Bankrate gave paramount prominence to affordability in its latest study of the best and worst states to retire because it is a top concern of many Americans in deciding where to live in their post-work years.
At the same time, it also took into account lifestyle and risk factors for residents of the states.
“There is more to being a resident than just the number of sunny days and taxes,” Stephen Kates, a Bankrate financial analyst, said in a statement. “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.”
The study showed that the best states not only provide an affordable lifestyle but also offer strong quality of life in terms of safety, health care and the arts. The worst states, on the other hand, tend to rank low in these areas.
For the annual study, Bankrate researchers looked at data in eight categories that reflect what Americans value in a retirement destination, weighting 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 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 accompanying gallery for the 12 worst states for an affordable retirement in 2025, according to Bankrate.
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