Best States to Retire in the US
The best states for retirement balance low taxes, an affordable cost of living, warm weather, and reasonable housing costs. The ranking below scores all 50 states across five retirement factors: tax burden, cost of living, sunny days, property tax rate, and average January temperature. A higher score means a more retirement-friendly state.
See also: All State Rankings →
| # | State | Tax Burden | Cost of Living | Sunny Days | Property Tax | Jan Temp | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Arizona | 8.20% | 102.2 | 193 | 0.62% | 54.0°F | 66.1 |
| Arizona: income tax up to 2.50%, cost of living index 102.20, 193 sunny days, 54.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 2 |
|
Nevada | 8.40% | 100.1 | 158 | 0.60% | 42.0°F | 61.9 |
| Nevada: no income tax, cost of living index 100.10, 158 sunny days, 42.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 3 |
|
New Mexico | 9.50% | 92.9 | 167 | 0.80% | 36.0°F | 60.4 |
| New Mexico: income tax up to 5.90%, cost of living index 92.90, 167 sunny days, 36.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 4 |
|
Oklahoma | 8.70% | 85.0 | 139 | 0.90% | 38.0°F | 59.7 |
| Oklahoma: income tax up to 4.75%, cost of living index 85.00, 139 sunny days, 38.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 5 |
|
Wyoming | 6.80% | 95.4 | 115 | 0.61% | 22.0°F | 59.1 |
| Wyoming: no income tax, cost of living index 95.40, 115 sunny days, 22.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 6 |
|
Tennessee | 7.50% | 89.8 | 106 | 0.71% | 40.0°F | 59.1 |
| Tennessee: no income tax, cost of living index 89.80, 106 sunny days, 40.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 7 |
|
South Carolina | 8.50% | 95.2 | 112 | 0.57% | 47.0°F | 58.8 |
| South Carolina: income tax up to 6.40%, cost of living index 95.20, 112 sunny days, 47.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 8 |
|
Louisiana | 9.10% | 93.5 | 114 | 0.55% | 52.0°F | 58.8 |
| Louisiana: income tax up to 4.25%, cost of living index 93.50, 114 sunny days, 52.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 9 |
|
Alabama | 8.80% | 87.9 | 99 | 0.41% | 46.0°F | 58.8 |
| Alabama: income tax up to 5.00%, cost of living index 87.90, 99 sunny days, 46.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 10 |
|
Utah | 8.70% | 99.0 | 135 | 0.58% | 29.0°F | 58.4 |
| Utah: income tax up to 4.55%, cost of living index 99.00, 135 sunny days, 29.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 11 |
|
Mississippi | 9.10% | 85.3 | 106 | 0.65% | 48.0°F | 58.3 |
| Mississippi: income tax up to 4.70%, cost of living index 85.30, 106 sunny days, 48.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 12 |
|
Colorado | 8.80% | 105.7 | 136 | 0.51% | 30.0°F | 57.9 |
| Colorado: income tax up to 4.40%, cost of living index 105.70, 136 sunny days, 30.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 13 |
|
Idaho | 8.60% | 96.7 | 128 | 0.69% | 30.0°F | 57.7 |
| Idaho: income tax up to 5.80%, cost of living index 96.70, 128 sunny days, 30.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 14 |
|
Arkansas | 9.80% | 86.9 | 111 | 0.61% | 41.0°F | 57.0 |
| Arkansas: income tax up to 4.40%, cost of living index 86.90, 111 sunny days, 41.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 15 |
|
Texas | 7.60% | 92.7 | 135 | 1.74% | 49.0°F | 56.9 |
| Texas: no income tax, cost of living index 92.70, 135 sunny days, 49.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 16 |
|
Montana | 8.60% | 94.0 | 120 | 0.84% | 24.0°F | 56.1 |
| Montana: income tax up to 5.90%, cost of living index 94.00, 120 sunny days, 24.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 17 |
|
Georgia | 9.20% | 93.4 | 110 | 0.92% | 46.0°F | 55.9 |
| Georgia: income tax up to 5.39%, cost of living index 93.40, 110 sunny days, 46.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 18 |
|
Delaware | 9.20% | 102.7 | 115 | 0.57% | 34.0°F | 55.9 |
| Delaware: income tax up to 6.60%, cost of living index 102.70, 115 sunny days, 34.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 19 |
|
Florida | 9.10% | 101.9 | 101 | 0.89% | 62.0°F | 55.8 |
| Florida: no income tax, cost of living index 101.90, 101 sunny days, 62.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 20 |
|
Alaska | 4.60% | 129.0 | 115 | 1.04% | 13.0°F | 55.2 |
| Alaska: no income tax, cost of living index 129.00, 115 sunny days, 13.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 21 |
|
West Virginia | 10.00% | 85.6 | 98 | 0.59% | 33.0°F | 55.1 |
| West Virginia: income tax up to 5.12%, cost of living index 85.60, 98 sunny days, 33.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 22 |
|
South Dakota | 7.60% | 88.5 | 116 | 1.31% | 18.0°F | 55.0 |
| South Dakota: no income tax, cost of living index 88.50, 116 sunny days, 18.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 23 |
|
North Carolina | 9.80% | 97.6 | 110 | 0.80% | 42.0°F | 54.7 |
| North Carolina: income tax up to 4.50%, cost of living index 97.60, 110 sunny days, 42.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 24 |
|
Missouri | 9.60% | 88.9 | 115 | 0.97% | 31.0°F | 54.7 |
| Missouri: income tax up to 4.80%, cost of living index 88.90, 115 sunny days, 31.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 25 |
|
