Surprising Industrial Wisconsin City Named Best Place To Retire

Financial experts have scoured data from across the country looking for the best places to retire. 12 towns made the list for the Midwest, and only one of them is located in Wisconsin. It's also probably one of the last places you would think of.

Financial advisor Kiplinger looked at several factors that make a place good for retirement. Those include living costs, safety, median incomes, poverty rates for retirees, recreational activites, and health care facilities.

First, let's look at the number 1 pick in the Midwest.

Best Place To Retire In The Midwest - Peoria, Illinois

The city of Peroria, Illinois, was named the best place to retire in the Midwest. It has a population of 113,672 people, and of that 19% are over the age of 65.

Affordability helps Peoria in the rankings as the average home value is around $131,860. That's nothing compared to the national average of $503,800. That puts Peoria at 24% lower cost of living than the rest of the country.

Green Bay, Wisconsin, Makes The List At #12

Just squeaking in the list of the top 12 places to retire in the Midwest is the industrial city of Green Bay. They are more than just the home to the Packers. Kiplinger describes Green Bay as a thriving cultural and arts scene, great medical care, and a great downtown with dining and shopping options.

The city of just 107,083 people has a median home value below the national average at $269,804. That helps bring the total cost of living in Green Bay to 13.9% lower than the national average.