Record Number of Americans Reaching Retirement AgeHow Prepared Are Cities?

A crowd lines up at a town hall meeting at the DeYor Performing Arts Center in Youngstown, Ohio, on April 7, 2025. Jeff Swensen/Getty ImagesWith a record number of Americans reaching retirement age this year, questions have arisen about whether U.S. cities are prepared for the growing demand on housing, health care, transportation, and local finances. For some retirees, those pressures are already shaping life decisions.The nation entered a historical retirement surge in 2024, with more than 4.1 million Americans turning 65, the traditional retirement age, according to research from the Alliance for Lifetime Income. The report also noted that through 2027, the number of Americans turning 65 each year will exceed 4.1 million.