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Slow down and relax in this Long Island gem.
While some seniors prefer the convenience of city living, others yearn for the quiet mornings and quaint downtowns of a small town. If you belong to the latter group, AARP recently shared its ranking of the best small towns to live for older adults.
The non-profit organization considered communities with populations of 5,000 to 24,999 residents and evaluated them on over 60 factors across categories such as housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, and health. Additionally, AARP noted that “residents of small communities typically experience lower income inequality, more jobs per worker, and greater age diversity compared to the national average.”
After analyzing the data, Great Neck Plaza, New York, ranked the best small town to live in the U.S. This Long Island village stands out “with impressive neighborhood and transportation scores that outrank every one of the top 25 large communities and many of the top 25 midsize and very large communities as well,” according to AARP. (This list is part of the organization’s annual Best Places to Live survey, where places are ranked by population size.)
Great Neck Plaza is located in Nassau County and has a population of roughly 7,800 full-time residents. While it is thoroughly ensconced in a small-town lifestyle, it is only a short distance from New York City; Broadway shows, world-class restaurants, and major cultural institutions are a train ride away. However, there's plenty to do in and around the village, too.
Great Neck Plaza boasts a picturesque downtown area with over 250 small businesses, including boutiques and restaurants. The community is just minutes away from some of Long Island's most quaint North Shore beaches and about an hour from the Hamptons. The local library has multiple branches, and there are numerous parks and nature preserves in the area to explore.
However, if you plan on purchasing a home here, keep in mind that prices are rising quickly. The current median home value is $561,969, which is 10 percent higher than last year.
Niche.com ranked Great Neck Plaza the best suburb to live in New York in 2025, and gave it perfect A+ scores for health and fitness, public schools, and family-friendliness.
Falls Church, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C., took the No. 2 spot on AARP's list of the best small towns for seniors. Despite being the smallest incorporated municipality in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Falls Church is dubbed The Little City and offers an abundance of urban amenities. And third on the list is Pella, Iowa, known for its rich Dutch heritage.
You can see the complete list of the top 25 small towns to live on AARP.org.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
