This City Gets Almost 6 Hours of Full Sun a Day on Average

Ahh, retirement. Finally, the opportunity to stop working, pick up new hobbies, volunteer, spend time with the grandkids, and enjoy your golden years. And when you think of moving someplace to retire, it’s not usually to a place that’s cold and cloudy. Retirement is synonymous with going someplace sunny, and we have a list of the sunniest cities in America that also have a large population of seniors.

Sunny places are enticing to retirees for a variety of reasons. Cities with plenty of sunlight tend to also have a milder climate, which offers more comfortable living conditions year-round. Exposure to sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which is vital for bone health and immune function, two things that are crucial for seniors. Sunny weather is also proven to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Sunny locales also tend to have a more relaxed pace of life, ideal for seniors.

These locations also have a higher population of seniors 65 and older, which offers additional benefits. More seniors means more health care services tailored to the needs of retirees, which is crucial. An older population also means more well-established retirement communities, with social activities, health care facilities, and support services.

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 for the years 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.

So read on for the sunniest spots in America that also make for great places to retire, and when you’re ready to go exploring, these are baby boomers’ favorite places to travel abroad .

50. Skidaway Island, GA

Source: Jon Lovette / Photodisc via Getty Images

• 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

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Jason Patrick Ross / Shutterstock.com

• 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

Source: MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Robert Loe / Moment via Getty Images

• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

Source: jmoor17 / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: CrackerClips / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• 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

Source: ivanastar / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Thomas De Wever / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: halbergman / E+ via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Thomas Winz / The Image Bank via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Donna Derrick / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: NorCalStockMedia / Shutterstock.com

• 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

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Michael Warren / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Tomsmith585 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Andre Delisser / Shutterstock.com

• 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

Source: Serenethos / Getty Images

• 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

Source: Gary John Norman / The Image Bank via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Bertlmann / E+ via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Elaine Brackin / 500px / 500px via Getty Images

• 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

Source: mseeley1 / Flickr

• 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

Source: Sandy Macys/UIG / Collection Mix: Subjects via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Lake view in Pelican Bay ( CC BY 2.0 ) by naplesrealestate

• 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

Source: oscity / Getty Images

• 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

Source: sharonhahndarlin / Flickr

• 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

Source: Shore Drive / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

Source: Ryan Tishken / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: Melissa Kopka / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: halbergman / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Boulders Loop Trail, Payson, A… ( CC BY 2.0 ) by Andrea Lai

• 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

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

• 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

Source: fivetonine / Shutterstock.com

• 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

Source: Tim Roberts Photography / Shutterstock.com

• 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

Source: Wojtek Zagorski / Moment via Getty Images

• 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

Source: pics721 / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 38 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 69.9°F
• Population 65 years and over: 69.6%
• Median age: 71.1 years

7. Micco, FL

Source: FotoMaximum / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 39 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 74.2°F
• Population 65 years and over: 55.9%
• Median age: 67.3 years

6. Sun City West, AZ

Source: BCFC / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 40 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 71.6°F
• Population 65 years and over: 86.4%
• Median age: 74.8 years

5. Fortuna Foothills, AZ

Source: Lou Axt / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 41 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 73.3°F
• Population 65 years and over: 46.1%
• Median age: 61.9 years

4. Green Valley, AZ

Source: Manuela Durson / Shutterstock.com

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 41 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 68.6°F
• Population 65 years and over: 80.5%
• Median age: 73.5 years

3. Key Largo, FL

Source: alex grichenko / Getty Images

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 42 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 78.2°F
• Population 65 years and over: 27.4%
• Median age: 49.8 years

2. Montecito, CA

Source: davidwoodberry / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 42 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 59.1°F
• Population 65 years and over: 35.6%
• Median age: 50.4 years

1. Desert Palms, CA

Source: sanfel / iStock via Getty Images

• Avg. daily duration of full sun: 5 hours, 43 minutes
• Avg. daily temperature: 69.3°F
• Population 65 years and over: 83.7%
• Median age: 76.1 years

The post This City Gets Almost 6 Hours of Full Sun a Day on Average appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .