Worst States To Retire

Retirement Index Score
Safety Score
Health Care Score
Quality of Life Score
Affordability Score
Retirement Index Score
1.New MexicoNew Mexico48.0
2.LouisianaLouisiana48.4
3.OklahomaOklahoma49.9
4.ArkansasArkansas50.2
5.TexasTexas52.2
6.ArizonaArizona52.5
7.AlaskaAlaska52.9
8.South CarolinaSouth Carolina53.3
9.TennesseeTennessee53.4
10.UtahUtah53.4
11.KentuckyKentucky54.4
12.MississippiMississippi54.5
13.ColoradoColorado55.0
14.FloridaFlorida55.5
15.West VirginiaWest Virginia55.6
16.AlabamaAlabama55.9
17.MissouriMissouri56.3
18.OregonOregon56.4
19.GeorgiaGeorgia56.8
20.NevadaNevada56.9
21.KansasKansas57.4
22.IowaIowa57.5
23.North CarolinaNorth Carolina57.7
24.WyomingWyoming58.0
25.OhioOhio58.1
26.CaliforniaCalifornia58.1
27.IndianaIndiana58.2
28.MontanaMontana58.3
29.WashingtonWashington58.3
30.IdahoIdaho58.7
31.IllinoisIllinois58.8
32.NebraskaNebraska60.3
33.North DakotaNorth Dakota60.4
34.MinnesotaMinnesota60.4
35.DelawareDelaware60.4
36.South DakotaSouth Dakota60.6
37.MichiganMichigan61.0
38.VirginiaVirginia61.5
39.WisconsinWisconsin62.5
40.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania62.9
41.New JerseyNew Jersey63.4
42.Rhode IslandRhode Island64.2
43.MarylandMaryland64.9
44.New HampshireNew Hampshire65.0
45.New YorkNew York65.7
46.HawaiiHawaii66.0
47.VermontVermont66.2
48.ConnecticutConnecticut66.2
49.MaineMaine69.3
50.MassachusettsMassachusetts70.4
Rankings
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Rankings

Discerning the Least Ideal Retirement Havens

When picturing retirement, many envision a peaceful life, plentiful experiences, and thriving in a location that elevates their quality of life. However, not every state in the U.S. is tailor-made for this vision. The retirement landscape is sharply contrasted across the country with thriving retirement paradises at one end and states posing continual challenges to retirees at the other. To navigate this landscape, it is essential to consider factors such as a state's cost of living, crime rate, weather conditions, quality of healthcare, and taxation status on social security benefits. The 'Retirement Index Score' offers a structured way to evaluate states for retirement, with lower scores indicative of less favorable conditions for retirees. In examining the dataset, several key findings surface:

  • With a retirement index score of 38.80, Kentucky ranks as the least desirable state for retirement. New Jersey, and Mississippi follow closely with scores of 40.23 and 40.80 respectively, painting a somber outlook for retirees.
  • On the other extreme, Virginia, Florida, and Colorado, with scores above 57, are relatively more favorable for retirees, showcasing the stark regional differences in retirement conditions.
  • A closer look at the data indicates that no state achieves a 'Retirement Index Score' above 60, signaling that even the best-ranked states aren't the perfect retiree havens however are still better placed compared to others.
  • Comparing the scores, the difference between Kentucky (#1 least ideal) and Virginia (the best of the worst) is about 19 points - a substantial gap that underscores the significant regional discrepancies in retiree livability.

Worst 10 States to Retire In

The state ranked as the worst for retirement according to our Retirement Index Score is Kentucky, with a disheartening score of only 38.80. A combination of high costs of living, lower quality healthcare options, and harmful taxation on social security benefits likely contribute to this ranking. Next on the list is New Jersey, with a retirement score of 40.23. Despite its proximity to major metropolitan areas such as New York City and Philadelphia, high living expenses and taxes likely deter many retirees. Similarly, Mississippi, with a score of 40.80, is unfavorable for retirement due to a variety of factors, potentially including a higher crime rate and lack of premium healthcare facilities. Oklahoma and New York follow with retirement index scores of 43.61 and 43.69, respectively, suggesting that they also present significant challenges to retirees. Louisiana is not far off with a score of 43.90, while Illinois fares marginally better with a score of 44.30. The states of Washington, Maryland, and Arkansas round off our list, with retirement index scores of 44.46, 44.55, and 44.73, respectively.

