In retirement, just like in real estate, it's "location, location, location."
With more and more retirees responsible for their own financial security, choosing the right retirement destination can make or break any lazy-day fantasies.
To that end, WalletHub compared the retirement-friendliness of all 50 states using criteria such as cost of living, crime rate, tax-friendliness on pensions and Social Security income, number of health-care facilities, access to public transportation as well as the weather and proximity to golf courses and museums. This is retirement after all.
Some of the states that ranked the highest were no surprise — Florida snagged the top spot. Others, like South Dakota and Iowa, were less expected. Among the least desirable were high-tax states like New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Here are the 10 best and worst places to retire, according to WalletHub. (And if you are thinking more outside the box, here are the world's top 5 retirement destinations.)
Best States to Retire
Overall Rank (1=Best) | State | Total Score | Affordability' Rank | Quality of Life' Rank | Health Care' Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Florida | 66.79 | 1 | 5 | 20 |
2 | Colorado | 66.17 | 23 | 8 | 2 |
3 | South Dakota | 65.89 | 2 | 32 | 6 |
4 | Iowa | 62.46 | 26 | 11 | 9 |
5 | Virginia | 62.02 | 18 | 9 | 21 |
6 | Wyoming | 61.66 | 4 | 30 | 29 |
7 | New Hampshire | 61.51 | 29 | 14 | 4 |
8 | Idaho | 61.39 | 11 | 20 | 25 |
9 | Utah | 61.14 | 22 | 24 | 12 |
10 | Arizona | 60.67 | 21 | 21 | 17 |
Source: Source: WalletHub
Worst States to Retire
Overall Rank (50=Worst) | State | Total Score | Affordability' Rank | Quality of Life' Rank | Health Care' Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
41 | Alabama | 50.55 | 3 | 48 | 48 |
42 | Hawaii | 50.31 | 49 | 36 | 3 |
43 | New Mexico | 49.76 | 39 | 42 | 35 |
44 | Louisiana | 49.15 | 17 | 41 | 46 |
45 | West Virginia | 48.29 | 16 | 43 | 49 |
46 | Arkansas | 46.89 | 20 | 50 | 45 |
47 | Mississippi | 46.28 | 10 | 49 | 50 |
48 | Rhode Island | 45.14 | 48 | 46 | 22 |
49 | New Jersey | 44.94 | 50 | 28 | 33 |
50 | Kentucky | 43.06 | 38 | 47 | 47 |
Source: Source: WalletHub
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