Find Your Bearing scores cities against what matters to you, researches each one with AI and real, checkable citations, and models the financial side (break-even timelines, state tax differences, carrying costs) so a choice this big isn't a guess.
- Not sure where to start? Answer a few questions about what matters to you and get your top retirement towns, ranked. Free, about two minutes, no sign-up. Take the 2-minute quiz →
- Towns already researched, and any town on request. Florida to the Northwest, ski towns to college towns: each one researched on climate, healthcare, safety, taxes and cost of living, with sources. Don't see yours? Research any U.S. town in about a minute during your trial. See all the towns →
- You set what matters. Climate, healthcare, cost of living, taxes, golf: weight the categories that matter to you, and the whole ranking shifts to match. Try the weight simulator →
- See where every number came from. Census, FBI, NOAA, FEMA, state tax authorities: each claim in a city profile links to its actual source, so you can check it yourself. See a sample city profile →
- The math, not the mood. Break-even timelines, state-by-state tax modeling, and real carrying costs turn "this feels affordable" into an actual number. Compare sample cities →
- Built for two-city retirements. Snowbird pairing scores a summer place and a winter place together, as one plan, because that's how a lot of retirees actually split their year. See a sample pairing →
Start your free trial
14 days, full access, no credit card required. Questions?
Common questions
What can I try for free?
The 2-minute quiz, the list of researched towns and the sample town pages are free and need no account. The free trial gives you everything else for 14 days: your own scores and weights, full research on any town, tax and cost estimates, two-home planning and a trip journal.
Do I need a credit card to start the trial?
No. You only need a name and an email address. You set a password from the welcome email and start right away.
What happens when the trial ends?
To keep going, add a payment method under Settings, then Billing: $20 a month or $180 a year. If you don’t, your account is paused, not deleted. Your towns, notes and plans are kept, and you can sign in any time to subscribe and pick up where you left off.
Can I cancel?
Yes, any time, under Settings, then Billing. Your plan stays active until the end of the period you’ve paid for, and you won’t be charged again.
Where does the research come from?
Each town is researched with the help of AI and public data such as the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI crime data, NOAA climate records, FEMA hazard data and state tax authorities. Claims link to their sources so you can check them yourself.
Is this financial or tax advice?
No. Find Your Bearing is a research tool. Its cost and tax figures are estimates based on general assumptions, not your own tax return or property. Check anything important with the sources and a qualified professional before you act.
Which towns are covered?
Retirement towns across the country are already researched and scored, from Florida to the Pacific Northwest and from ski towns to college towns, and the list keeps growing. During your trial you can also research any U.S. town in about a minute.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works on phones, tablets and computers. The trip journal is built for phones, so you can add notes and photos while you’re visiting a town.
What do you do with my information?
We use it only to run the app for you. We don’t sell it or use it for advertising, and you can ask us to delete your account at any time. The privacy policy has the details. Read the privacy policy.
Who is behind Find Your Bearing?
Find Your Bearing started with my own search. While researching where to retire and talking it over with friends, I found the information was all out there but scattered across dozens of sites. I built this to pull it together in one place for anyone facing the same decision as they move into the next stage of life. It’s a small, independent project, not a real estate agency or a financial firm, so nobody is paid to steer you toward a particular town. Questions come straight to me: findyourbearinghelp@gmail.com.