The Worst States for Retirees, Ranked by Quality of Life
Retirement is supposed to be a golden time of reaping the fruits of your labors. However, where you retire can have a big impact on how well you enjoy life.
WalletHub recently completed a study ranking states according to retirement lifestyle. Their analysis includes indicators of affordability, quality of life and healthcare. We looked at the 25 worst states to live in during retirement according to quality of life indicators, which include share of population aged 65 years and older, risk of social isolation, access to transportation, miles of coastline, weather, museums and theaters per capita, and 15 other data points.
Here's the list of the lowest-ranked states to retire, from No. 26 all the way to the worst at No. 50.
26 (out of 50 states): Kansas
Total score: 55.73
Overall state rank: 24
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 20
Kansas is right there in the middle of the pack among all states. When it comes to affordability and quality of life, the state is mediocre. It’s even not too far off the middle when it comes to healthcare, where it’s ranked No. 35. In the end, it’s not the worst place to retire, but it’s not the best, either.
27. Ohio
Total score: 57.43
Overall state rank: 17
Miles of coastline: 312 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 12
Even though, overall, Ohio isn’t terrible for retirees, it has some definite drawbacks. It’s not particularly affordable, and so being able to enjoy what quality of life there is, as well as paying for healthcare, can make it somewhat challenging for retirees.
28. Delaware
Total score: 59.67
Overall state rank: 11
Miles of coastline: 381 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 17
Delaware actually isn’t that bad for retirees. It’s somewhat affordable and access to healthcare isn’t awful. However, the quality of life is somewhat hampered by the fact that there isn’t a lot in terms of culture and theater. Delaware has one of the states with the fewest theaters per capita.
29. Arizona
Total score: 57.60
Overall state rank: 14
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 7
Arizona is one of the states with a low percentage of workers aged 65 and older. Additionally, it isn’t quite as affordable as it could be. The quality of life is a bit lacking, and the heat can be problematic for retirees during the summer.
30. Maryland
Total score: 50.55
Overall state rank: 41
Miles of coastline: 3,190 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 11
This is definitely a state where quality of life is impacted by affordability. Maryland is one of the least affordable states to live in for retirees, and that can have a big influence on quality of life. Think twice before moving to Maryland during retirement.
31. North Carolina
Total score: 56.42
Overall state rank: 22
Miles of coastline: 3,375 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 9
Some cities in North Carolina might be attracting millennials, but that doesn’t translate into a better quality of life for retirees. A stressful hurricane season and some of the other issues that come with living in North Carolina might also cause issues for retired persons.
32. Alaska
Total score: 53.16
Overall state rank: 32
Miles of coastline: 33,904 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 25
One of the issues with Alaska is its remoteness. Additionally, quality of life can be impacted by the long darkness during the winter. Retirees who are prone to seasonal affective disorder might have an especially hard time.
33. New Jersey
Total score: 47.85
Overall state rank: 46
Miles of coastline: 1,792 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 9
There’s a reason many retirees don’t choose New Jersey. It’s very unaffordable, and the quality of life doesn’t make up for it. Much of a retiree’s income would be taken up by core living expenses, leaving little left over to enjoy any cultural activities that might be available.
34. Hawaii
Total score: 50.66
Overall state rank: 40
Miles of coastline: 1,052 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 14
It seems like paradise would be the perfect place to retire. However, the quality of life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in Hawaii. Retirees are isolated from the mainland and Hawaii is the second-least affordable state. While the excellent healthcare can make up for some of it, for many retirees it might be inadequate.
35. Nevada
Total score: 54.96
Overall state rank: 27
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 7
Nevada is one of the states with the fewest museums and related organizations per capita, making it rather dubious when it comes to quality of life. Additionally, like Arizona, many retirees might find the heat overwhelming during the summer.
36. Missouri
Total score: 57.60
Overall state rank: 17
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 13
The Show-Me State has a few things going for it, but quality of life for retirees isn’t one of its strongest suits. This isn’t the only study indicating that Missouri struggles with quality of life. CNBC ranked Missouri low in this category in 2018, citing crime statistics and healthcare issues.
37. Indiana
Total score: 52.94
Overall state rank: 34
Miles of coastline: 45 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 11
With its low ranking in healthcare and only mediocre affordability, it’s little surprise that Indiana doesn’t score particularly well in the area of quality of life. The state struggles with social and cultural environment, making it difficult to provide the types of activities retirees are looking for.
