"The Mason-Dixon survey provided an intriguing snapshot of what matters to this important group of 78 million Americans. We thought it would be beneficial to take the analysis a step further and ask the key question of which cities come closest to offering Baby Boomers what they're looking for."

The answer seems to be Southern college towns. Tallahassee, which is the capital of Florida, is home to two state universities. It also has affordable housing, the nation's top-rated Medicare program in its Capital Health Plan and a variety of outdoor activities.

Three of the next five cities also are home to Deep South universities: Athens, Ga., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Oxford, Miss. Memphis, Tenn., Atlanta, Charleston, S.C., Louisville, Ky., Richmond, Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa. rounded out the Top 10 list.

Building on the Mason-Dixon survey, WEG identified 20 cities for a deeper analysis based on the criteria identified by Baby Boomers. In addition to climate, economic and health care considerations, other factors included a community's size, supportive senior services, arts and cultural opportunities, proximity to a beach and robust opportunities for life-long learning. The 20 cities evaluated by WEG have an already high number of retirees or are classified as typically popular destinations for retirees; have populations close to the size favored in the Mason-Dixon poll; or feature more than one factor favored by those surveyed.

"Finding the right mix can be tricky for retirees – because they want to live in a community that is big enough but not too big, warm and cool enough but not too warm or too cold, and with the amenities and resources of a big city but not the annoying traffic and congestion," said Villamil. "College towns in Southern states, with their dynamic communities and temperate climates, appear to offer the best mix of these many factors."