Oklahoma is the 28th most populous state in the country with nearly 4 million people. According to WalletHub, Oklahoma ranks low in a number of ways for hopeful retirees. When considering a place to settle, things to think about include affordability, healthcare and quality of life.
The good news about Oklahoma is that it’s pretty affordable, at least in most things. Groceries, housing, and utilities are all lower than the national average, according to BestPlaces. The bad news is that healthcare is not on that list.
Healthcare actually costs a lot more in Oklahoma compared to the rest of the nation. At least 20% of residents don’t have insurance. To make matters worse, healthcare is pretty bad if you can afford it. Crime is also worse than the national average. Oklahoma is ranked 40 out of 50 for public safety, according to U.S. News.
Another area where Oklahoma is lacking is in quality of life. Factors considered in quality of life are life expectancy, social isolation, access to public transportation, and weather among other things. Activities to do in the area and crime are factors as well. Retirees in Oklahoma should be wary that crime can be high and there is not much to do.
Rhode Island has a few things going for it. Healthcare in the state is pretty good, but it’ll cost you an arm and a leg—hopefully figuratively rather than literally. In addition to that, Rhode Island also doesn’t seem to put a lot of money back into the state.
Roads are pretty terrible, making it tough for drivers to navigate the small state. this is one among many reasons why Rhode Island ranks 38th in quality of life. The weather can also be problematic for retirees as it gets very hot and humid in the summer and extremely cold in the winter.
As if that wasn’t enough to chase retirees away from the state, Rhode Island is also incredibly expensive. It’s on par with New Jersey! The average cost of a house will set a retiree back $284,200. If money is no object, then Rhode Island may seem like a decent choice.
One of Rhode Island's better areas is in terms of healthcare. However, it's not the best ranking only number 24 by WalletHub. Factors that determined its ranking were the number of available physicians, dentists and nurses in the area, as well as health care facilities and the overall health of retired individuals.
New Mexico is ranked 46 for U.S. News. Healthcare in the state is pretty middle-of-the-road. It’s neither good nor bad, but it will cost a pretty penny. But that's just one of the state's many problems for retirees. The real problem in New Mexico is the crime rate.
The state has almost twice as many violent crimes per 100,000 residents as the national average. It could be related to the fact that the economy in New Mexico is struggling. In terms of quality of life, New Mexico ranks number 47. When it comes to property crimes, New Mexico ranks 49th with the second-highest rate in the country.
As if that weren’t enough, New Mexico is relatively expensive. The average home cost is almost $200,000, and that amount is increasing year over year. New Mexico also chooses to partially tax retirees, which is the final straw. Considering how close it is to Utah (one of the best states in the nation), it doesn’t have a lot to offer.
New Mexico also doesn't fare well in terms of health care. Based on the number of available healthcare workers and facilities available, in addition to the overall health of individuals over the age of 65, there's a lot of room for improvement.
Arizona attracts a lot of retirees, so what gives? The state has nice weather, decent healthcare (although far from excellent), and more, but what it doesn’t have is affordability. Unless you live out in the middle of nowhere, which isn’t what you want in Arizona, you’re likely to pay upwards of $250,000 or more for a decent home.
Arizona also plenty of room to improve in terms of healthcare and overall quality of life. Individuals in Arizona either do not have access to doctors and dentists or the facilities themselves. The health of the population is also factored in the ranking of Arizona which is at number 35.
Arizona also has a bit of a crime issue as violent crime and incarceration rates are much higher than the national average. As if that weren’t enough, Arizona partially taxes pensions, but at least social security is tax-free.
Arizona has a population of about 7 million people and is the 14 most populated state. Climate in Arizona is mostly typical of a desert, which makes it not ideal for the elderly. with that said, there are certainly better places to settle for retirement.
Arkansas deals with a lot of the same issues as other southern states. On the one hand, the state is extremely cheap. The cost of living is as good as it gets. On the other, you get what you pay for. Healthcare is extremely poor, and the quality of life is subpar at best.
Arkansas has a ranking of 48 when it comes to quality of life and everything that encompasses. Healthcare on the other hand is ranked at number 45 by WalletHub. These are things to consider before moving to Arkansas or staying in Arkansas for retirement.