Worst 10 States to Retire In (According to the Retirement Index Score):

  1. Kentucky - 38.80
  2. New Jersey - 40.23
  3. Mississippi - 40.80
  4. Oklahoma - 43.61
  5. New York - 43.69
  6. Louisiana - 43.90
  7. Illinois - 44.30
  8. Washington - 44.46
  9. Maryland - 44.55
  10. Arkansas - 44.73

By Region

Alabama

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Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

55.9

#16

Safety Score

16.4

#29

Health Care Score

13.4

#43

Quality of Life Score

10.9

#38

Affordability Score

15.2

#2

Alaska

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Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

52.9

#7

Safety Score

12.4

#45

Health Care Score

15.2

#25

Quality of Life Score

13.6

#12

Affordability Score

11.8

#45

Arizona

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Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

52.5

#6

Safety Score

14.4

#40

Health Care Score

14.7

#35

Quality of Life Score

9.9

#47

Affordability Score

13.6

#24

Arkansas

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Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

50.2

#4

Safety Score

12.2

#46

Health Care Score

14.2

#40

Quality of Life Score

9.7

#48

Affordability Score

14.2

#12

California

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California

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.1

#26

Safety Score

17.0

#23

Health Care Score

18.0

#11

Quality of Life Score

10.9

#39

Affordability Score

12.1

#43

Colorado

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Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

55.0

#13

Safety Score

10.7

#49

Health Care Score

19.1

#6

Quality of Life Score

11.5

#32

Affordability Score

13.7

#22

Connecticut

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Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

66.2

#48

Safety Score

20.9

#4

Health Care Score

20.3

#3

Quality of Life Score

13.4

#14

Affordability Score

11.5

#47

Delaware

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Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

60.4

#35

Safety Score

17.9

#20

Health Care Score

16.1

#20

Quality of Life Score

12.2

#25

Affordability Score

14.1

#13

Florida

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Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

55.5

#14

Safety Score

16.3

#30

Health Care Score

14.2

#39

Quality of Life Score

12.5

#23

Affordability Score

12.4

#40

Georgia

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Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

56.8

#19

Safety Score

17.9

#21

Health Care Score

14.9

#30

Quality of Life Score

10.2

#45

Affordability Score

13.9

#20

Hawaii

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Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

66.0

#46

Safety Score

14.1

#41

Health Care Score

23.9

#1

Quality of Life Score

16.8

#2

Affordability Score

11.2

#49

Idaho

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Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.7

#30

Safety Score

19.4

#10

Health Care Score

15.2

#27

Quality of Life Score

11.2

#36

Affordability Score

12.8

#38

Illinois

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Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.8

#31

Safety Score

18.9

#14

Health Care Score

15.3

#24

Quality of Life Score

12.2

#26

Affordability Score

12.4

#39

Indiana

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Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.2

#27

Safety Score

18.3

#16

Health Care Score

14.4

#38

Quality of Life Score

11.4

#33

Affordability Score

14.1

#14

Iowa

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Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

57.5

#22

Safety Score

16.4

#28

Health Care Score

14.8

#32

Quality of Life Score

13.4

#13

Affordability Score

12.9

#37

Kansas

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Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

57.4

#21

Safety Score

15.8

#31

Health Care Score

15.6

#22

Quality of Life Score

12.9

#17

Affordability Score

13.3

#29

Kentucky

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Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

54.4

#11

Safety Score

17.3

#22

Health Care Score

12.8

#46

Quality of Life Score

10.3

#44

Affordability Score

14.0

#16

Louisiana

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Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

48.4

#2

Safety Score

10.8

#48

Health Care Score

12.1

#49

Quality of Life Score

10.8

#41

Affordability Score

14.7

#6

Maine

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Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

69.3

#49

Safety Score

21.5

#3

Health Care Score

18.0

#10

Quality of Life Score

16.7

#3

Affordability Score

13.1

#31

Maryland

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Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

64.9

#43

Safety Score

20.1

#5

Health Care Score

19.0

#7

Quality of Life Score

11.8

#30

Affordability Score

14.0

#15

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

70.4

#50

Safety Score

22.5

#1

Health Care Score

22.5

#2

Quality of Life Score

13.7

#11

Affordability Score

11.7

#46

Michigan

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Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

61.0

#37

Safety Score

18.9

#13

Health Care Score

17.4

#15

Quality of Life Score

11.3

#34

Affordability Score

13.3

#26

Minnesota

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Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

60.4

#34

Safety Score

18.0

#19

Health Care Score

18.6

#8

Quality of Life Score

12.4

#24

Affordability Score

11.4

#48

Mississippi

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Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

54.5

#12

Safety Score

16.7

#25

Health Care Score

13.4

#44

Quality of Life Score

9.9

#46

Affordability Score

14.6

#7

Missouri

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Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

