This Small Arizona Town Was Just Named the Safest and Wealthiest Place to Retire in the West

Several factors encourage retirees to settle in the American West—wide-open spaces, plenty of golf courses, and mild weather among them. The most desirable retirement locations usually come with a cost, though. And according to GOBankingRates’ recent study of America’s 50 safest and wealthiest retirement towns, there’s one particular spot that the most affluent retirees tend to flock to.

Oro Valley, Arizona—which was also recently named as the most livable place to retire in the West—came in No. 3 overall in the rankings. Following Pinehurst, North Carolina, and Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, it received the highest score out of all destinations in the Western U.S.

Just north of Tucson, Oro Valley is jam-packed with outdoor activities. Golf is a major draw, with courses that look out on the scenic Santa Catalina Mountains, as are the hiking and biking paths and routes. The town itself is responsible for the upkeep of 30 miles of trails within the town limits. To enjoy these types of amenities in your post-retirement chapter, expect to pay north of $500,000 for your home.

In order to identify the safest, wealthiest retirement destinations, GOBankingRates took a multi-pronged approach. First, it compiled data from the U.S. Census to find towns and cities where the percentage of the population ages 65 and up is at least 20 percent. Then, it looked at average retirement income before Social Security, the percentage of households paying under 30 percent of their household income for monthly costs, and property and violent crime rates per 1,000 residents.

Monthly costs were calculated based on cost-of-living indices from Sperling’s and average expenditure costs for retired households as noted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Zillow Home Value Index and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from FRED were used to figure out single-family home value and the average mortgage. Once the personal finance resource’s research was complete, the destinations were each given a final total score.

Here’s how Oro Valley stacked up.

As of Oct. 2025, 34.9 percent of the population in Oro Valley is 65 and older; the average retirement income before Social Security is $53,668; 83.1 percent of households pay under 30 percent of their income for monthly costs; and the property crime rate and violent crime rates are 11.48 and 0.51 (per 1,000).

Other top contenders for safe, wealthy retirement towns in the West were Rancho Palos Verdes, California (No. 4); Mesquite, Nevada (No. 6); and Sahuarita, Arizona (No. 9). You can view the complete ranking on gobankingrates.com.