> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://aarr.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Midland, Michigan Named U.S. News 2026 Best Place to Retire - URL: https://aarr.org/midland-michigan-best-place-to-retire/ - Published: 2026-09-17T17:34:22.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-17T17:34:22.000Z - Description: U.S. News & World Report ranked Midland, Michigan the No. 1 Best Place to Retire for 2026 out of 859 cities judged. Here is what retirees will find: a $206,142 median home value, no local income tax, and a state pension break that reaches 100 percent in 2026. - Author: AARR Staff - Tags: News, Best Places to Retire ## A Small Michigan City Beats Out More Than 850 Others U.S. News & World Report announced on November 4, 2025 that Midland, Michigan, is the No. 1 Best Place to Retire in its 2026 rankings. The city is a first-time entrant on the list and went straight to the top with an overall score of 6.8, ahead of Weirton, West Virginia, at No. 2 and Homosassa Springs, Florida, at No. 3\. It is also one of 11 Michigan cities in the top 100. U.S. News compared 859 cities for the 2026 edition, up from 150 the year before. Midland ranked No. 8 for quality of life, No. 11 for affordability and No. 18 for retiree taxes. It also placed No. 22 on the publisher's crime measure and No. 55 for walkability, and it scored well for culture and leisure, which measures how easily residents can reach shops, restaurants and cultural venues. Quality of life carries the most weight in the rankings, accounting for more than a quarter of a city's overall score, and U.S. News builds that index from crime rates, weather, the risk of extreme weather, access to culture and leisure, air quality and walkability. In its own write-up of the winner, U.S. News put it plainly: “Midland is a small town with a lot going on. Yes, you'll deal with Michigan winters.” ## What a Home Costs and What a Dollar Buys U.S. News lists Midland's population at 42,740, and 20 percent of its residents are over 65\. The publisher credits the city's affordability ranking partly to its median home value of $206,142, well below the national average of $370,489, and median monthly rent is $790. The Midland Business Alliance points to the city's reputation for midcentury modern architecture, much of it shaped by architect Alden B. Dow, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. The alliance also notes that Midland has several independent senior living communities designed for older adults who want affordable, maintenance-free living. ## The Tax Picture for Retirement Income Midland does not impose a local sales tax or a local income tax. The Midland Business Alliance notes that Michigan does not tax Social Security income and is phasing out its taxes on other retirement income, including pensions, 401(k)s and IRAs. The Michigan Department of Treasury sets out the schedule for that phase-out. Retirees could subtract up to 25 percent of their qualifying retirement and pension income for tax year 2023, up to 50 percent for 2024 and up to 75 percent for 2025, and starting with tax year 2026 they can subtract up to 100 percent. Treasury caps the amount using private pension limits that it adjusts each year for inflation. Treasury also notes a change for older taxpayers. For tax years 2026 through 2028, a taxpayer born after 1952 who is 67 or older can claim both the standard deduction and the Social Security deduction, where before the standard deduction had to be reduced by the amount of the Social Security deduction. ## Health Care Close to Home Midland is the headquarters city for MyMichigan Health, a nonprofit health system serving roughly one million residents across 26 counties. The system lists providers in 85 specialties and subspecialties, including cardiology, primary care, cancer care, neurosciences, orthopedics and vascular surgery. U.S. News notes that health care is available at the city's University of Michigan-affiliated hospital, where residents have access to a full range of specialty services. ## Parks, Culture and Community The City of Midland Parks and Recreation department maintains more than 80 parks, and the paved Pere Marquette Rail Trail runs 30 miles. Dow Gardens features thousands of flowers each spring and a 1,400-foot canopy walk in Whiting Forest, which U.S. News calls America's longest treetop canopy walk. The Chippewa Nature Center has 19 miles of trails, the Little Forks Conservancy protects local land while educating the community, and Lake Huron's beaches and boating are a short drive away. The Greater Midland Community Center offers senior programs along with a pool, spa, track, fitness classes and courts for basketball, pickleball, tennis and volleyball. The Midland Center for the Arts has an auditorium, theater and recital hall for concerts, performances and classes, and the Great Lakes Loons play minor league baseball in town. Senior Services, a private nonprofit that has served the Midland community for more than 60 years, offers care coordination, Meals on Wheels, counseling, health benefit assistance and adult day health services, and it says most of its services are free or low cost. The Midland Business Alliance notes that seniors can get around the community independently, including on the curb-to-curb Dial-A-Ride bus system. The City of Midland says it is intent on making Midland an age-friendly community, from investing in accessible parks and restrooms to providing safe living options. U.S. News adds that seniors can stay engaged by volunteering with local organizations. ## What to Weigh Before Moving to Midland The main thing to weigh is winter, which U.S. News raises in its own description of the No. 1 city. Anyone moving from a warmer state should visit Midland in the colder months before deciding.