Affordability is a key concern of many Americans when deciding where to spend their retirement years, according to Bankrate’s recently released 2025 study of the best and worst states to retire.
Bankrate’s annual study looked at data in eight categories that reflect what Americans value in a retirement destination. Researchers weighted each category in accordance with responses collected by YouGov Plc in May among 2,260 U.S. adults across 50 states.
The weightings for each category reflect what respondents selected as their top three most important factors when choosing where to retire:
- Affordability – 28%
- Weather – 18%
- Neighborhood safety – 17%
- Health care – 16%
- Local taxes – 9%
- Arts, recreation and entertainment – 7%
- People of similar age – 3%
- Miscellaneous/other – 2%
Researchers sourced metrics from the U.S. Census, the Council for Community and Economic Research, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and more.
See the gallery for the 12 best states for an affordable retirement in 2025.
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