These days, you can become eligible for partial Social Security retirement benefits at age 62 and reach full retirement age for 100% benefits at 66 to 67 years old, depending on the year you were born. Full retirement age used to be 65 for the longest time, traced back to a German program that set that age in 1916, and later used as the retirement age in the U.S. when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935. With people living longer, however, Congress passed a law to gradually raise the age in 1983. Of course, not everybody retires at 65, or at 67.

For some retiree-aged people, they need to work to supplement their income. For others, they simply prefer to remain in the workforce. In fact, 18.3% of 65+ Americans were in the labor force in 2023, nearly double the share 35 years ago. What’s more, 62% of older workers are working full time, compared with 47% in 1987, according to Pew Research.

So where in the country are the most older Americans still working? To find that, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year data on age and employment status from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. Cities, towns and census-designated places were ranked based on the percentage of the population 65 years and over that is in the labor force, either as employed workers or unemployed workers seeking jobs. Supplemental data on median household income for householders 65 years and over and the percentage of the population that is 65 years and over.

In the 50 cities on the list, at least one in four of the 65 and older population are in the labor force. These cities are mostly wealthy — 41 have median household incomes above the comparable national median of $75,149. Similarly, in 45 of the cities, the median income among the 65+ population is higher than the comparable national median of $54,699. Many of these cities tend to have a large share of white collar jobs that are not physically demanding. Also see: This Is The Best Place To Retire: Every County in Your State, Ranked.

While these cities are located in every region, the most are in the South. For example, eight are in Texas, seven in Maryland, and five in Virginia. In the West, California leads with six cities on the list, while Massachusetts in the Northeast has four. In most of the cities, the share of the 65+ population is smaller than the national average of 16.5%. (If you do plan to work after retirement, make sure to understand any possible financial repercussions.)

Why This Matters

With people living longer, healthier lives, many older Americans may either have to continue working or choose to do so. 24/7 Wall St. wanted to find whether there are any commonalities in areas where the most 65 and older Americans work. Indeed, we found several such commonalities that could suggest that in the cities where most retiree-aged people work, it may be more a matter of choice than necessity. It is worth pointing out, though, that working in retirement could affect Social Security retirement benefits. For example, in 2024, before full retirement age, you can earn up to $22,320 without seeing any reduction in your Social Security benefit, and you can similarly earn up to $59,520 after you reach full retirement age, according to the SSA.

50. Nashua, New Hampshire

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 25.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $57,993
• Median household income overall, 2022: $88,766
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 14,953 or 16.4% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 90,943

49. Centennial, Colorado

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 25.7%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $88,530
• Median household income overall, 2022: $124,617
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 19,244 or 17.9% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 107,702

48. Wichita Falls, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 25.7%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $45,617
• Median household income overall, 2022: $55,584
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 14,382 or 14.0% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 102,482

47. Richardson, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 25.8%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $70,627
• Median household income overall, 2022: $94,362
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 14,931 or 12.6% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 118,063

46. Kenner, Louisiana

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 25.9%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $49,223
• Median household income overall, 2022: $60,557
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 11,469 or 17.4% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 65,785

45. Irvine, California

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 25.9%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $90,158
• Median household income overall, 2022: $122,948
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 31,799 or 10.4% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 304,527

44. Columbia, Maryland

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 25.9%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $101,563
• Median household income overall, 2022: $124,537
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 17,359 or 16.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 106,600

43. Costa Mesa, California

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.1%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $66,155
• Median household income overall, 2022: $104,981
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 14,448 or 13.0% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 111,490

42. Allen, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.1%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $74,283
• Median household income overall, 2022: $121,259
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 10,980 or 10.4% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 105,444

41. Norwalk, Connecticut

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.1%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $65,934
• Median household income overall, 2022: $97,879
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 14,373 or 15.8% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 91,050

40. Hoffman Estates, Illinois

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.3%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $85,291
• Median household income overall, 2022: $107,428
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 6,917 or 13.4% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 51,744

39. Miami Beach, Florida

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.4%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $35,881
• Median household income overall, 2022: $65,116
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 14,986 or 18.2% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 82,400

38. Metairie, Louisiana

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.5%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $61,017
• Median household income overall, 2022: $72,070
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 30,139 or 21.5% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 140,046

37. Euless, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.5%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $69,134
• Median household income overall, 2022: $77,403
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 6,427 or 10.6% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 60,360

36. Harrisonburg, Virginia

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $59,409
• Median household income overall, 2022: $56,050
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 4,975 or 9.6% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 51,784

35. Santa Monica, California

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $56,928
• Median household income overall, 2022: $106,797
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 17,340 or 18.8% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 92,168

34. Reston, Virginia

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.7%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $99,727
• Median household income overall, 2022: $135,503
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 10,378 or 16.6% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 62,339

33. Bowie, Maryland

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.8%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $88,328
• Median household income overall, 2022: $138,797
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 8,579 or 14.8% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 57,922

