A boat on the Tennessee River at McFarland Park (Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz)

WorldAtlas has identified nine of the best Southern towns for retirees in 2026 + one Alabama town was included. And the surprise factor might be that it’s not a city on the Gulf Coast.

Florence was the only Alabama city on the list, recognized for its music history, outdoors + even health care services.

Keep reading to learn what WorldAtlas had to say about the city + what other Southern towns made the list.

Florence gets more national recognition

Florence 13 — Downtown Florence, Alabama. (The Bama Buzz)

WorldAtlas has certainly shown favor to our coastal towns in recent years but Florence has a growing reputation + the national publication has taken notice.

“Florence hosts a blues festival every summer for native son W.C. Handy. First Fridays bring music and art downtown. The Shoals Community Theatre stages plays and concerts. The Florence Senior Center, nicknamed “The Club,” fills the week with activities for retirees.

“The University of North Alabama adds concerts and lectures a short walk from downtown. The Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake give seniors flat spots to fish and walk. North Alabama Medical Center is the main hospital. Florence Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Arbor Landing at Florence provide senior living.”
WorldAtlas

Florence is used to seeing its name on these kind of national showcase lists. Here are just a few of the things the city has been recognized recently:

WorldAtlas 9 Best Towns in the Southern U.S. for Retirees

Florence 10 — Downtown Florence, Alabama (The Bama Buzz)

“Down South, January means a light jacket instead of a snow shovel. The doctor, the diner, and the pharmacy are all a short walk away. Your car will start to feel a little neglected. A couple of these states skip the tax on retirement income, leaving more for the grandkids. Your neighbors will have your coffee order memorized by week two. The mild weather and the early-bird specials handle the rest.”
WorldAtlas

Here’s the full list of cities from World Atlas: