The top states to retire, ranked from best to worst
Where you retire shapes how far your savings stretch, what your tax bill looks like, and whether your doctor is nearby. Bankrate and the Motley Fool both published comprehensive state rankings in the past year, weighing affordability, healthcare, taxes, safety, and climate. Florida is not the winner. Some Sun Belt favorites land near the bottom.
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New Hampshire
Bankrate named New Hampshire the best state to retire in 2025, first in safety and fifth in healthcare. No state income tax, no sales tax, and as of January 2025, no tax on dividends or interest. Cold winters are the main tradeoff, but on the metrics that matter most, nothing else comes close.
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Florida
Florida remains the consensus runner-up. No state income tax, year-round warmth, and communities built for older adults. Home insurance has surged, and the math now requires more scrutiny than it once did.
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Tennessee
Tennessee has no state income tax, a cost of living roughly 10 percent below the national average, and affordable housing. The tax burden for retirees is among the lowest in the country, and mild winters with Appalachian landscapes nearby round out a strong case.
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South Carolina
Social Security is exempt from state taxes, and deductions apply to pension and retirement withdrawals. South Carolina offers coastline, history, and generous treatment of retirement income, landing consistently in national top-ten lists despite brutal summers.
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Arizona
Arizona exempts Social Security from state income taxes and keeps property taxes low. The Motley Fool’s 2026 index ranks it well across housing and cost of living. Triple-digit summer heat lasting several months is the one sustained argument against it.
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Wyoming
Wyoming has no state income tax, low property taxes, and dramatic scenery. Bankrate places it third overall on safety, affordability, and tax structure. Healthcare access thins sharply outside Casper and Cheyenne.
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Georgia
Mild winters, affordable housing outside Atlanta, and tax exemptions on retirement income make Georgia a solid mid-tier choice. Healthcare is strong in metro areas, though statewide outcomes trail top-ranked states. Summer heat and traffic are the recurring complaints.
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Texas
Texas has no state income tax and world-class medical centers, including MD Anderson. Property taxes rank among the highest in the country, and summers push past 110 degrees. Bankrate ranks it in the bottom third overall on those tax bills.
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California
California offers unmatched coastal weather and world-class healthcare. It also has the highest state income tax in the country and a cost of living that strains fixed incomes. Retirees with real savings can thrive here, but most will find the math working against them over a long retirement.
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Louisiana
Louisiana finishes last in virtually every serious retirement ranking. Bankrate placed it dead last in 2025, with bottom-third finishes in crime, healthcare, and quality of life. The low cost of living and New Orleans culture are real draws, but for most retirees, not enough.
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Wrap up
The best state is the one that fits your income, your health needs, and what you want your days to look like. Rankings are a starting point, not a verdict. Bankrate’s annual study breaks down all 50 states in detail.
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