4 Arizona cities make the cut for seniors best-prepared for retirement

PHOENIX — Arizona has long been a haven for retirees, and according to a recent study, Phoenix-area seniors were among the best at setting themselves up financially for retirement.

Personal finance company SmartAsset rated Surprise at No. 2, Sun City at No. 7 and Mesa at No. 10.

Scottsdale finished out of the top 10 at No. 16.

The study used data from the Census Bureau and looked at total retirement income, percentage of seniors on food stamps, home ownership and private retirement income, among other factors.

The company targeted 100 cities with the most residents 65 or older.

Surprise is the second-fasting growing municipality in the Phoenix metro area. Over 88% of seniors in Surprise own their home. That home acts as a back-up plan if the retirees ever find themselves in a financial pinch. Retirees who own their home can choose to sell or refinance if need be.

Only 5.6 percent of seniors in the West Valley city lived below the the poverty line. Seniors there averaged almost $51,000 in retirement income and home ownership was nearly 89 percent.

Sun City finished out of the top five because of an average retirement income of $41,527. In the top 25 cities, only No. 17 Fort Wayne, Indiana, was lower at $39,257.

Mesa retirees averaged $44,723 in income, while Scottsdale retirees averaged $54,720.

The Villages community in Florida earned the top spot.

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