Florida is still, unsurprisingly, the best state to retire in

SDL chart showing best and worst states for retirement

In a shocking blow to the rest of the country, Florida once again is deemed the best state to retire in, as of 2019.

The Sunshine State isn’t popular among retirees just for its weather alone. According to Wallethub’s Best and Worst States to Retire, Florida is ranked No. 1 for total affordability, No. 7 for the quality of life, and No. 27 for health care, giving it an overall winning score of 65.60. These factors are also measured by variables such as the risk of social isolation, number of dentists and nurses per capita, as well as overall life expectancy. Florida has maintained this record for the past 3 years since taking the No. 1 rank from Wyoming in 2016.

South Dakota and Colorado came in second and third place, respectively. South Dakota has a reputation for being very tax-friendly to retirees since they have zero taxation on all forms of retirement income, including Social Security. Colorado is also known for its below-average tax rates in addition to very low property taxes.

These states all share beautiful scenery and attractive climates, but according to retirement data calculated by Truth in Accounting, they all have in common lower-than-average unfunded retirement benefits.


You can learn more about factors affecting your state’s retirement by making a chart using our State Data Lab!

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