Cities Where Social Security and Retirement Income Are the Highest
According to the Social Security Administration, the average yearly retirement benefit across the United States is slightly under $24,000.
Across U.S. cities, retirees receive an average of just over $30,000 per year from designated retirement accounts such as pensions, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and Roth or traditional IRAs. When combined with Social Security benefits, the total average retirement income comes to around $54,000 annually—well below the national median household income of $80,610. However, this combined retirement income can vary widely by city, ranging from as low as $33,000 to more than $85,000.
SmartAsset evaluated 344 of the largest U.S. cities by examining total average retirement income — including Social Security benefits — and analyzing annual changes in that income for retirees.
Carlsbad, CA, Bellevue, WA, and Naperville, IL lead the list of cities with the highest average retirement incomes, each exceeding $85,000. Carlsbad tops the rankings with an average of $85,442—an impressive leap from 9th place last year. Bellevue follows closely at $85,061, with Naperville just behind at $85,055. All three cities experienced double-digit growth in average retirement income compared to the previous year.
In several U.S. cities, Social Security benefits now exceed $30,000 annually. The Woodlands, Texas leads the nation with the highest average Social Security retirement benefit at $31,752, closely followed by Carmel, Indiana at $31,736. Other cities where retirees receive notably high Social Security income include Cary, North Carolina ($31,147); Naperville, Illinois ($30,921); Centennial, Colorado ($30,570); Frisco, Texas ($30,393); and Highlands Ranch, Colorado ($30,367).
Irving, Texas experienced the largest year-over-year growth in average retirement income, increasing by 43.5% from $42,542 in 2022 to $61,057 in 2023. Of this total, $37,545 came from retirement accounts, while $23,512 was derived from Social Security benefits.
Some cities show a high reliance on Social Security as the primary source of retirement income. In Allentown, Pennsylvania, 56.1% of retirement income comes from Social Security, despite the average annual benefit being relatively low at $16,282. In total, retirees in 19 cities depend on Social Security for more than half of their income, including places like Evansville, Indiana; Olathe, Kansas; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Arlington, Texas; and Billings, Montana.
On the other end of the spectrum, Hartford, Connecticut has the lowest average retirement income among U.S. cities, with retirees earning just $33,949 annually—a 6.1% decline from the previous year. Elizabeth, New Jersey follows closely with an average retirement income of $35,265.