North Dakota | 8.20% | 91.3 | 111 | 0.98% | 9.0°F | 54.1 |
| North Dakota: income tax up to 2.50%, cost of living index 91.30, 111 sunny days, 9.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 26 |
|
Virginia | 9.90% | 100.1 | 111 | 0.82% | 37.0°F | 53.8 |
| Virginia: income tax up to 5.75%, cost of living index 100.10, 111 sunny days, 37.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 27 |
|
Indiana | 9.80% | 90.3 | 102 | 0.85% | 28.0°F | 53.4 |
| Indiana: income tax up to 3.05%, cost of living index 90.30, 102 sunny days, 28.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 28 |
|
Kansas | 9.90% | 88.9 | 128 | 1.41% | 30.0°F | 53.2 |
| Kansas: income tax up to 5.70%, cost of living index 88.90, 128 sunny days, 30.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 29 |
|
Kentucky | 10.20% | 92.9 | 93 | 0.86% | 36.0°F | 52.3 |
| Kentucky: income tax up to 4.00%, cost of living index 92.90, 93 sunny days, 36.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 30 |
|
Oregon | 10.30% | 111.2 | 108 | 0.97% | 39.0°F | 51.0 |
| Oregon: income tax up to 9.90%, cost of living index 111.20, 108 sunny days, 39.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 31 |
|
Maryland | 11.30% | 98.9 | 112 | 1.09% | 34.0°F | 50.3 |
| Maryland: income tax up to 5.75%, cost of living index 98.90, 112 sunny days, 34.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 32 |
|
New Hampshire | 6.10% | 110.6 | 104 | 2.09% | 21.0°F | 49.8 |
| New Hampshire: no income tax, cost of living index 110.60, 104 sunny days, 21.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 33 |
|
Nebraska | 10.10% | 92.8 | 114 | 1.61% | 24.0°F | 49.6 |
| Nebraska: income tax up to 5.20%, cost of living index 92.80, 114 sunny days, 24.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 34 |
|
Washington | 8.80% | 116.9 | 71 | 0.98% | 40.0°F | 49.2 |
| Washington: no income tax, cost of living index 116.90, 71 sunny days, 40.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 35 |
|
Iowa | 10.40% | 89.9 | 104 | 1.57% | 19.0°F | 48.3 |
| Iowa: income tax up to 6.00%, cost of living index 89.90, 104 sunny days, 19.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 36 |
|
Ohio | 10.00% | 94.9 | 95 | 1.59% | 28.0°F | 48.2 |
| Ohio: income tax up to 3.99%, cost of living index 94.90, 95 sunny days, 28.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 37 |
|
Michigan | 10.30% | 90.6 | 95 | 1.54% | 24.0°F | 48.2 |
| Michigan: income tax up to 4.25%, cost of living index 90.60, 95 sunny days, 24.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 38 |
|
California | 13.50% | 142.2 | 146 | 0.75% | 53.0°F | 48.1 |
| California: income tax up to 13.30%, cost of living index 142.20, 146 sunny days, 53.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 39 |
|
Pennsylvania | 10.60% | 94.9 | 101 | 1.58% | 29.0°F | 48.0 |
| Pennsylvania: income tax up to 3.07%, cost of living index 94.90, 101 sunny days, 29.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 40 |
|
Maine | 10.60% | 107.7 | 108 | 1.36% | 18.0°F | 47.1 |
| Maine: income tax up to 7.15%, cost of living index 107.70, 108 sunny days, 18.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 41 |
|
Minnesota | 11.80% | 95.3 | 102 | 1.12% | 13.0°F | 47.1 |
| Minnesota: income tax up to 9.85%, cost of living index 95.30, 102 sunny days, 13.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 42 |
|
Wisconsin | 11.00% | 99.3 | 100 | 1.73% | 17.0°F | 44.9 |
| Wisconsin: income tax up to 7.65%, cost of living index 99.30, 100 sunny days, 17.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 43 |
|
Rhode Island | 11.10% | 114.7 | 97 | 1.53% | 30.0°F | 44.7 |
| Rhode Island: income tax up to 5.99%, cost of living index 114.70, 97 sunny days, 30.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 44 |
|
Hawaii | 12.70% | 184.0 | 90 | 0.29% | 73.0°F | 43.1 |
| Hawaii: income tax up to 11.00%, cost of living index 184.00, 90 sunny days, 73.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 45 |
|
Illinois | 12.90% | 95.5 | 105 | 2.07% | 26.0°F | 42.1 |
| Illinois: income tax up to 4.95%, cost of living index 95.50, 105 sunny days, 26.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 46 |
|
Massachusetts | 11.50% | 148.2 | 103 | 1.23% | 29.0°F | 41.9 |
| Massachusetts: income tax up to 9.00%, cost of living index 148.20, 103 sunny days, 29.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 47 |
|
Connecticut | 12.80% | 118.5 | 107 | 2.15% | 28.0°F | 39.3 |
| Connecticut: income tax up to 6.99%, cost of living index 118.50, 107 sunny days, 28.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 48 |
|
New Jersey | 12.40% | 125.1 | 108 | 2.23% | 32.0°F | 39.2 |
| New Jersey: income tax up to 10.75%, cost of living index 125.10, 108 sunny days, 32.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 49 |
|
Vermont | 13.60% | 114.0 | 102 | 1.90% | 18.0°F | 38.6 |
| Vermont: income tax up to 8.75%, cost of living index 114.00, 102 sunny days, 18.0°F in January. | ||||||||
| 50 |
|
New York | 15.90% | 139.1 | 104 | 1.73% | 27.0°F | 33.8 |
| New York: income tax up to 10.90%, cost of living index 139.10, 104 sunny days, 27.0°F in January. | ||||||||
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State Quizzes & Flashcards
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