Shoreline, Washington

The second Pacific Northwest beauty on this list, Shoreline is a bedroom community in the greater Seattle area located between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. With views of their waters (the city is aptly named) and the faraway trees of Olympic National Forest and the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, Shoreline has plenty of green and blue spaces that can help enhance seniors’ well-being.

Its location provides easy access to the San Juan Islands and Olympic Peninsula for day trips, perfect for retirees who want to travel and explore the region. Shoreline itself has endless parks and trails from which they can enjoy the city’s natural beauty, as well as two community gardens. Retirees can also connect with others and get some exercise by joining the city’s Shoreline Walks, which are geared toward those over age 50. 

More outdoor activities will be on tap over the next several years. The Shoreline City Council adopted the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Public Art Plan this year, which will expand a healthy urban forest and make aquatics, parks, and public art more accessible over the next six years. 

No wonder Shoreline has earned a score of 81 out of 100 on the ShareCare Community Well-Being Index, which analyzes over 600 health-risk factors in communities across the U.S. There are 14 above-average hospitals within 25 miles recommended by more than half of patients, and 13 above-average nursing homes within 50 miles, per Healthgrades. 

And a light-rail service opened in August will make it easy for retirees to get to Seattle when they need more amenities or want to visit family living and working in the tech hub.