These Two East Coast States Took Top Ranks in Retirement Readiness

East coast states were among the top areas ranking in retirement readiness, according to the latest 2025 Retirement Readiness Index from the Western & Southern Financial Group.

In its analysis, the firm ranked all 50 states on a scale of zero to 100, basing the scores across five categories including retirement funds and benefits, earnings and employment, homeownership rates, and cost of living. The report also considered each state’s life expectancy in order to assess how it supports retirement security and long-term planning for individuals.

As the concept of retirement living in the United States evolves to include part-time work, moving abroad, and even living well past average life expectancies, Western & Southern Financial Group set out to understand how retirees, and state governments, are faring with the changes.

Depending on their age and where they live, the report found that a lesser number of retirees are relying exclusively on a pension benefit for retirement and instead are subsidizing their income with a mix of retirement savings, Social Security, and individual income sources.

Ultimately, Western & Southern Financial Group notes that while financial strategy is imperative to long-term planning, location, and the factors that accompany it like income opportunities, healthcare access, and housing stability, all play a key role in retirement readiness and overall satisfaction in retirement.

Read on in the next pages to see the top, and lowest, ranking states in terms of retirement readiness.

NEXT: Worst states in retirement readiness, from 50 to 40