the golden years

2 Houston suburbs relax on top-10 list of best U.S. cities to retire

Houston suburbs like The Woodlands offer retirees a good quality of life and affordability.

Visit The Woodlands/Facebook

Houston and nine of its suburbs are earning new acclaim on U.S. News and World Report's just-released list of the best U.S. cities for retirees in 2027. Two northern suburbs, The Woodlands and Spring, are resting easy among the top five nationwide.

The 2027 Best Places to Retire list evaluated over 850 U.S. cities based on six livability metrics that best serve American retirees: quality of life, affordability, health care, retiree taxes, job market, and population and migration. The top 250 finalist cities were then ranked nationally and by city size.

Midland, Michigan topped the list for the second consecutive year and is followed by Homosassa Springs, Florida (No. 2) and Weirton, West Virginia (No. 3).

The Woodlands and Spring respectively maintained their standings as the No. 4 and No. 5 best cities for retirees for the second year in a row. The Woodlands topped the separate list of the best midsized U.S. cities to retire, while Spring landed 5th among the smallest U.S. cities.

Houston proper was declared the No. 2 best big city for retirees, and it ranked 89th overall. Elsewhere in the metro, Pearland (No. 13) and Conroe (No. 14) ranked just outside the overall top 10 but ranked 4th and 5th among the best midsized cities for retirees.

U.S. News said affordability is the "most considered factor" when it comes to picking the best place to live a low-stress retirement life, and that's what Houston and its neighbors deliver. Affordable cities also give retirees "a sense of security and comfort as they live out their golden years," according to Megan Wood, U.S. News assistant managing editor of home services and real estate.

"It’s no secret that affordability is top of mind for Americans this year, which is why U.S. News updated its weighting criteria to better align with what retirees prioritize," Wood said. "The 2027 rankings reflect key metrics used to highlight the places that
best suit retiree needs."

Sugar Land was declared the 10th best place to live in the U.S. in a separate U.S. News report earlier this year, but it doesn't quite meet the expectations for retirees. This particular suburb ranked as the 45th best overall city to retire, but it fared better in the city size ranking and landed 13th among the biggest U.S. cities.

Pasadena also surprised as the 85th best place to retire nationwide in this report, despite being hailed as the No. 3 best city to retire in Texas by RetirementLiving.com.

Three more Houston neighbors ranked among the top 100 overall best places to retire for 2027: League City (No. 25), Missouri City (No. 49), and Baytown (No. 88).

These are the top 10 best U.S. cities to retire for 2027:

No. 1 – Midland, Michigan
No. 2 – Homosassa Springs, Florida
No. 3 – Weirton, West Virginia
No. 4 – The Woodlands
No. 5 – Spring, Texas
No. 6 – Rio Rancho, New Mexico
No. 7 – Altoona, Pennsylvania
No. 8 – Paducah, Kentucky
No. 9 – Lynchburg, Virginia
No. 10 – Palm Coast, Florida

retirement houston the woodlands spring best cities us news & world report anderson

houston holiday traditions

Houston star Lizzo to lead Thanksgiving parade, En Vogue for tree lighting

Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Lizzo will serve as Grand Marshall for the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has shared plans for two of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions: the 77th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade and Deck the Hall: The Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting Concert.

Scheduled to begin at 9 am on Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day), organizers have recruited Houston-born superstar Lizzo to serve as this year’s grand marshall. Houston native and current Miss America 2027 Regan Hutsell will join the celebration as a special guest.

“Welcoming Lizzo home as our Grand Marshal is a proud moment for Houston,” Mayor Whitmire said in a statement. “Her journey reflects the talent growing in our neighborhoods and communities. We look forward to gathering downtown this Thanksgiving to celebrate with our families and share this Houston tradition.”

A proud Alief Elsik High School alum and former student at the University of Houston, Lizzo made a splash earlier this year with a sold-out debut performance at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. The Elsik marching band will join its distinguished alumnae at the parade.

This year’s parade will feature 15 floats and 10 giant balloons, including a 50-foot Popeye, a 50-foot Santa Elmo, and a 40-foot Cookie Monster, as well as returning favorites such as the 40-foot H-E-Buddy, the University of Houston-Downtown’s 40-foot Ed-U-Gator, and the 25-foot Howdy. Other performers include RaeLynn paying tribute to Dolly Parton, Christian recording artist Micah Tyler performing “Little Drummer Boy,” and the Apache Belles performing their signature kick line.

“The H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade is a celebration of everything that makes Houston

extraordinary: community, tradition, and bringing people together,” said H-E-B executive Lisa Helfman. “From the students who march through downtown to the families who gather along the route each year, this tradition reflects the heart of our city. H-E-B is honored to help bring this celebration to life and excited to welcome Houston’s own Lizzo home for a memorable Thanksgiving with the community we’re privileged to serve.”

The parade is free to attend, but reserved seating is available for $30-39, depending on the section. Get more details at houstonthanksgivingparade.org.

The tree lighting ceremony and concert will take place on Saturday, December 5 from 4–9 pm at Hermann Square outside City Hall. Also free to attend, the concert will feature performances by En Vogue, MAJOR, and Jessica Sanchez.

“Deck the Hall brings Houstonians together to celebrate the season and the community we share,” said Mayor Whitmire. “This year, we’re giving families even more to enjoy with an expanded Winter Wonderland, outstanding performers and the lighting of our city’s holiday tree. I thank Reliant and all of our partners for helping us keep this holiday tradition free and welcoming to everyone.”

In addition to the concert, the event’s Winter Wonderland will feature carolers, school groups, and DJs. Attendees can also expect an ice luge, complimentary hot chocolate, free photos with Santa.

“There’s something special about seeing downtown Houston come alive for the holidays, and Reliant is proud to once again help bring this beloved tradition to our community,” said Reliant senior vice president Bill Clayton. “With great music, holiday lights, our fan-favorite blinking Santa hats and even more to enjoy this year, Deck the Hall gives Houstonians a fun, free way to celebrate the season together right in the heart of downtown.”

Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Lizzo will serve as Grand Marshall for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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