10 Great Cities in the U.S. For Snowbirds (#7 Surprised Us)

Every year when the weather gets chilly, America sees a mass migration of snowbirds. No, not real birds — these snowbirds are the more than one million Americans and Canadians (generally retirees) who spend winter months in warmer climates in the southern U.S. These quasi-tourists can also be a huge boon to local economies.

That's why we wanted to determine the best cities in the U.S. for those who head south for the winter. Our team analyzed 180 different cities, evaluating them across nearly two dozen metrics that would be important to snowbirds: livability, affordability, temperature and climate, and culture and recreation.

Here are the 10 best cities for snowbirds who want to get ahead financially.

Located in Central Florida, Sebring earned the highest overall livability score of any snowbird city in the FinanceBuzz study. A low violent crime rate and very high walkability are major contributing factors in that regard, along with the fact that 44.3% of the population is over the age of 60, the fourth-highest rate overall.

Additionally, of the 22 different Florida cities we looked at, Sebring is the most affordable, thanks in large part to a cost of living that is 17% lower than the national average and median monthly mortgage cost of just $1,288, among the 25 lowest among all snowbird cities.

Located near Vero Beach on Florida's east coast, Sebastian boasts the kind of pleasant winter weather that Florida is known for. Between November and March, temperatures range between 61 and 69 degrees, even with the nearby Atlantic Ocean bringing cooling breezes.

Beyond weather factors, Sebastian has plenty of recreational opportunities for snowbirds, boasting a robust 27.7 golf courses per 100,000 residents. The city also ranks in the top 10 when it comes to the number of shopping centers and retail stores per capita.

Sometimes called "boomer paradise" and "Disney World for adults" (and located just an hour from the real Disney World), The Villages is one of America's premier retirement communities.

As the city was largely designed around making life fun and carefree for retirees, it is a perfect place for snowbirds looking for the same kind of lifestyle. The Villages boasts one of the five highest culture and recreation scores in the country, thanks in no small part to the fact that the city has 114.8 golf courses per 100,000 people, the highest rate in the country by a wide margin.

Additionally, The Villages has some of the nation's highest per capita rates for shopping centers, retail stores, movie theaters, and museums.

Homosassa Springs is located near Florida's Gulf Coast and features Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, one of the best places in the state to see manatees and wildlife in general. Homosassa Springs ranks particularly well in the area of livability, with some of the nation's lowest crime rates per 100,000 people and the third-highest percentage of the population over the age of 60 (45.4%).

Naples, Florida, earned high marks in multiple categories, with the highest coming in the area of temperature/climate. Between the months of November and March, the average temperature in Naples is between 64 degrees (in January) and 71 degrees (in November), making it a pleasant place to be while the northern parts of the country are dealing with freezing temperatures.

Naples also has a bevy of recreational opportunities, with very high per capita rates for shopping centers and retail stores, as well as more than 41 golf courses per 100,000 people, one of the five highest rates in the country.

The first non-Florida city in the top 10, Brunswick is located on Georgia's Atlantic coast and features a cooler climate than every other city ranked ahead of it.

Brunswick offers a robust and diverse selection of recreational options for snowbirds, ranking in the top 5 when it comes to the number of museums and performing arts centers per capita and landing in the top 10 for the number of shopping centers and retail stores per 100,000 people. Additionally, the golf courses in and around Brunswick have an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 5, the second-highest overall score in that metric.

The only city in Arkansas in the top 10, Hot Springs ranks seventh overall despite a significantly colder climate than every other city in the top 10. Key factors in that overall ranking are recreation and culture and affordability, areas where Hot Springs scored very high.

In fact, Hot Springs is more affordable than any other city in the top 10, thanks to some of the lowest rent and mortgage costs in the country and an overall cost of living that is more than 15% lower than the national average.

Located near the South Carolina border on Georgia's Atlantic coast, Savannah is a historic city that offers snowbirds a wide variety of recreational options.

Savannah's per capita rates when it comes to museums, restaurants, and shopping opportunities are all among the highest in the country. Savannah also has a high number of golf courses per 100,000 people, and those courses carry an average rating of 3.9 stars out of 5, one of the 20 highest ratings in the country.

The only Texas city in the top 10, Victoria is located about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Adventurous snowbirds can drive from Victoria to the cities of Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi in less than two hours while dodging the colder weather up north.

Punta Gorda completes our top 10 cities, making the tail end of the list thanks in large part to climate and livability. The city features the lowest violent crime rate of any city in our rankings and the 15th-lowest property crime rate. Additionally, 50.1% of the city's population is over the age of 60, a rate that is second only to The Villages (65.5%).

From travel to housing costs, living in two places is no small expense. That's why things like affordability and livability, among other factors, are important to keep in mind.

Before you plan your move, consider how you can trim your budget and cut back on unnecessary expenses. Retirees can often enjoy senior discounts on activities and services, and taking advantage of less expensive hobbies such as hiking can free up your budget, too.

As you make your trip down south, don't forget to take along your favorite travel credit card so you can earn rewards on everyday purchases and put them toward your travel expenses.