A small Rust Belt city beat well-known sunny spots in Florida and the Carolinas to be crowned one of the top places to retire in the US.

Weirton, West Virginia, is a modest steel-town metro that many Americans may not have even heard of.

But now it has been ranked the second-best place to retire in the US in 2026, according to a ranking by News & World Report.

The annual list evaluates hundreds of cities nationwide to identify where Americans might want to spend their golden years.

The ranking is surprising, considering Florida and Arizona are common retirement destinations for their affordability and sunshine.

Still, the small Appalachian community carved out its spot near the very top of the list, which considered 850 US cities.

Nestled on the Ohio River, just minutes from the borders of both Pennsylvania and Ohio, Weirton has a long industrial history.

According to the rankings, the city earned its spot thanks to standout scores in six critical areas retirees care deeply about - quality of life (most heavily weighted), affordability, healthcare quality, retiree taxes, population and migration trends for those 55 and older, and job market ratings.

This year's ranking was especially competitive, with hundreds more cities evaluated than in previous years. The report published the top 250 based on how well communities met retirees' priorities.

Mayor Dean M Harris said in response to the ranking: 'As the mayor of Weirton, I am proud that our city is dedicated to ensuring our community is a safe, clean, affordable, and enjoyable place for residents of all ages.

'We're committed to offering a wide array of activities and amenities, and one of our greatest advantages is our prime location - just 20 minutes from the Pittsburgh International Airport.'

According to US News, about 18,315 people live in Weirton, and the median age is 45.5.

The median household income in Weirton is $58,097, and the average commute time to anywhere from the center of town is about 18 minutes. 

The unemployment rate is 4.97 percent.

If you want to buy a house in Weirton, the median home value is $124,746.

And if you're a renter, you can expect the median rent here to be $548.

The national average home value is $370,489, while the median home value in Weirton is $124,746. 

There's also plenty to do there. The Northern Panhandle Rail Trail is a four-mile route, popular with runners and cyclists, that sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Also in the area is the Tomlinson Run State Park, popular for camping, hiking, fishing and wildlife watching. 

The Ohio River offers kayaking, canoeing, and river tours. There are riverbank parks that provide scenic views, and families fish and picnic by the water’s edge in the summer. 

Brooke Hills Park, approximately 25 minutes from Weirton, offers more recreational activities, including hiking trails, sports fields and picnic facilities. 

For retirees, there are many active community centers with group outings to the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, which has tours of the region's old steel industry.

The area also offers facilities with specialized exercise equipment, meals, computers, recreation, and transport if needed for those aged 55 and older. 

According to the local Appalachian Project, which details the history of the local metals industry, Weirton Steel Company served as its backbone for much of the 20th century. 

At its peak, the mill was one of the largest fully integrated steel plants in the world, employing thousands and shaping the local economy. 

Elsewhere in the area, there are places to go apple picking and plenty of routes for scenic drives through the countryside in the fall.  

Weirton also participates in the local 'leave no trace' campaign, where residents are encouraged to 'always clean up, respect wildlife, and stay on marked trails to protect the natural environment.'

One local in a Weirton Facebook group raved about the metro, writing, 'Will always and forever be proud to be from Weirton. Live in the south now but Weirton people can be some of the hardest working and proud people I've ever known.'

Another wrote, 'Live here in Weirton most of my life. The people here are kind, giving, and caring.'