Your Guide to America's Best East Coast Cities for a Car-Free Retirement

Why Going Carless Could Transform Your Retirement

For retirees living on fixed incomes, vehicle ownership represents one of the biggest annual expenses. Between maintenance, insurance, fuel, and financing, the average retiree spends approximately $3,989 each year just to keep a car on the road. By eliminating this burden, you could redirect nearly $4,000 annually toward travel, hobbies, or healthcare—a meaningful boost to retirement quality of life.

The key to making this work? Finding a city designed for pedestrians where daily errands and activities remain accessible without a vehicle. That’s where the walkability factor becomes crucial.

How We Identified the Best East Coast Cities

To compile this analysis, researchers evaluated communities across the Eastern United States using multiple criteria:

Selection Requirements:

• At least 20% of the population must be retirement age (65+)
• Cities ranked using EPA’s National Walkability Index (scores ranging from 10.51-20, with higher values indicating superior pedestrian infrastructure)
• Communities assessed for overall livability quality
• Transportation cost indexes calculated based on regional expense variations

Data Sources: Census data, Sperling’s BestPlaces cost-of-living indexes, Bureau of Labor Statistics, AreaVibes livability scores, and EPA walkability metrics (data current as of October 2025).

The Top Contenders: Best East Coast Cities for Carless Retirement

Florida Options Lead on Affordability

Florida dominates the more budget-friendly tier. Tavares ($46,517 annual cost, 19.0 walkability) and North Port ($45,422 annually, 16.5 walkability) offer some of the lowest living expenses while maintaining solid pedestrian accessibility. New Port Richey similarly attracts retirees with an annual cost of just $45,577 paired with 16.5 walkability rating. Miami Springs ($76,859 annually, 15.0 walkability) and Wilton Manors ($73,020 yearly, 17.0 walkability) provide mid-range options with excellent walkability scores.

New England’s Higher-Value Communities

Massachusetts cities present compelling alternatives for those seeking established infrastructure. Saugus ($71,854 annual cost, 17.2 walkability) and Peabody ($72,899 yearly, 18.7 walkability) lead the regional rankings. Lexington—though pricier at $135,228 annually—justifies its cost through 92 livability and 15.7 walkability ratings. Stoneham offers a balanced profile with $81,620 annual costs and 87 livability.

Beyond New England

Connecticut communities show varied profiles: Milford ($63,597 annually, 88 livability) and Orange ($70,422 yearly, 17.0 walkability) appeal to those seeking moderate costs, while Greenwich caters to affluent retirees at $191,842 annually. New York locations—Rockville Centre, Plainview, and Oceanside—cluster around $84,000-$99,000 in annual expenses with moderate walkability (13.0-16.7 range).

Underrated Hidden Gems

Morganton, North Carolina stands out with the nation’s lowest annual cost ($41,297) and impressive 19.3 walkability. Wyomissing, Pennsylvania ($51,185, 14.2 walkability) and Portsmouth, New Hampshire ($79,869, 83.8 transportation index) round out lesser-known options that deserve consideration.

What These Metrics Really Mean

Livability scores (ranging 68-92) reflect overall quality of life including healthcare access, safety, and community amenities. Walkability indexes measure how easily you can accomplish errands on foot—scores above 15 indicate genuinely pedestrian-friendly environments. The transportation cost index (baseline 100) shows regional expense variations, with values above 100 indicating higher-than-average transportation costs relative to national averages.

The Bottom Line

Whether you prioritize tropical warmth, established communities, or maximum affordability, America’s best east coast cities for carless retirement offer genuine alternatives to traditional aging-in-place scenarios. Selecting from these 20 ranked locations ensures access to pedestrian infrastructure while capturing annual transportation savings that could meaningfully extend your retirement resources. The combination of walkability and manageable living costs creates realistic pathways for retirees seeking independence without vehicle ownership.