 State |
 Rank |
 Crime Index |
 Cost of living index |
 Over the age of 65 (% of population) |
 House price |
 Life expectancy |
 Final score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1 | 408 | 98.2 | 25.6% | $252,309 | 79.4 | 3.54 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 238.3 | 101.5 | 20.8% | $263,708 | 81.1 | 3.48 |
| Iowa | 3 | 293.4 | 91.9 | 22.4% | $154,727 | 79.7 | 3.48 |
| Ohio | 4 | 297.5 | 92.8 | 22.3% | $153,593 | 77.8 | 3.41 |
| Texas | 5 | 438.9 | 91.9 | 16.8% | $211,199 | 78.5 | 3.39 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 319.9 | 96.4 | 22.0% | $202,676 | 80.0 | 3.39 |
| Nebraska | 7 | 305.9 | 91.6 | 20.7 | $178,938 | 79.8 | 3.37 |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 313.3 | 102.4 | 23.7% | $198,377 | 78.5 | 3.28 |
| Illinois | 9 | 438.8 | 94.9 | 20.3% | $204,839 | 79.0 | 3.26 |
| Idaho | 10 | 226.4 | 93.3 | 20.6% | $298,257 | 79.5 | 3.24 |
| Virginia | 11 | 208.2 | 101.4 | 20.1% | $291,002 | 79.0 | 3.24 |
| Connecticut | 12 | 228 | 126.5 | 22.4% | $259,855 | 80.8 | 3.23 |
| North Dakota | 13 | 281.3 | 97.8 | 20.3% | $237,454 | 79.5 | 3.21 |
| Vermont | 14 | 165.8 | 114.3 | 25.0% | $261,265 | 80.5 | 3.18 |
| Kansas | 15 | 413 | 88.5 | 20.7% | $153,853 | 78.7 | 3.17 |
| New Hampshire | 16 | 198.7 | 108.5 | 23.5% | $299,333 | 80.3 | 3.14 |
| New York | 17 | 356.7 | 137.3 | 21.2% | $328,677 | 80.5 | 3.13 |
| Michigan | 18 | 450 | 90.9 | 22.4% | $176,977 | 78.2 | 3.12 |
| California | 19 | 449.3 | 137.7 | 18.7% | $578,267 | 80.8 | 3.11 |
| Indiana | 20 | 399 | 90.9 | 20.7% | $158,690 | 77.6 | 3.10 |
| Maine | 21 | 121 | 116.6 | 26.2% | $249,550 | 79.2 | 3.10 |
| North Carolina | 22 | 363.7 | 97.8 | 21.0% | $208,001 | 77.8 | 3.10 |
| Utah | 23 | 238.9 | 97.4 | 14.8% | $355,484 | 80.2 | 3.10 |
| New Jersey | 24 | 228.8 | 123.7 | 21.1% | $342,527 | 80.3 | 3.08 |
| South Dakota | 25 | 433.6 | 100.7 | 21.8% | $209,684 | 79.5 | 3.02 |
| Georgia | 26 | 357.2 | 89.2 | 18.3% | $206,804 | 77.2 | 3.00 |
| Arizona | 27 | 508 | 99.6 | 22.1% | $277,574 | 79.6 | 2.98 |
| Kentucky | 28 | 225.8 | 93.1 | 21.4% | $149,987 | 76.0 | 2.97 |
| Rhode Island | 29 | 232.2 | 118.7 | 22.5% | $308,658 | 79.9 | 2.96 |
| Missouri | 30 | 530.3 | 88.5 | 22.0% | $165,650 | 77.5 | 2.93 |
| Washington | 31 | 304.5 | 110.1 | 20.6% | $428,896 | 79.9 | 2.89 |
| Wyoming | 32 | 237.5 | 101.7 | 21.2% | $256,089 | 78.3 | 2.87 |
| Colorado | 33 | 368.1 | 104.8 | 19.0% | $408,794 | 80.0 | 2.82 |
| Mississippi | 34 | 285.7 | 84.9 | 20.6% | $127,539 | 75.0 | 2.80 |
| Oregon | 35 | 281.8 | 134 | 23.1% | $372,868 | 79.5 | 2.72 |
| Oklahoma | 36 | 456.2 | 86.5 | 20.5% | $132,465 | 75.9 | 2.72 |
| West Virginia | 37 | 350.7 | 91.6 | 25.5% | $107,136 | 75.4 | 2.66 |
| South Carolina | 38 | 506.2 | 96.5 | 22.7% | $190,594 | 77.0 | 2.65 |
| Massachusetts | 39 | 358 | 130.1 | 21.7% | $433,883 | 80.5 | 2.62 |
| Montana | 40 | 377.1 | 106.3 | 24.3% | $288,867 | 78.5 | 2.60 |
| Arkansas | 41 | 554.9 | 87.1 | 22.0% | $130,907 | 76.0 | 2.56 |
| Maryland | 42 | 500.2 | 127.6 | 20.2% | $312,990 | 78.8 | 2.46 |
| Louisiana | 43 | 557 | 93.1 | 20.1% | $170,388 | 75.7 | 2.46 |
| Alabama | 44 | 524.2 | 89.2 | 22.0% | $143,072 | 75.4 | 2.46 |
| Tennessee | 45 | 651.5 | 88.6 | 21.5% | $192,630 | 76.3 | 2.39 |
| New Mexico | 46 | 783.5 | 88.2 | 22.1% | $210,141 | 78.4 | 2.37 |
| Nevada | 47 | 555.9 | 108.4 | 20.4% | $309,730 | 78.1 | 2.33 |
| Hawaii | 48 | 250.6 | 191.8 | 23.0% | $642,526 | 81.3 | 1.80 |
| Alaska | 49 | 829 | 128.3 | 15.8% | $300,073 | 78.3 | 1.71 |
Florida is the best US state for retirees.
Known as the Sunshine State, Florida scored well across the board, and has the second highest population of over 60s living there. With its warm temperatures, dazzling white beaches and range of outdoor activities, it’s the perfect place to live out your retirement in style.
Best state for house prices
West Virginia has the lowest average property prices across all 50 US states. Famously known for its outdoor recreational activities such as skiing, white water rafting and fishing, retirees can live comfortably, whilst also having the option to spend more time trialling new activities and experiences.
Best state for crime rates
Maine has the lowest crime rate on average across all 50 US states. It is the 12th smallest US state and the 9th least populated, meaning that retirees can live a safe and quiet way of life, whilst enjoying its beautiful surroundings.
Best states for life expectancy
Hawaii has the highest life expectancy across the United States of America – probably because this beautiful set of islands hosts good weather, and stunning long golden beaches! Move to Hawaii, and you can expect a long, peaceful and happy retirement.
Sources
- Cost of living data https://meric.mo.gov/data/cost-living-data-series
- Crime index data https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/explorer/state/wyoming/crime
- Age of population data https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_S0102&prodType;=table
- Property price data https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_B25075&prodType;=table
- Life expectancy data http://ihmeuw.org/4wad
Methodology:
To calculate the index, we first normalised the data categories individually from 0 to 1 and then summed the results.
On this scale, for
- Crime – The area/state with the highest rate of crime would be weighted closer to 0
- Cost of living – The area/state with the highest cost is weighted closer to 0
- 60 and over – lower % of population is weight closer to 0
- Property prices – Higher property prices are deemed less desirable so are weighted down
- Life expectancy – Lower life expectancy is less desirable so weighted down