When the time comes to retire, you want to make sure you’re living somewhere that is ideal for your lifestyle and is the best for your finances. There are a few historically popular places to retire to: Florida, Nevada, Arizona. But are these really the best places to live when you’re over 65? Today we’re looking at some of the best states to retire to, and which are less than ideal.
Best States to Live in for Seniors
South Dakota
Oddly, South Dakota tops the list as best state for seniors to live in, for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the state has a very low cost of living, due in large part to its incredibly low population density. The region is largely populated by smaller communities, marked by its flat expanses of land and generally quiet living in the region.
The tax burden on retirees is rather low, which makes this a great pick for people looking to live in a quiet and inexpensive state. The weather is also quite consistent: while it may snow a bit more than some other states, the risk of things like tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes is negligible at best. In all, one of the most plain and “boring” states in the US is actually the best overall for retirees!
Utah
Another high-scoring state in terms of retiree living, Utah has many of the same features that South Dakota does. It’s got a low population density, a low crime rate, and few tax burdens for seniors. The high concentration of Mormons is actually partly to thank for the low crime rates: the religiously pious don’t tend to break into houses or hold up banks.
Utah’s also got very stable and predictable weather, and is unlikely to be hit by extreme weather phenomena. While it’s not quite as quiet and distant as South Dakota, it can feel like the middle of nowhere if you live far from major cities. This, coupled with the relatively low amounts of traffic, makes Utah a prime choice for retirees to move to.
Florida
Florida often scores high on lists of best states to retire to. There’s a number of great reasons for this, though they’re a bit more counterbalanced than states like South Dakota or Utah. Florida has no state income tax, something that makes it a great state for retirees with lots of post-retirement income. It’s also got many retirement communities dedicated to providing a place for seniors who move to the region.
One of Florida’s biggest drawbacks is also one of it’s best features to some people: the weather. It’s a sub-tropical regions (unless you’re in the Keys, then it’s just tropical!) and it experiences warm weather year-round. Other drawbacks to the Sunshine State include the crime rate, relatively high cost of living and high population density leading to heavy traffic in most regions.
Arizona and Nevada
Despite its reputation, Arizona scores lower on the list of retiree states than you might expect. Many polls and lists put it around 30th best state for seniors. This is due to a number of factors, but they often sound similar to the reasons that Florida isn’t as attractive as some other states. The same goes for Nevada, which often falls somewhere in the 41st to 43rd place in the list of best states for retirees.
These states earned these low spots through their incredibly hot and arid weather, their heavy population density, and their crime rates. It’s worth noting that few retirees actually move after retiring: typically people retire in the very state they worked in, or closest to their family. However, if you’re looking to retire far from home, make sure you pick a state that’s ideal for seniors to live in.