32. Alpharetta, Georgia

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 26.8%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $58,237
• Median household income overall, 2022: $141,402
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 7,111 or 10.8% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 65,884

31. Lafayette, Louisiana

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.0%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $49,795
• Median household income overall, 2022: $58,850
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 20,336 or 16.7% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 121,706

30. Newport Beach, California

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.0%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $120,214
• Median household income overall, 2022: $149,471
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 19,825 or 23.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 85,159

29. Lakewood, New Jersey

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.1%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $40,776
• Median household income overall, 2022: $54,826
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 3,651 or 5.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 68,555

28. Arlington, Virginia

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.1%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $97,795
• Median household income overall, 2022: $137,387
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 26,573 or 11.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 235,845

27. Stamford, Connecticut

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.3%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $69,187
• Median household income overall, 2022: $100,718
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 20,725 or 15.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 135,413

26. Collierville, Tennessee

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.4%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $84,339
• Median household income overall, 2022: $129,729
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 7,496 or 14.6% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 51,170

25. Plano, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.4%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $75,838
• Median household income overall, 2022: $105,679
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 38,963 or 13.7% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 284,948

24. Gaithersburg, Maryland

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $96,250
• Median household income overall, 2022: $104,544
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 9,160 or 13.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 69,016

23. Palatine, Illinois

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $72,563
• Median household income overall, 2022: $93,383
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 10,420 or 15.5% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 67,223

22. Plainfield, New Jersey

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.7%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $68,005
• Median household income overall, 2022: $70,712
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 5,846 or 10.8% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 54,358

21. Framingham, Massachusetts

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.8%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $71,250
• Median household income overall, 2022: $94,909
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 11,914 or 16.6% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 71,805

20. Irving, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 27.9%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $57,727
• Median household income overall, 2022: $76,686
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 21,229 or 8.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 254,962

19. Eden Prairie, Minnesota

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 28.0%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $85,446
• Median household income overall, 2022: $129,345
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 9,117 or 14.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 63,623

18. Wheaton, Maryland

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 28.1%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $89,688
• Median household income overall, 2022: $101,229
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 6,418 or 12.2% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 52,775

17. Doral, Florida

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 28.2%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $57,381
• Median household income overall, 2022: $83,823
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 6,029 or 8.1% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 74,891

16. Grapevine, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 28.8%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $68,601
• Median household income overall, 2022: $107,165
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 6,628 or 13.1% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 50,763

15. Minnetonka, Minnesota

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 28.9%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $81,355
• Median household income overall, 2022: $114,867
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 11,445 or 21.4% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 53,529

14. Lawrence, Kansas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 28.9%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $64,902
• Median household income overall, 2022: $59,834
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 11,754 or 12.4% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 95,103

13. Sandy Springs, Georgia

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 29.2%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $77,395
• Median household income overall, 2022: $93,303
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 15,195 or 14.2% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 107,221

12. Centreville, Virginia

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 29.5%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $94,207
• Median household income overall, 2022: $136,679
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 7,711 or 10.6% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 72,680

11. Evanston, Illinois

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 30.0%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $85,567
• Median household income overall, 2022: $93,188
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 13,333 or 17.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 77,181

10. Laguna Niguel, California

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 30.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $109,317
• Median household income overall, 2022: $135,822
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 13,063 or 20.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 64,259

9. Bethesda, Maryland

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 31.7%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $161,932
• Median household income overall, 2022: $185,546
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 12,410 or 18.7% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 66,316

8. Alexandria, Virginia

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 31.7%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $94,017
• Median household income overall, 2022: $113,179
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 19,445 or 12.3% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 157,594

7. Aliso Viejo, California

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 31.8%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $74,671
• Median household income overall, 2022: $131,708
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 5,054 or 9.7% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 51,896

6. Newton, Massachusetts

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 32.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $116,518
• Median household income overall, 2022: $176,373
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 16,540 or 18.7% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 88,453

5. Carrollton, Texas

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 32.9%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $65,048
• Median household income overall, 2022: $95,380
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 17,122 or 12.9% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 132,284

4. Brookline, Massachusetts

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 33.3%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $96,643
• Median household income overall, 2022: $130,600
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 9,931 or 15.8% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 62,698

3. Silver Spring, Maryland

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 33.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $86,200
• Median household income overall, 2022: $95,213
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 9,683 or 11.8% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 81,808

2. Cambridge, Massachusetts

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 33.7%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $85,079
• Median household income overall, 2022: $121,539
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 14,020 or 11.9% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 117,962

1. Germantown, Maryland

• Population 65 years and over in labor force, 2022: 35.6%
• Median household income 65 years and over, 2022: $84,447
• Median household income overall, 2022: $109,268
• Population 65 years and over, 2022: 9,617 or 10.7% of total pop
• Total population, 2022: 90,210

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