New England State Rises to Top in 2025 Best States for Retirement List
Retirees are preferring New England for retirement living, while Sun Belt states are among the bottom states to spend the golden years in.
That’s according to Bankrate, which this week released its rankings on the top and worst states for retirees to live in.
The media platform compared all 50 states across 15 data points that spanned eight categories, including affordability, weather, safety, healthcare, taxes, arts and entertainment, people of a similar age, and miscellaneous/other, which comprised of community wellbeing and walkability factors.
It used a national opinion survey to understand how the public prioritized each category and asked respondents to select their top three choices. Affordability (28%), weather (18%), and safety (17%) were among the leading three categories, while miscellaneous/other (2%), people of a similar age (3%), and arts and entertainment (7%), ranked in the bottom three.
While warm weather and a temperate climate ranked among the highest, the findings showed a clear preference for affordability, healthcare quality and neighborhood safety, according to Bankrate.
New Hampshire, which last year ranked #38 in Bankrate’s findings, scored the top spot this year due to its strong standings in neighborhood safety, healthcare, taxes, and residents of similar ages.
Meanwhile, Alaska was kicked off as the worst state for retirees to live in, instead replaced by Louisiana. The southern state scored low marks in neighborhood safety, affordability, weather, and healthcare.
“Our survey results may be shocking to any retirees who only considered warm weather and income taxes in their relocation plans,” said Bankrate Financial Analyst Stephen Kates, CFP. “This year, we asked Americans about quality of life factors that are vital to their satisfaction in retirement, such as entertainment, safety, and walkability. By incorporating Americans’ own retirement priorities with our analysis of 15 different data points, we are able to give a comprehensive perspective on the true costs of retirement across different states.”
Read on to find out which states scored among the top and bottom rankings.
NEXT: Leading 10 States
10. Virginia: The Bankrate study placed Virginia in the top 10 due to its rankings in weather (8), affordability (16), and safety (16).
9: Utah: The snowy states saw high rankings in weather (6), affordability (11), and local taxes (16).
8: Wisconsin: Retirees loved Wisconsin’s affordability (6), safety (9), and healthcare (15).
7: West Virginia: This state ranked the highest score in affordability (1) and saw high marks for having people of similar ages (4) and for its safety (6).
6: Rhode Island: Residents of Rhode Island especially loved the state for its safety (4), healthcare (7), people of similar ages (12), and arts and entertainment (12).
5: Idaho: Idaho, which was also the seventh-fastest-growing state in 2024 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, ranked among the top five states for retirees due to its safety (3), affordability (9), and taxes (11).
4: Vermont: Coming in at fourth place, Vermont hit the top spot for healthcare (1) and for its arts and entertainment. It was also runner-up for having people of similar ages as retirees (2).
3. Wyoming: While the Cowboy state came in at third place, it placed first in local taxes (1), affordability (4), and safety (7). Retirees may save on their taxes in Wyoming, but they may also spend more in healthcare as the state ranked 39th in that category.
2. Maine: The Pine Tree State had the highest mark in people of similar ages (1) but also placed top scores in safety (2), healthcare (3), and in its arts and entertainment (4). It scored mid-marks for local taxes (29).
1. New Hampshire: Coming in at first place, New Hampshire was the safest state for many retirees, and also ranked high in healthcare (5), local taxes (6), and people of similar ages (7). People also enjoyed the state for its arts (15) and affordability (14), however could do without its weather (40).
NEXT: Bottom 10 States
41. Florida: Usually a top destination for retirees, Florida’s shocking low score was a result of its affordability (48), weather (45), and healthcare (43). However, the sunshine state flourished in having people of similar ages as retirees (3).
42. New Mexico: New Mexico scored the lowest ranking in safety (50) and had generally low scores in healthcare (34) and local taxes (31).
43. California: While generally a popular destination, retirees say they avoid California for its high local taxes (48), lack of affordability (46), safety (43), and for an absence of people of similar ages (45). The state did score the top mark for its memorable weather (1).
44. Kansas: While coming in at 41, Kansas scored mid-marks across the board in local taxes (25), weather (18), healthcare (28), and people of similar age (31). It scored its lowest ranks in affordability (44) and in arts and entertainment (41).
45. Alabama: In 45th place, Alabama had low marks in healthcare (47) and in its arts and entertainment (47). It also scored mid-marks in affordability (30), weather (31), safety (28), and people of similar ages (25).
46. Nebraska: This midwestern state proved to be unaffordable for many retirees, coming in in 49th place for affordability. Retirees were also not fans of its arts and entertainment (38) and its lack of people with similar ages (39).
47. Arkansas: Arkansas scored among the bottom for its scarcity in safety measures (46) and healthcare affordability (42). It also placed among the lowest marks in arts and entertainment (48).
48. Oklahoma: Oklahoma may be growing among younger workers looking for affordable living and job opportunities, but it placed among the bottom ranks for retirees due to its lack of arts and entertainment (46), miscellaneous activities like community wellbeing and walkability (47), affordability (45), people of similar ages (44), and healthcare (41).
49. Texas: Another popular spot for Millennial and Gen Zers thanks to its affordability, Texas ranked poorly for retirees who didn’t care for its high healthcare costs (50) or weather (47). The Lone Star state, however, did rank among the highest for local taxes (7).
50. Louisiana: Coming in dead last was Louisiana, who consistently ranked low among all categories. It placed its lowest score in safety (48), while also coming in among the last for affordability (43), people of similar ages (42), and local taxes (40).
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