56.3

#17

Safety Score

13.7

#42

Health Care Score

14.8

#33

Quality of Life Score

12.5

#20

Affordability Score

15.3

#1

Montana

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Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.3

#28

Safety Score

14.5

#39

Health Care Score

14.4

#36

Quality of Life Score

15.9

#6

Affordability Score

13.5

#25

Nebraska

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Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

60.3

#32

Safety Score

18.2

#18

Health Care Score

16.3

#18

Quality of Life Score

12.5

#22

Affordability Score

13.3

#28

Nevada

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Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

56.9

#20

Safety Score

15.3

#35

Health Care Score

14.4

#37

Quality of Life Score

12.5

#21

Affordability Score

14.7

#5

New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

65.0

#44

Safety Score

19.5

#8

Health Care Score

19.8

#5

Quality of Life Score

14.7

#8

Affordability Score

11.0

#50

New Jersey

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New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

63.4

#41

Safety Score

21.6

#2

Health Care Score

17.3

#16

Quality of Life Score

12.1

#28

Affordability Score

12.3

#42

New Mexico

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New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

48.0

#1

Safety Score

9.9

#50

Health Care Score

13.5

#42

Quality of Life Score

10.6

#43

Affordability Score

14.0

#17

New York

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New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

65.7

#45

Safety Score

20.1

#6

Health Care Score

17.8

#13

Quality of Life Score

14.7

#7

Affordability Score

13.0

#33

North Carolina

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North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

57.7

#23

Safety Score

16.6

#26

Health Care Score

15.5

#23

Quality of Life Score

11.2

#35

Affordability Score

14.4

#10

North Dakota

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North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

60.4

#33

Safety Score

15.8

#32

Health Care Score

15.0

#29

Quality of Life Score

16.3

#5

Affordability Score

13.3

#27

Ohio

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Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.1

#25

Safety Score

17.0

#24

Health Care Score

15.2

#26

Quality of Life Score

12.1

#27

Affordability Score

13.9

#18

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

49.9

#3

Safety Score

12.7

#44

Health Care Score

11.7

#50

Quality of Life Score

11.0

#37

Affordability Score

14.6

#8

Oregon

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Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

56.4

#18

Safety Score

13.4

#43

Health Care Score

16.1

#19

Quality of Life Score

13.9

#10

Affordability Score

13.0

#36

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

62.9

#40

Safety Score

18.2

#17

Health Care Score

17.9

#12

Quality of Life Score

13.3

#15

Affordability Score

13.6

#23

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

64.2

#42

Safety Score

19.1

#11

Health Care Score

19.9

#4

Quality of Life Score

12.9

#18

Affordability Score

12.3

#41

South Carolina

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South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

53.3

#8

Safety Score

12.1

#47

Health Care Score

14.7

#34

Quality of Life Score

11.6

#31

Affordability Score

14.9

#3

South Dakota

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South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

60.6

#36

Safety Score

15.2

#36

Health Care Score

15.1

#28

Quality of Life Score

17.2

#1

Affordability Score

13.1

#32

Tennessee

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Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

53.4

#9

Safety Score

14.8

#38

Health Care Score

13.0

#45

Quality of Life Score

10.8

#40

Affordability Score

14.8

#4

Texas

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Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

52.2

#5

Safety Score

15.8

#34

Health Care Score

12.5

#48

Quality of Life Score

9.5

#49

Affordability Score

14.4

#11

Utah

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Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

53.4

#10

Safety Score

16.4

#27

Health Care Score

14.9

#31

Quality of Life Score

8.9

#50

Affordability Score

13.2

#30

Vermont

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Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

66.2

#47

Safety Score

19.1

#12

Health Care Score

18.5

#9

Quality of Life Score

16.6

#4

Affordability Score

12.0

#44

Virginia

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Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

61.5

#38

Safety Score

19.4

#9

Health Care Score

16.0

#21

Quality of Life Score

11.8

#29

Affordability Score

14.5

#9

Washington

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Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.3

#29

Safety Score

14.8

#37

Health Care Score

17.5

#14

Quality of Life Score

13.0

#16

Affordability Score

13.0

#35

West Virginia

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West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

55.6

#15

Safety Score

18.5

#15

Health Care Score

12.5

#47

Quality of Life Score

10.7

#42

Affordability Score

13.9

#21

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

62.5

#39

Safety Score

20.1

#7

Health Care Score

16.7

#17

Quality of Life Score

12.7

#19

Affordability Score

13.0

#34

Wyoming

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Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Retirement Index Score

58.0

#24

Safety Score

15.8

#33

Health Care Score

14.0

#41

Quality of Life Score

14.2

#9

Affordability Score

13.9

#19

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