Social Security Only? These US Cities Won't Bankrupt You

Relying on social security to get by sounds like a tragedy, but there are indeed some places in the U.S. where you can live fairly well. Researchers have studied the cost of living, healthcare conditions, and livability index of cities across the country, and have identified the 10 best cities to live on social security alone.

Top Three Rankings:

🏘️ Jerome, Illinois - Monthly payment $845, annual living cost $32.7k, livability index 92 (highest). There are 10 independent senior communities, the highest rated by U.S. News.

🏥 Cleveland Heights, Ohio - Monthly payment $1.1k, annual living cost $34.2k. Close to Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, with top-notch medical resources.

🌊 Sandusky, Ohio - Monthly payment $809, annual living cost $28.8k. Affordable with a lake view, plus you can go to Cedar Point, suitable for active seniors.

Other Listed Cities are mainly distributed in Pennsylvania (Scranton, Meadville, Homestead, etc.), as well as a few in West Virginia and Maryland. The common point is one: affordable. Monthly payments range from $448 to $1.1k, with annual living costs controlled between $28k and $34k.

Data comes from the U.S. Census, Zillow, and the Social Security Administration, with a sample cut-off date of February 2025. The eligibility threshold is a livability index of 80+, and married social security must sufficiently cover living costs.

To be honest: If your retirement plan relies solely on social security, these small cities are indeed a way out. But the premise is that you have to get used to small-town living — less of the prosperity and convenience of big cities.