38. Texas
Total score: 56.85
Overall state rank: 20
Miles of coastline: 3,359 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 8
Everything might be bigger in Texas — but that doesn’t make it ideal for retirees. Texas is one of the states with the lowest percentages of people aged 65 and older. Additionally, the state doesn’t rank well for healthcare. Affordability might be a bright spot, but overall Texas offers a poor quality of life for retirees.
39. South Carolina
Total score: 57.15
Overall state rank: 18
Miles of coastline: 2,876 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 9
South Carolina makes the top five when it comes to property crime rates, a situation that contributes to its relatively low ranking in terms of quality of life for retirees. It might be one of the most affordable states, but the other issues, including low rankings for healthcare, make it a hard place for retirees to live comfortably.
40. Georgia
Total score: 53.48
Overall state rank: 30
Miles of coastline: 2,344 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 7
Georgia is another state with a relatively low percentage of people age 65 and older. Additionally, with healthcare ranked No. 42, it’s little surprise that Georgia is one of the worst states for retirees.
41. West Virginia
Total score: 47.26
Overall state rank: 48
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 14
There are several indicators where West Virginia struggles in terms of quality of life. It’s among the states with the smallest numbers of theaters and museums and related organizations per capita. Additionally, the state has the fourth-lowest life expectancy. No wonder it’s not well-suited for retirees.
42. Oklahoma
Total score: 53.07
Overall state rank: 33
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 14
Oklahoma’s the state with the fifth-lowest life expectancy. Additionally, while it’s one of the more affordable states, the healthcare indicators are among the worst. Retirees will find it hard to maintain their quality of life when moving to Oklahoma.
43. Rhode Island
Total score: 45.94
Overall state rank: 49
Miles of coastline: 384 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 20
This state is one of the least affordable. On top of that, it’s one of the worst states for taxpayers. Retirees in Rhode Island are likely to find their cost of living too high to allow them to enjoy a good quality of life.
44. Tennessee
Total score: 51.22
Overall state rank: 37
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 9
With a rank of No. 44 in healthcare, it’s little surprise that Tennessee also ranks seventh-worst in quality of life. The state is an affordable place to live, but that’s not everything when your health and quality of life suffer.
45. Louisiana
Total score: 50.06
Overall state rank: 42
Miles of coastline: 7,721 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 9
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Louisiana the worst state in the country for the third year in a row, and for retirees it ranks as sixth-worst for quality of life. A state with a high property crime rate and a low life expectancy, it’s little surprise that Louisiana struggles in quality of life.
46. Alabama
Total score: 50.88
Overall state rank: 39
Miles of coastline: 607 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 9
Alabama might be the second-most affordable state to retire in, but that might not make up for the lack of healthcare resources and for the quality of life. The state has a low life expectancy and a low number of theaters per capita.
47. New Mexico
Total score: 47.92
Overall state rank: 45
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 15
New Mexico has the highest property crime rate of all the states, which likely contributes to its poor showing in quality of life. Additionally, healthcare indicators are relatively poor and the state isn’t particularly affordable.
48. Kentucky
Total score: 43.85
Overall state rank: 50
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 11
When it comes to quality of life, Kentucky is the third-worst state to retire in. While some things about Kentucky can be attractive, such as the fact that the state itself doesn’t tax Social Security income, the lack of quality of life might not be worth it for everyone.
49. Arkansas
Total score: 48.53
Overall state rank: 44
Miles of coastline: 0
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 11
This state is home to plenty of outdoor activities and there’s plenty to love if you’re into the presidential history of Bill Clinton, but other than that, there isn’t much for retirees. Affordability is ranked at No. 11, but the overall quality of life indicators are low enough that this state isn’t an ideal choice for retirees.
50. Mississippi
Total score: 48.87
Overall state rank: 43
Miles of coastline: 359 miles
Museums and related organizations per 100,000 residents: 9
While Mississippi is among the most affordable states to live in (Rank: No. 3), its quality of life and healthcare are severely lacking, which makes it the worst state for quality of life in retirement. As a retiree, access to healthcare is extremely important, and Mississippi doesn’t have that. Plus, it’s the state with the worst life expectancy. Additionally, culture is lacking, as Mississippi is on the list of states with the fewest theaters and museums. As you make your retirement plans, this state should probably be left off the list.