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Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has been designated as the best place to retire in the country among the best places to retire to the United States in 2019, according to US Report & World Report.(Photo: Dillon_Naber_Cruz / Getty Images)

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which sits in a county dubbed the "Garden Spot of America", is now considered the best place to retire in the country.

Lancaster tops the latest US News & World Report list 2019 best places to retire in the United States, Wednesday. The city – located in south-central Pennsylvania less than two hours from Philadelphia and three hours from New York – was second in US News this year, but surpassed Sarasota, Florida, in the new listing.

Sarasota dropped to third, while two other Florida cities advanced: Fort Myers took second place, 15th instead of 15th, and Lakeland was 10th instead of 26th.

Pittsburgh climbed three places to No. 5, while Grand Rapids, Michigan, went from No. 4 to No. 6.

Three Texas cities ranked in the top 10: Austin won five at number four, San Antonio lost five at number eight, and Dallas-Fort Worth rose two places to rank nine.

Nashville, Tennessee, No. 35 last year, finished the Top 10 in 7th place.

"Deciding where to retire is an important decision," said Emily Brandon, retired editor-in-chief at US News, in a statement accompanying the results. "The best places to retire offer future retirees a way to make a more informed decision based on what matters most to them. Whether it is affordable housing, access to quality hospitals or the attractiveness of a place in general, the ranking offers a Complete list that can guide people to the best direction for their needs. "

In the United States, the ranking, now in its second year, is based on six factors: housing affordability, desirability, retiree taxes, the happiness index, the labor market, and the quality of housing. Health care. The Happiness Index quantifies the residents' content based on the Gallup-Healthways Report "State of American Well-being: Community Well-being Ranking 2017", published in March.

Relevance was slightly weighted more strongly this year, according to consumer survey responses to 841 pre-retirees (aged 45 and over) and seniors (aged 60 and older) led by US News in September 2017.

Lancaster, also ranked 32nd among the best places to live in the United States, has a variety of suburbs, farmland and charming cities with arts, theaters and restaurants, with the Pennsylvania Amish country at home. East. In the United States, it has increased in the list due to the increase in affordability of housing and the overall happiness of its residents.

Fort Myers, Florida, rose due to rising desirability and happiness scores, while Sarasota, Florida, fell due to lower happiness and desirability overall.

The complete list of the top 100 retirement sites can be found on the US News site.

Follow the USA TODAY reporter, Mike Snider, on Twitter: @ MikeSnider.

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