There are a few areas that seem to be flourishing, like Fayetteville, but on the whole, Arkansas should be avoided. Even if you can look past the high healthcare costs, the state also deals with a huge crime rate. With a population of 3 million, that makes for a lot of victims in the state.
Little Rock has been deemed as one of the most dangerous cities in America by CBS News, THV11, and USA Today. These statistics have no doubt had a profound effect on the quality of laugh ranking for the state and it is certainly something to think about.
West Virginia has virtually nothing going for it. The state has some of the worst healthcare in the whole nation, ranked 48 out of 50. Even if you find a decent doctor, it’ll cost you a pretty penny. The economy is also pretty bad, which has caused people to flee the state.
West Virginia is the 38th most populated state with about 1.8 million. About 29% of the state is college-educated according to USNews and the median income is just $26,354. Fiscal stability was ranked at just number 28 by USNews
West Virginia also partially taxes both social security and pensions. Surprisingly, the best thing about this state is that it has about the same incarceration and crime rate than the national average, although we want to stress that we said “the same” and not “better.”
West Virginia ranks dead last when it comes to healthcare, likely due to a lack of proper healthcare facilities and healthcare workers. Quality of life currently sits at number 41 due to the wide range of problems in the state. If there is one area that it is at least somewhat acceptable in its affordability where it ranks number 18 by WalletHub.
Alabama is one of the worst states to live in—period. Its overall ranking with U.S. News is second-to-last, with only one other state being worse. The reasons are pretty obvious. The healthcare system leaves much to be desired. It’s expensive, the quality is pretty bad, and access is awful.
Then there’s the crime rate. The incarceration rate of Alabama is 419 out of 100K residents and there are 511 violent crimes for every 100K residents. When it comes to affordability WalletHub lists Alabama as number 1, so from where are the problems arising?
While the crime rate isn’t double that of the national average, it’s getting pretty close. That’s not something the state should strive toward. The only benefit Alabama has is that it doesn’t tax social security or pensions, but you’ll spend those savings on the extra costs along the way.
It's also important to consider quality of life. The state has a ranking of 45 out of all 50 states. Alabama lacks in education, opportunity and employment - all areas that are extremely important in terms of quality of life.
U.S. News ranked South Carolina at a solid 42 out of 50. Considering the nearby states, South Carolina definitely needs to try harder. Healthcare isn’t the worst, but it’s certainly not fantastic. Public health in the state is pretty low, which is strange, considering the actual quality of healthcare is pretty decent. What gives?
South Carolina is one of the best states in terms of affordability of living. However, along with that comes plenty of other problems as for healthcare and quality of life. So, while you might save money on rent, you'll be paying in other ways.
South Carolina also has crime issues. Public safety is poor, with the violent crime rate being much higher than the national average. The incarceration rate is lower than the national average, but we wonder if that means there are more criminals on the streets and fewer in prison.
As far as taxes, social security isn’t taxed, but pensions are partially taxed. Fiscal stability could use improvement, but currently, the economy is doing well. Around 39% of the state is educated but the median income is just $29,930.
New Jersey actually has a lot going for it. It has excellent healthcare so that retirees can get quality care. On top of that, there’s very little crime compared to other states in the nation. The only problem? It’s extremely expensive. New Jersey is one of those states that a nest egg wouldn’t last very long.
New Jersey is in dead last place when it comes to affordability. This is considering the adjusted cost of living in the state, tax-friendliness, and the cost of healthcare. For seniors who need in-home services, there is a lack of affordability in that area as well. many seniors over the age of 65 cannot afford even doctor visits.
New Jersey is notoriously one of the most expensive states to live in the nation. According to NeighborhoodScout, the average home cost in the state is $360,084, and some cities are even higher. Overall, New Jersey is fine, but retirees would have to be borderline rich to live here.
In terms of quality of life and health care, New Jersey performs moderately. Factors to consider are the population of seniors living in the state, the elder-friendliness of the labor market and crime rates. The availability of hospitals and healthcare workers are also moderate. While New Jersey is not the worst for these factors, combined with its lack of affordability, it's just not worth it to live there.
