By Diane Mwai
al.com
(TNS)
Looking to retire soon? It’s important to know what each state has to offer to ensure you will have the most comfortable retirement.
That’s why Bankrate released a guide comparing all 50 states across affordability, safety, healthcare, and taxes to rank the best and worst states for retirement. You can read more about the methodology used here.
“Retirees and pre-retirees should take notice of these rankings because we looked beyond the typical categories to look closely at important lifestyle and risk factors for residents of various states,” said Stephen Kates, Bankrate’s financial analyst in the report.
“There is more to being a resident than just the number of sunny days and taxes. Categories like public safety, walkability, access to health care, air quality, recreational opportunities, and more add up to the daily quality of life retirees want.”
Which state is the best?
New Hampshire outshines the rest at the top of the list. This New England state excels in neighborhood safety (1st), quality health care (5th), low local taxes (6th), and a populous senior community (7th), but scored poorly for weather (40th).
Which state is the worst?
Louisiana ranks the lowest overall. The state scored poorly across all categories, including affordability (43rd), neighborhood safety (48th), and quality health care (37th). Notably, Louisiana has high crime rates and ranked 39th in weather.
[Editor’s note: Here are the best and worst states to retire to, according to Bankrate.]
| State | Overall rank | Local taxes | Affordability | Weather | Safety | Health care | People of similar age | Arts | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 1 | 6 | 14 | 40 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 8 |
| Maine | 2 | 29 | 17 | 41 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 24 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 7 | 39 | 16 | 10 | 27 |
| Vermont | 4 | 43 | 12 | 43 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| Idaho | 5 | 11 | 9 | 24 | 3 | 19 | 35 | 37 | 34 |
| Rhode Island | 6 | 39 | 38 | 34 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 5 |
| West Virginia | 7 | 23 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 38 | 4 | 50 | 44 |
| Wisconsin | 8 | 19 | 6 | 44 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 29 |
| Utah | 9 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 50 | 17 | 22 |
| Virginia | 10 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 26 | 11 |
| Delaware | 11 | 18 | 3 | 17 | 31 | 18 | 5 | 28 | 16 |
| South Dakota | 12 | 1 | 35 | 42 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 18 |
| Connecticut | 13 | 47 | 28 | 33 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 9 |
| Oregon | 14 | 30 | 15 | 16 | 40 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 23 |
| Ohio | 15 | 35 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 36 | 39 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | 41 | 47 | 35 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 7 | 2 |
| Montana | 17 | 5 | 34 | 36 | 33 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 21 |
| Indiana | 18 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 21 | 32 | 40 | 45 | 38 |
| Michigan | 19 | 14 | 13 | 38 | 29 | 17 | 15 | 31 | 26 |
| Pennsylvania | 20 | 34 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 45 | 9 | 30 | 14 |
| Iowa | 21 | 20 | 18 | 46 | 14 | 26 | 21 | 43 | 25 |
| Minnesota | 22 | 44 | 31 | 49 | 20 | 14 | 27 | 11 | 17 |
| New Jersey | 23 | 49 | 23 | 28 | 10 | 31 | 29 | 23 | 1 |
| Illinois | 24 | 37 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 30 | 32 | 25 | 19 |
| Hawaii | 25 | 42 | 50 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 4 |
| North Carolina | 26 | 12 | 22 | 15 | 34 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 41 |
| Maryland | 27 | 46 | 32 | 14 | 35 | 11 | 38 | 16 | 6 |
| North Dakota | 28 | 9 | 27 | 48 | 26 | 24 | 43 | 34 | 20 |
| Nevada | 29 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 49 | 37 | 5 | 28 |
| New York | 30 | 50 | 39 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 3 |
| Arizona | 31 | 15 | 37 | 4 | 32 | 33 | 13 | 33 | 48 |
| Missouri | 32 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 39 | 35 | 24 | 35 | 32 |
| Georgia | 33 | 26 | 10 | 22 | 27 | 46 | 47 | 22 | 40 |
| Tennessee | 34 | 8 | 24 | 11 | 47 | 40 | 34 | 6 | 46 |
| Colorado | 35 | 31 | 41 | 5 | 49 | 12 | 46 | 3 | 12 |
| Washington | 36 | 45 | 26 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 42 | 27 | 13 |
| Kentucky | 37 | 22 | 40 | 10 | 13 | 48 | 28 | 44 | 37 |
| Alaska | 38 | 3 | 25 | 50 | 45 | 9 | 48 | 18 | 42 |
| Mississippi | 39 | 27 | 36 | 29 | 11 | 44 | 33 | 49 | 50 |
| South Carolina | 40 | 33 | 29 | 27 | 41 | 36 | 14 | 39 | 35 |
| Florida | 41 | 4 | 48 | 45 | 18 | 43 | 3 | 20 | 31 |
| New Mexico | 42 | 31 | 20 | 2 | 50 | 34 | 10 | 24 | 43 |
| California | 43 | 48 | 46 | 1 | 43 | 23 | 45 | 13 | 7 |
| Kansas | 44 | 25 | 44 | 18 | 36 | 28 | 31 | 41 | 30 |
| Alabama | 45 | 37 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 47 | 25 | 47 | 45 |
| Nebraska | 46 | 24 | 49 | 32 | 23 | 20 | 39 | 38 | 10 |
| Arkansas | 47 | 36 | 33 | 9 | 46 | 42 | 26 | 48 | 49 |
| Oklahoma | 48 | 21 | 45 | 13 | 37 | 41 | 44 | 46 | 47 |
| Texas | 49 | 7 | 42 | 47 | 38 | 50 | 49 | 40 | 33 |
| Louisiana | 50 | 40 | 43 | 39 | 48 | 37 | 36 | 42 | 36 |
Photo caption: Portsmouth, New Hampshire (DenisTangneyJr/iStock)
________
©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
Thanks for reading CPA Practice Advisor!
Subscribe Already registered? Log In
Need more information? Read the FAQs
