The Best and Worst U.S. Retirement States

At some point, the vast majority of United States citizens will need to think about retirement. Once we hit our 30s and 40s, we all need to seriously consider what’s in store 20 to 30 years down the line.

And though it’s an enormous part of the occasion, retirement considerations are about so much more than pension funds, with retiree health, wellbeing, living costs, and safety often very different from one state to the next.

This study will provide a close analysis of all U.S. states to formulate a substantive ranking of both the best and the worst parts of the country for retirees. This wide-ranging measure considers critical matters such as affordability, exposure to criminality, health outlook, and loneliness to provide a comprehensive ranking of best and worst U.S. retirement states.

Before we get into close categorical rankings, let’s first consider some broad data about retirees in the U.S.

Life Expectancy In The U.S. In 2026

According to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of U.S. residents aged 65 and older was about 61.2 million, a significant yearly rise of 3.1%.

And it’s not just about those overall numbers, as those now entering retirement age live longer than previous generations. Someone who turns 65 today can expect to live into their mid-80s, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Overall life expectancy for the U.S. population in 2024 was 79 years, an increase on 2023 figures by 0.6 years. Additionally, the age-adjusted death rate decreased 3.8% from 750.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023 to 722.1 in 2024, with only the 5-14 years-old age group subject to a slight rise.

Ultimately, older adults outnumber children in 11 states (up from just 3 in 2020) and around half of U.S. counties, with the overall share of over-65s rising from 12.4% in 2004 to 18% by 2024. Over the same period, the national population share of children dropped from 25% to 21.5%.

The U.S. median age reached a new record high of 39.1 in 2024, up 0.1 years from 2023, and 0.6 years from 2020’s 38.5. The nation’s lowest regional median ages in 2024 were in the West (38.4) and South (38.8), while the Northeast had the highest (40.6), followed by the Midwest (39.3). 

Maine’s median-age population in 2024 was the oldest (44.8); Utah’s was the youngest (32.4). The median age disparity across all U.S. counties offers a stark national differential, with the lowest 20.9 and the highest 68.1; 74% of counties (2,340 of 3,144) had a median age at or above the national average.

Let’s consider the states that feature the highest number of senior citizens. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of the top-ranking states are also among the states that feature the highest overall population of all age groups. At the very least, these states should feature established older adult networks and relatively retirement-friendly resources.

States Featuring The Largest Senior Populations (2024)

When we compiled our list of best and worst states for retirees, we baked in a number of factors, specifically affordability, crime level, well-being, and health.

Here are the ten best states in the U.S. for retirees, plus a brief explanation regarding their high placement.

Top 10 Best Retirement States

Idaho wins for a number of reasons. It’s in the overall top 10 for affordability due to its moderate taxes and reasonable property costs; it ranks third nationally for safety and features low violent crime and property crime rates; it ranks fifth for senior wellbeing due to a good network of elderly resources, and it’s rated high for health due to controlled Medicare spending and high life expectancy.

Due to its strong performance across all categories, it fully deserves the top spot.

New Hampshire ranks highest of all states for safety, and very high for life expectancy and healthcare access. Add to this stable property values, tax advantages, and close-knit, connected communities, and it’s easy to see why it features high in the top ten.

Wyoming combines tax advantages with strong safety, property, and health ratings to round out the top three.

Hawaii’s nation-leading life expectancy and lowest Medicare spending factors place the state very high, despite middling crime and tax numbers.

Delaware features a zero-percent state sales tax rate, a good level of safety, and high affordability to make the top five in our rankings.

South Dakota is very accommodating to retirees when it comes to taxes, and also features a high life expectancy, good affordability, and only moderate crime levels.

An above-average health and longevity score, good affordability, plus a high well-being rate push Montana into our top ten.

Wisconsin scores high for safety due to a low crime rate, high for senior health, longevity, and wellbeing, and also features a moderate tax environment for retirees.

Utah makes the top ten by dint of its high well-being (great local communities) and safety scores, plus a solid rating in the health and affordability categories.

Florida sneaks into the top ten because it features significant retiree tax breaks plus a well-established senior infrastructure, strong affordability, and reasonable scores for both safety and health. Not all states are retiree-friendly.

Some may even score highly in one category only to achieve an overall low rating due to a poor or indifferent performance in other areas. Here are the ten states we judged to be the least retiree-friendly.

Top 10 Worst Retirement States

California (which features the highest number of retirees in the country) ranks lowest of all states for retirees due to a very low affordability score, high levels of violent and property crime, and a high Medicare spending per beneficiary.

