, including the Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the largest LGBTQ pride festival in the state.

Tampa also enacted anti-discrimination ordinances, banned conversion therapy and earned a perfect score on the HRCME index. The LGBTQ population is approximately 4.8%, one of the highest in the nation, and the entire senior population is just over 13%. There’s no state income tax, and the overall cost of living is low. You’ll also find affordable senior living communities offering LGBTQ senior care.

 

9. Tucson, Arizona

With its affordability and constant sunshine, Tucson, Arizona, is one of the fastest-growing retirement destinations in the nation. Tucson offers a unique mix of dining and shopping options, historical and cultural attractions, and abundant year-round outdoor activities. With over 20% of the city’s population ages 65 and older and a general LGBTQ population of nearly 5%, many find Tucson to be one of the best cities for LGBTQ seniors.

For the past several years, Tucson has had a perfect score on the HRCME index.In 1999, it was the first Arizona city to pass an antidiscrimination ordinance protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents and city workers. The University of Arizona in Tucson set the bar for other U.S. universities by offering The Institute for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies, one of the first of its kind. There are more than 25 retirement communities in the Tucson area, many offering LGBTQ senior care.

 

10. Dayton, Ohio

Located in southwestern Ohio on the banks of the Miami River, Dayton is the hometown of Orville and Wilbur Wright and is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and the National Aviation Hall of Fame. But Dayton is so much more than aviation.

Dayton has a vibrant performing arts scene and a charming revamped downtown full of coffee shops, restaurants, and an eclectic mix of bars, breweries and wineries. It’s great for outdoor lovers, with over 300 miles of paved trails, dozens of golf courses and plenty of metro parks. You’ll also find several historic neighborhoods that appeal to residents of all backgrounds.

Many organizations in Dayton cater to the LGBTQ senior community, and Dayton has a perfect score on the HRCME Index. It has a ban on conversion therapy and a nondiscrimination ordinance based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The median sale price for homes in Dayton is approximately $126,000, which is an impressive 69% lower than the national price. The city also boasts a cost of living 4% lower than the national average, making it an ideal location for LGBTQ seniors searching for an affordable, accepting city.

 

Retirement Destinations for LGBTQ Seniors: Find Your Community

Ready to explore LGBTQ-friendly retirement communities in welcoming cities across the U.S.? Life Care Services offers more than 130 communities nationwide, including locations in other cities renowned for their inclusivity, such as Boulder, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Asheville, North Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; and Santa Ana, California. Discover the perfect community to match your lifestyle and aspirations with our easy-to-use Community Locator Tool. Start your journey to a fulfilling and vibrant retirement today.