Retirement. I think most people look forward to it. Maybe. But it is one of those life events that looks different for everyone.
For many, it simply means the end of “formalized” work. But other people plan to move to another place in their retirement.
But where to go? There are so many places to choose from. Lucky for us, someone else did this research for all those retirees planning on moving.
The people who put this together are called Seniorly. They are an online resource for senior living.
They dug into nine key metrics: affordability, quality of life, health care, taxes, weather, entertainment, medical access, community, and overall health. They took all that information and then ranked every state (plus Washington, D.C.) from best to worst for retirees. So here we go.
The biggest surprise to me was Washington, D.C. It took the number one spot. There aren’t any sandy beaches or balmy winters. Yet the nation’s capital scored higher than all 50 states.
Well, it turns out D.C. has a whole, big lot of support for older adults. This includes world-class health care. Plus, there are all of those endless museums. The national landmarks. The cultural attractions. Not only that, the city is filled with walkable neighborhoods. They also have a dense network of doctors.
Here are the top ten states for retirement.
Washington, D.C.
Montana
Wyoming
Alaska
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Vermont
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Maine
Notice anything? Not a single Southern state cracked the top 10. Tennessee shows up first at No. 24.
And then there is the bottom feeder. New Jersey. It may have charm, but affordability isn’t part of it. High taxes, high living costs, limited recreation access, and a high rate of chronic illness pushed it to the very bottom.
The full list from best to worst.
Washington, D.C.
Montana
Wyoming
Alaska
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Vermont
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Maine
Colorado
New Hampshire
Minnesota
Nevada
West Virginia
Oregon
New Mexico
Florida
Connecticut
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
Nebraska
Tennessee
Louisiana
Idaho
Iowa
Indiana
Washington
Ohio
Arkansas
Illinois
Hawaii
Kentucky
Delaware
Wisconsin
Virginia
California
Utah
North Carolina
New York
Arizona
Texas
South Carolina
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Oklahoma
Georgia
Kansas
Alabama
New Jersey
It looks like I am stuck at number 30.
Maybe all of this isn’t about the location, but instead, from the place in our hearts. The best place to retire is the one that makes you feel most at home.
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“The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off.”
— Abe Lemons
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“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
— Confucius
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“Work is not always required… there is such a thing as sacred idleness.”
— George MacDonald
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