[EMBARGO 2 OCTOBER] Australia's Top 50 Retirement Locations [2025 edition]

About the guide

Citro’s Australia’s Top 50 Retirement Locations e-guide is a unique data-driven yet people-centred report that ranks the best Australian towns and suburbs for later-life living. It blends hard facts (house prices, healthcare access, liveability data) with the softer lifestyle factors that really matter when people make a life-changing move.

Compiled with insights from experts in housing, economics and demographics, and supported by individual case-studies plus data gleaned from Citro’s 300,000-strong community, this guide is a trusted roadmap for 50+ Australians considering a sea change, tree change or downsizing move.

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Why it matters

• 3 in 5 Australians aged 40+ are worried they won’t be able to afford the retirement lifestyle they desire, according to the latest AMP data [Source: AMP commissioned research 2025, Dynata]
• More than 1 in 3 Australians aged 50+ are considering a relocation in retirement. [Source: Citro survey, 2024]
• Downsizing and accessing home equity are key drivers [Source: Citro survey, 2024], alongside lifestyle upgrades and proximity to family [Source: OpenAgent downsizer activity from June 2023 to May 2025 across all Australian states and territories]. 
• Nearly 4 in 10 downsizers are in regional areas [Source: OpenAgent downsizer activity from June 2023 to May 2025 across all Australian states and territories]
• More people are leaving cities than moving to them and they are more likely to become homeowners in their new location [Source: AHURI Final Report 438, March 2025]
• The guide answers the big questions: Where can I afford? Where will I feel at home? Where will I thrive in later life?

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Click here to download a pdf of the guide

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What’s inside

• Top 50 retirement-ready locations across Australia reviewed based on 5 key pillars: 
  
  • Housing affordability - how likely it is to afford a home in this location – Cotality data analysis used to identify places where retirees could get relative value for money compared to similar towns and suburbs in the region, state and across the country. [Source: Cotality Regional Market Update, August 2025]
  • Housing availability - how easy it is to rent or buy – including the volume of properties on the market, how long homes tend to stay listed and the mix of dwelling types available
  • Access to healthcare - how easy it is to take care of your health needs – availability of GPs, medical centres, allied health services and proximity to a major hospital with emergency care
  • Transport infrastructure - how easy it is to get to and around – public transport, road and flight connectivity, both within the town and to the region and beyond
  • Lifestyle opportunities - how good it feels to live in this place – the local culture, recreation options, greenspace accessibility and social infrastructure like clubs and community groups, restaurants and cafes, live music, leisure facilities.
• Expert perspectives from economists, property analysts and local voices on the outlook for retirees looking to downsize or relocate throughout Australia
• Deep-dive case studies featuring people who have made the move
• Cost-of-living and housing data to help people see how far their money can stretch
• Healthcare, services and infrastructure analysis
• Lifestyle and community insights – restaurants and cafés, clubs, activities, recreational opportunities, climate and more

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Top 10

Orange is the #1 retirement location for 2025

Orange took the crown in our 2025 retirement locations list for good reason. This thriving regional city blends plenty of rural charm with metropolitan living – a strong local economy, renowned food and wine scene, top-class healthcare, excellent transport links and a buzzing cultural calendar. With new housing developments on the horizon and plenty of choice already available, Orange gives retirees both comfort and possibility in equal measure.

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Where’s Armidale?

Armidale topped Citro’s 2024 list, but this year it barely made the Top 20, coming in at number 19. So what happened? 

The drop was largely due to limited housing availability – something that has really impacted this lovely regional town as it’s become more popular. As a result, Armidale’s housing affordability has also been declining. 

It’s a reminder that the balance between all 5 pillars Citro uses to rank prospective towns can be a precarious one. It’s one of the reasons why we give equal weighting to all 5 pillars.

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Gold-plated retirement locations

For the first time this year, we spotlighted 10 outstanding ‘gold-plated’ locations within the top 50. These are premium spots across the country that might not be affordable to all, but offer exceptional liveability and long-term value when compared to similar locations.  The places that made this year’s list are:

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Expert voices

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Toby Ellis, Managing Director, Citro

‍“Australians over 50 are asking smart questions about where they’ll spend the next chapter of their lives. Our guide pulls together both the facts and the feel of each location, so people can plan with confidence. It’s about matching the practical – like affordability and healthcare – with the aspirational – like lifestyle and connection – to find the right place to really thrive in retirement.”

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Ben Hillier, Director of Retirement, AMP

“Australians are telling us they want retirement to be about more than just making ends meet – they’re looking for confidence, community and choice. This guide help people see what’s possible and make decisions that align with both their financial reality and lifestyle goals.”

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Shane Oliver, Chief Economist, AMP

‍“People tend to underestimate how important access to healthcare is, particularly if you're just retired and you're 65 and you're perfectly healthy... and then as you get older you find you don't have the medical facilities that you actually need. So, initially there could be a tendency to prioritise the location in terms of lifestyle, but that may become an issue as you get older.”

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Tim Lawless, Executive Research Director, Cotality

‍“‘Lifestyle’ locations remain in high demand and tend to have some common themes such as proximity to water or greenspace. Unsurprisingly, the most popular of these locations also tend to have high price points.”

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Johanna Urrutia, Co-CEO of OpenAgent

‍“What ties any kind of late-life move together is the mindset change. Downsizing is no longer a ‘last resort’ but more so a lifestyle upgrade. With less upkeep, no dependents and a healthy slice of equity unlocked, this next chapter can be some of the best years of your life.”

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About Citro

Citro is Australia’s go-to lifestyle and rewards community for people 40+. We bring together expert knowledge, clever money tools and real cashback rewards to help you move confidently into life’s next chapter. Whether it’s boosting financial smarts, travelling for less, getting cashback from your shopping, or simply feeling healthier and happier, Citro helps you squeeze more out of life.

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Release date:

‍30 September 2025

Media enquiries:

Adrian Howard
Mobile: +61 413 184 488
Email: adrian_howard@amp.com.au

Daniel Paperny
Mobile: +61 435 763 992
Email: daniel_paperny@amp.com.au

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