List Reveals the Best States to Retire In All Have Something in Common

Planning your retirement (or helping your parents plan their own retirement) is a major process. One of the biggest questions is where you are going to live when you finally retire. While some stay where they are once they retire, many people decide to settle elsewhere for their post-work living, and a new list of the best states to retire in shows that warm weather is key to making a state a great retiring spot.

Bankrate hoped to help potential retirees by compiling a ranking of the best and worst states to retire. The ranking of all 5o of the United States was created based on five factors: affordability (40 percent), wellness (20 percent), culture (15 percent), weather (15 percent), and crime (10 percent).

That Florida is one of the best places to retire should come as a surprise to no one, as geriatric Americans have been heading to the sunshine state to enjoy their final chapter in life for what feels like time immemorial. But what may be a bit shocking is that Florida isn’t actually the top-ranked state, as Georgia managed to snag the top spot due to being much more affordable than its coastal neighbor.

While it may not have finished first, Florida did land the second spot in the ranking, followed by Tennessee (which was no. 1 in affordability), Missouri, and Massachusetts. Most of the states that ranked high were high on affordability as well, with the major exception being Massachusetts. While it is unquestionably expensive, the Northeastern state ranked first in wellness and was in the top 10 for crime and weather, ultimately earning it the fifth spot in the rankings. So if you can afford it, you may want to ship up to Boston for retirement, where you can become a Red Sox fan in peace.

Top 5 Best States to Retire:

• Georgia
• Florida
• Tennessee
• Missouri
• Massachusetts

Top 5 Worst States to Retire:

• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Kansas
• Montana
• Alaska

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