California suffers from the same issues as New Jersey. It’s extremely expensive but has a lot of opportunities for anyone wanting to move there. Healthcare is pretty good, but it’s middle-of-the-road for violent crimes. The violent crime rate is slightly higher than the national average, but considering the population of the state, it can seem like a lot worse than it is while living there.
Where California has the greatest advantage is in terms of healthcare. The state has the second-highest life expectancy out of all 50 states. It should also be noted that there is pretty much a decent balance of quality of life, health care and affordability, even if it's not the best in those regards.
USA Today publishes a list of most expensive states, and California consistently ranked near the top. The site went on to explain that the average rent was $1,900 per month, while a home costs around $429,000. Basically, a retiree would rip through their savings in a few years if they chose this state.
On WalletHub, California is ranked at 49th place when it comes to the highest adjusted cost of living. On top of this, seniors who need in-home care services will have to fork out a lot of money. The state is tied at 46th place, along with Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Oregon is certainly beautiful—no one is claiming otherwise. As far as rankings, U.S. News placed Oregon at 39. The best thing is has going for it is “infrastructure,” which refers to roads, commute time, and renewable energy options. That being said, the state ranked badly in other areas.
Oregon is only 42nd in terms of affordability, believe it or not. However, it is more accessible when it comes to healthcare. So while you might have no trouble finding a doctor, actually being able to afford to go to the doctor is a whole other story.
The state ranked near the bottom in fiscal security (meaning state budgets) and pretty badly for crime. The biggest consideration is that Oregon is another expensive state. Zillow lists the average home cost as $350,600, and that number is destined to increase by 2.2% over the next year. That doesn’t bode well for anyone on a fixed income.
As for quality of life, Oregon is in the top 25, so its definitely not the worst. This means it likely has a decent number of individuals over the age of 65 to communicate with, food insecurity is low and there is more access to services for seniors to use,
Nevada has big tourism bucks, but it isn’t all parties and Vegas. For a retiree, there are some other huge red flags to keep in mind. Crime is a big problem in the state. Both the incarceration rate and the violent crime rate are higher than the national average.
Nevada also ranked low for healthcare, particularly in terms of access to healthcare. Access to hospitals and the number of available healthcare workers tend to be lower in Nevada than in other states. Dentists, doctors and nurses are in shorter supply, services that retirees tend to use more than other age groups.
It’s true that Nevada doesn’t tax social security or pensions, but those savings will go toward the cost of living. See, the state is extremely expensive. Housing costs are extremely turbulent, but they’ve been on an upward trend lately. The average cost of a house is $291,800, according to Zillow. That number is only expected to rise.
Nevada does have one advantage over other states. It is actually has a number 4 ranking in WalletHub's Taxpayer ranking. This means that it is a more tax-friendly state, which seniors on a limited budget will appreciate.
Washington is another one of those states that seemingly has everything going for it. It’s the top-ranked state, according to U.S. News. The lowest rank is fiscal stability, and even that’s still pretty highly ranked. Of course, all that comes at a price. Washington has an incredibly high cost of living.
Washington, while ranked number 33 overall, is ranked number 43 for affordability. The cost of living has become high in a variety of ways, including the cost of housing. For these reasons, the state is not the ideal place to live. They do have an affordable housing program, but it is not ideal to depend on that.
If you wanted to purchase a home in Washington, you should be ready to shell out at least $393,800, according to Zillow. On top of that, that price is going to increase at an exponential rate—3.5% expected. This is on top of the already 5% change since last year. Soon, residents of Washington will need to move to a more affordable state!
There’s no doubt that this state would chew through any savings a retiree has. In-home care services cost more in Washington than in any other state. Quality of life and healthcare are better but if you can't afford the services, they don't really do you any good.
Another southern state makes the list! According to U.S. News, Mississippi is ranked 48 out of 50. The good news for Mississippi is that it’s improved recently—it was 49. That doesn’t mean good news for retirees. Let’s look past the beautiful parks for a second.