New Mexico features the lowest safety score in the country due to its high violent and property crime rates. Significant senior loneliness levels also push the state into second spot, with moderate affordability and health scores failing to offset the collective downsides.

Affordability is a problem in Louisiana, which features the highest combined sales tax rate among all states, plus high Medicare costs and low coverage levels. Additional high crime rates make Louisiana a comparatively poor place to retire.

Below-average health and longevity metrics, low affordability, and poor safety ratings push Arkansas into the retiree bottom five.

Texas lands in the bottom five because it features a high property tax burden, below-average health and longevity ratings, high healthcare costs, and lower-end safety levels.

Due to its low health and longevity ratings, high violent and property crime rates, and only moderate tax friendliness, Oklahoma takes a high place in our bottom ten.

Tennessee’s weak safety score (driven by high violent crime rates), mid-to-low health and longevity performance, and high healthcare costs consign the state to the seventh-worst spot on our list.

Alabama features one of the lowest life expectancy ratings in the dataset. The state’s poor health and safety scores mean it’s one of the worst places to retire in the U.S.

Very high health and living costs and only moderate safety levels push New York into the top ten.

So, that was the combined rating. The following tables will make it clear how the individual criteria led to each placement. For example, here are the top-ranking affordability scores. When we look at affordability, we consider healthcare costs, living expenses, and property rates, amongst other data.

Top 10 Retirement States for Affordability

1. Delaware
2. Alaska
3. Wyoming
4. South Dakota
5. Mississippi
6. Nevada
7. Kentucky
8. Florida
9. Georgia
10. Oklahoma

Here are the states with the best health and longevity ratings, based on hospital data and life expectancy ratings.

Top 10 Retirement States for Health & Longevity

1. Hawaii
2. Vermont
3. South Dakota
4. New Hampshire
5. North Dakota
6. Minnesota
7. Montana
8. Maine
9. Wisconsin
10. Massachusetts

Now, let’s look at the top ten retirement states when it comes to safety (crime rates, both violent and property).

Top 10 Retirement States for Safety

1. New Hampshire
2. Idaho
3. Maine
4. Rhode Island
5. Connecticut
6. Wyoming
7. Wisconsin
8. Iowa
9. Pennsylvania
10. Vermont

The final factor we considered as part of our retirement ranking system was a retiree’s well-being: how connected or isolated retired people feel from one state to the next, an often crucial factor when it comes to a happy retirement.

First, here are the states in which older generations tend to feel loneliest.

Loneliest States For The Over 65s

And at the other end of the scale: the states where older generations feel most connected and part of their community.

Least Lonely States For The Over 65s

Secure Your Long-Term Future: Plan Ahead For Retirement

Though it may yet be some time before your retirement, it’s better to think about it as far in advance as possible. As this study shows, retirement is not a standard, consistent matter in the United States.

Where you live can largely determine your retired quality of life; by carefully considering where your state ranks on our list (and why), you can rest easy knowing that you can look forward to a happy retirement. Or, you can consider relocating to somewhere that better fits your needs.

How connected or isolated retired people feel from one state to the next is often a crucial factor when it comes to a happy retirement.

Idaho tops our list of best places for retirees due to its mix of affordability, safety, and resident wellbeing, while California ranks lowest due to high crime, high Medicare spending, and low affordability, all of which outweigh a healthy life expectancy.

But every state is different, with some notable disparities across the country and many factors to consider. For example, the lowest overall life expectancy can be found in West Virginia, yet this low longevity ranking doesn’t paint the full picture, with the state placed well outside the bottom ten overall.

Alaska ranks high for affordability and features the lowest gas tax, yet it also features the highest rate of violent crime. Oklahoma scores high for retiree well-being but low on all other examined criteria. And Texas, despite some pluses for retirees, is blighted by safety and well-being issues.

Ultimately, in anticipation of your retirement, you should ideally do the following:

• Plan ahead for housing needs that may change
• Build a financial plan that supports long-term stability
• Prioritize access to health care and wellness programs
• Find environments that support social connection and purpose
• Make sure you use supportive technologies and services
• Secure the right balance for yourself. 

Receiving a bill should never be the first step in getting help. J Price McNamara knows that when dealing with an ERISA, long-term disability, or insurance claim, what you need is answers. We’re here to provide them free of charge.

Our firm welcomes telephone calls or the opportunity to visit with you in person to answer any questions you may have. We also provide a Free Denial Review. There is no obligation to hire us as your ERISA attorney.