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The real estate truism – location is everything – is certainly true when it comes to retiring.

But what are you looking for in that location? Access to world-class health facilities? A low cost of living? Cultural offerings? Changes in the seasons – or sunshine all the time?

Here are some of the pros and cons of mid-Atlantic regional retirement options.

Points of pride in Pennsylvania

In U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the best places to retire in the U.S. in 2024, seven Pennsylvania cities made the top 10. That included Harrisburg, Reading, Lancaster, Scranton, Allentown, York and Pittsburgh.

“Pennsylvania is an ideal place to retire because of its low cost of living, its quality of life, no taxes on retirement income, and quality health care,” said Maureen Leader, public relations and communications manager for Willow Valley Communities, a Lancaster-based 55-plus retirement community.

Leader added that the state’s cost of living is generally lower than the national average and has a lower cost of living than other East Coast states.

Another financial benefit for retirees is that Pennsylvania does not tax retirement income, including Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.

“One of many critical factors that sets us apart is the Pennsylvania Lottery — the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs for older adults,” Jason Kavulich, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, wrote on the department’s website. “That money translates into supports offered through the commonwealth’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), which coordinate services on the local level including home-delivered meals, 500 Senior Centers, in-home services, protective services, and more.”

Lots to enjoy – for a price

Be honest – the first place that leaps to mind when one thinks about when contemplating where to spend the golden years is probably not New Jersey.

Well, Travel + Leisure magazine recently ranked Vineland, New Jersey, as one of the top 50 places to retire in the country. Vineland also was named one of the top 10 most affordable small cities in the country by the National Association of Home Builders.

The state has other positives. Most of North Jersey is within easy reach of New York, with all of its cultural attractions. The state itself offers performing arts centers and museums in most regions, plus four major league sports teams.

And there are beaches. Or The Shore, as the seaside region is known locally. New Jersey’s 130 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline – and several bays and estuaries – include a variety of warm-weather destinations, from quiet national parks to bustling amusement areas.

The weather is a mixed bag. Summer months are generally hot and humid. Winter can be bitterly cold with heavy snow and persistent gray slush. But spring and fall are usually delightful.

The main drawback to retiring in New Jersey is the cost. According to senior living provider A Place for Mom, the monthly cost of independent living in a retirement community is $3,340 in New Jersey, making it the 13^th most expensive state in the nation. The Tax Foundation says New Jersey homeowners pay the highest effective property tax rate in the country.

Close to everything in Rochester

Ann Marie Cook, president and CEO of Lifespan, says while being close to family and friends is the No. 1 reason she hears from older adults about staying in Rochester, the advantages to growing older in the region are plentiful.

“It’s an easy-to-navigate community; everything is 20 minutes away,” Cook said. “We have a lot of great cultural events. We have wonderful opportunities for people to take classes and to take advantage of our great museums.”

Cook points to the health systems of the University of Rochester Medical Center and Rochester Regional Health as being top-notch providers of care for people of all ages, including older adults.

Many Rochester organizations welcome the wisdom and talents older adults bring to volunteer roles, including Lifespan, which Cook says at any given time has about three hundred active volunteers, almost all of them older.

In 2024 Rochester placed 7^th overall and 3^rd among small metros on Neighbor.com’s 25 Most Neighborly Cities in America list, which noted the region’s high rates of charitable giving and volunteerism, as well as a tradition of kindness and civic engagement.

Sunny in South Carolina

It all begins with weather and location.

South Carolina’s relatively mild winters – especially in the Lowcountry – plentiful sunny days and over 200 miles of beaches are all reasons retirees are flocking to The Palmetto State. Summers are hot, but not quite as “sticky” as some destinations farther south, like Florida.

Affordability is another huge draw. South Carolina’s relatively low cost of living compared to other coastal states, and its favorable tax benefits, are appealing to seniors. The median home value in South Carolina — about $283,000 at the end of 2023, according to Zillow — is much lower than other popular destinations, like Florida, according to the American Association of Retired Persons. South Carolina has some of the lowest property tax rates in the U.S., with an effective rate of 0.52 percent, about half the national average, according to AARP. In addition, there’s no state tax on Social Security benefits, and residents 65 years or older can deduct up to $10,000 of retirement income from their state taxes.

A potential drawback? Hurricanes. While South Carolina’s weather is typically pleasant, it can turn downright deadly in an instant. The average cost of home insurance in South Carolina runs approximately 10 to 20 percent higher than the U.S. average premium, according to AARP, citing the Insurance Information Institute.

Tight-knit communities, active lifestyles

While some might initially balk at the idea of retirement on Long Island — with its reputation for higher-than-average taxes and rough winters — there are many who would be hard-pressed to leave the area; their community ties are strong, and many maintain close-knit relationships with family and friends.

Seniors increasingly want to keep an active lifestyle. Whether it’s a day trip to one of the area’s many state parks and beaches, or a short ferry ride across the Great South Bay to Fire Island, there are many options for seniors who enjoy the sun and sand. There are also ample opportunities for boating and fishing along both the north and south shores of the Island.

Many seniors also enjoy the proximity to New York City, being able to take a day trip to get their fixes for the arts, culture and culinary experiences. Long Island is also home to stellar health care facilities.

Yes, the taxes are high, as is the cost of living. But many communities have programs and grants that ease the burden for senior citizens.

And many areas also don’t require having to keep a car or an active driver’s license, given the Long Island Rail Road, ample ride-share services and the proximity of many downtown areas to important services.

Best of places, worst of places

Maryland has not fared well in many of the national ratings of best places to retire. But if you drill down into the various categories these assessments use, you might be surprised.

OK, the state is expensive. High cost of living. High taxes. And, depending on what area you are exploring (Baltimore City, certain adjacent counties and the suburban Washington neighborhoods), crime can be an issue.

The advocates of Maryland, like those for many Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, point to other variables. Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical System are nationally renowned, and several other fine hospital systems also are scattered through the state.

A rich diversity of lifestyles – from Chesapeake Bay communities on the Eastern Shore, to the mini-mountains of Western Maryland – are enticing, as are such small cities as Annapolis, Frederick, Salisbury, Easton, Cumberland. So, too, are smaller towns in Harford, Cecil and Talbot counties. Plenty of museums, theaters, adventurous restaurants and professional sports can be found in Washington and Baltimore.

The state is making an issue to address its affordability problems, perhaps less to attract newcomers than to prevent long-time residents from fleeing to nearby Delaware, the Carolinas or even to Florida. Maryland does not tax Social Security benefits, and it has expanded a program that allows seniors to exempt what is now $39,000 in pension or annuity income from taxes as well.