Mississippi is at the bottom when it comes to healthcare and especially, quality of life, ranking 49 and 50, respectively. Considering things like life expectancy and important services like healthcare, the state is not ideal for living out a long retirement in good health.
Healthcare in the state is ranked dead-last, meaning even if you can afford a doctor, the quality is likely to be low. It’s also a violent state. The incarceration rate is much higher than that of the national average. It isn’t a surprise that residents don’t feel safe in their own homes.
The state does have affordability going for it. In that regard, it is ranked in 10th place. The cost of living and the cost of services, health, in-home or otherwise is cheaper compared to other states. So it's not all bad - just not good either.
There’s a ton of reasons Kentucky is a horrible choice for retirees. We’ll start with the most glaring issue—healthcare. The state is notorious for its treatment of elders. Kentucky also has one of the lowest lifespans of any state in the nation. The list goes on and on.
Kentucky is tied with Alabama in having one of the lowest life expectancies. While this is easily its weakest area, Kentucky does offer retirees affordability - just not to the extent where it makes the state worth moving to.
You’d think that there would be something worth moving there, like a low cost of living, but nope. The state is more expensive than most think. WalletHub places Kentucky as one of the worst places to retire because it’s far too expensive for what you get in return.
Kentucky ultimately has a low quality of life. Seniors don't have access to services they need like public transportation and many are isolated from others. The crime rate also makes it unsuitable for seniors. just one of many reasons seniors should void the state.
Louisiana is the bottom of the barrel for a lot of things. U.S. News ranked it as the worst state in the whole nation, and it’s going to take a bit to unpack. We all know that the weather leaves much to be desired—hurricanes, extreme temperature swings, and more. Well, apparently, the state also has poor healthcare options. Not only is it expensive, but the quality is also poor.
Then we get to the crime rate, which is exceedingly high. The state has almost twice as many incarcerated adults as the national average. The one good thing Louisiana has is tax-friendliness toward retirees, but that only goes so far.
Hawaii seems like a dream location to retire, right? Beautiful beaches, impeccable weather, poor healthcare—wait, what was that last one? You read that right. Healthcare in Hawaii is pretty bad, so it’s not that surprising that the life expectancy in the state is among the lowest in the nation.
On top of that, the state is incredibly expensive. It’s an island, so a lot has to be imported. Zillow lists the average home value as $619,000. For some retirees, that’s their entire budget! The housing market is also extremely turbulent, so the house could later sell for pennies on the dollar.
Alaska may seem decent on paper. It doesn’t tax social security or pensions, and officials are practically begging people to move there. That makes you wonder: why did everyone leave? Alaska is ranked 44 out of 50. Quality of healthcare in Alaska is amazing, one of the highest, but that’s if you can actually get to the doctor. It’s costly, and there’s just not enough doctors and physicians.
The crime rate in Alaska is also appalling. The violent crime rate is over double the national average, which is truly a feat. Then, there’s the fact that the state is isolated, which makes it expensive. Zillow lists average home prices at $326,000 and rising at a rate of 5% per year.
New York isn’t ranked super high nor super low. U.S. News leaves it at a solid 25. Everything in the city is fine, but that’s just it. It’s just fine, and you’d expect more for how much it costs. Retirees in the city have a hard time affording day to day life. Expenses pile up quickly, which eats away at savings.
Many people know that housing costs are expensive in New York, but did you know that it’s increased 7% over the last year? Furthermore, it’s only going to get more expensive! Right now, the average house costs around $305,300. Even renting an apartment is far too costly for most people, much less those on a fixed income.
Maryland is one of the best states to live…if you can afford it. Apartment List found that the average rent costs $1,119 for a one-bedroom. If you’d rather buy a house, Zillow found that you should be ready to pay around $290,500. No matter which choice retirees make, they’re going to spend a ton of money just to have a place to live.
We’d like to say that other costs balance it out, but it doesn’t. According to BestPlaces, Maryland also costs more than the national average in groceries, utilities, transportation, and other miscellaneous costs retirees would have today. Healthcare doesn’t cost more, but it’s about the same as the national average, so no savings there. Only those with a huge nest egg could settle in this expensive state.
