2025 Great Places to Live

Across the country, many people are rethinking what they want and need from the place they call home. Affordability matters, but so do the qualities that make daily life work; access to healthcare, ease of getting around, vibrant community life, and opportunities to stay active and engaged. 

Data from the AARP Livability Index platform informed the selection of the communities featured in the “Great Places to Live” series. The AARP Livability Index platform measures how neighborhoods support people at every age across housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, civic and social engagement, and opportunity. AARP began with places that earned strong livability scores and had average monthly housing costs under $1,500. 

From there, AARP incorporated the local insights of AARP state offices—people who serve these communities firsthand—and sent journalists to talk with residents and local leaders to understand what makes each place a great place to live.  

Explore the videos below to see what makes each community stand out—and see how your community measures up. 

Read more about how the communities were selected and see the full 2025 list. 

The Vermont Town Everyone Should Obsess Over

Montpelier, Vermont

Small Town Cool in the Bighorn Mountains

Sheridan, Wyoming

Tucson, Arizona

Video coming soon!

Savannah, Georgia

Video coming soon!