This City Averages Nearly 6 Hours of Sunshine Daily

Everyone needs a certain amount of sunshine for optimal health. It is the primary source of Vitamin D, a necessary tool for the body that aids in calcium and phosphorus absorption to keep our bones strong and prevent diseases like osteoporosis. Sun has also been proven to improve mood, reduce symptoms of depression, and help alleviate seasonal affective disorder (SAD). While too much of anything isn't beneficial – like the sun – getting the necessary amount is crucial.

As we age, our skin becomes efficient at producing Vitamin D and experts suggest more sun exposure to seniors, which not only helps their bone density but reduces the risks of developing other ailments, like diabetes and heart disease. This is perhaps why many seniors are relocating to areas with more sun.These locations have a higher population of seniors 65 and older and Vitamin D aside, sunny areas give seniors more opportunities to be active, which improves their strength, brain health, social health, and more. The added benefit is a longer, healthy life. (These are baby boomers' favorite places to travel abroad.)

Methodology

To determine the sunniest cities for retirees, 24/7 Tempo reviewed county-level data on daily sunlight from the North America Land Data Assimilation System via the CDC WONDER program. Cities were ranked based on average kilojoules of sunshine per square meter from 1979 to 2011 and were converted to kilowatt-hours per square meter. Only cities with at least 2,500 residents 65 years and over and where the 65-plus population constitutes at least 25% of the total population were considered.

Only one city per county was included – the city with the largest share of 65-plus residents in each county. Data on age and population is from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey. Data on average daily temperature from 2019 to 2023 is from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is at the county level.

50. Skidaway Island, GA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 10 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 68.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 51.6%
Median age: 66.3 years

49. Lincoln, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 11 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 54.7°F
Population 65 years and over: 27.8%
Median age: 44.5 years

48. Lake Wales, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 11 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 74.7°F
Population 65 years and over: 26.3%
Median age: 43.1 years

47. Hilton Head Island, SC

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 11 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 67.9°F
Population 65 years and over: 39.2%
Median age: 59.8 years

46. St. Simons, GA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 11 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 69.1°F
Population 65 years and over: 37.3%
Median age: 57.4 years

45. Ivins, UT

Avg. daily duration of full-sun: 5 hours, 11 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 56.6°F
Population 65 years and over: 32.3%
Median age: 52.4 years

44. Sonoma, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 12 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 57.9°F
Population 65 years and over: 33.9%
Median age: 54.7 years

43. Cameron Park, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 12 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 55.0°F
Population 65 years and over: 25.2%
Median age: 45.8 years

42. Grass Valley, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 12 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 53.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 29.0%
Median age: 47.7 years

41. Pahrump, NV

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 12 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 52.7°F
Population 65 years and over: 31.9%
Median age: 53.7 years

40. Corrales, NM

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 12 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 51.2°F
Population 65 years and over: 36.2%
Median age: 56.5 years

39. Longboat Key, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 12 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 74.4°F
Population 65 years and over: 69.9%
Median age: 71.9 years

38. Daytona Beach Shores, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 13 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 73.4°F
Population 65 years and over: 53.2%
Median age: 65.8 years

37. Capitola, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 13 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 58.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 25.6%
Median age: 48.9 years

36. Palm Coast, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 14 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 72.9°F
Population 65 years and over: 29.5%
Median age: 50.3 years

35. Show Low, AZ

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 14 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 53.0°F
Population 65 years and over: 25.6%
Median age: 43.6 years

34. Rio Vista, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 15 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 61.9°F
Population 65 years and over: 48.4%
Median age: 64.6 years

33. Sebring, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 15 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 74.6°F
Population 65 years and over: 29.5%
Median age: 46.3 years

32. St. Augustine Shores, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 16 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 72.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 30.4%
Median age: 52.7 years

31. Plantation, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 16 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 74.5°F
Population 65 years and over: 73.8%
Median age: 72.6 years

30. Walnut Creek, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 16 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 61.2°F
Population 65 years and over: 29.3%
Median age: 47.2 years

29. Palm Beach, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 18 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 76.6°F
Population 65 years and over: 63.9%
Median age: 70.7 years

28. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 18 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 77.2°F
Population 65 years and over: 41.1%
Median age: 60.0 years

27. Hobe Sound, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 19 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 76.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 32.6%
Median age: 56.2 years

26. Sanibel, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 76.4°F
Population 65 years and over: 63.6%
Median age: 68.6 years

25. Rockport, TX

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 72.9°F
Population 65 years and over: 32.2%
Median age: 54.6 years

24. Indian River Shores, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 21 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 74.5°F
Population 65 years and over: 72.2%
Median age: 74.4 years

23. Rotonda, FL

An aerial photo of Rotonda West, Florida shows the spoke-like design of the development.

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 22 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 75.5°F
Population 65 years and over: 57.5%
Median age: 67.6 years

22. Los Altos Hills, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 22 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 59.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 31.9%
Median age: 53.5 years

21. Pelican Bay, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 23 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 76.7°F
Population 65 years and over: 76.2%
Median age: 73.6 years

20. Golden Valley, AZ

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 24 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 63.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 43.7%
Median age: 62.5 years

19. Mesquite, NV

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 24 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 65.0°F
Population 65 years and over: 44.8%
Median age: 62.3 years

18. South Pasadena, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 24 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 75.0°F
Population 65 years and over: 64.6%
Median age: 69.2 years

17. Hutchinson Island South, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 26 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 75.4°F
Population 65 years and over: 71.4%
Median age: 72.1 years

16. Aventura, FL

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 29 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 77.7°F
Population 65 years and over: 28.3%
Median age: 49.8 years

15. Village of Oak Creek (Big Park), AZ

Hiking trail signs in Sedona, giving directions to Big Park Loop, Courthouse Butte Loop

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 29 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 60.5°F
Population 65 years and over: 53.3%
Median age: 66.4 years

14. Pacific Grove, CA

Aerial shot of Pacific Grove, a small city in Monterey County, California. Shot by FAA licensed drone pilot with permit from the City of Pacific Grove.

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 31 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 59.4°F
Population 65 years and over: 27.5%
Median age: 49.2 years

13. Payson, AZ

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 32 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 60.8°F
Population 65 years and over: 37.7%
Median age: 59.0 years

12. Laguna Woods, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 33 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 64.8°F
Population 65 years and over: 82.6%
Median age: 75.1 years

11. Morro Bay, CA

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 34 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 60.3°F
Population 65 years and over: 28.6%
Median age: 52.1 years

10. Sierra Vista Southeast, AZ

Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 37 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 62.0°F
Population 65 years and over: 26.1%
Median age: 47.6 years

9. Malibu, CA

Pacific Ocean, road and houses located by the beach in Malibu.

Avg. daily duration of full-sun: 5 hours, 37 minutes
Avg. daily temperature: 62.4°F
Population 65 years and over: 29.5%
Median age: 50.2 years

8. Saddlebrooke, AZ

Aerial view of a suburban residential community with a golf course and tennis courts in a desert environment with the Catalina Mountains in the background near Tucson, Arizona.