The best and worst US states to retire in, ranked
WalletHub ranked every US state on affordability, quality of life, and healthcare to determine the best — and worst — places for retirement.
According to a recent study by WalletHub, Wyoming and Florida emerged as the top two states for retirees in 2026, while Kentucky ranked last in terms of suitability for retirees. The rankings were determined by evaluating three main factors: affordability, quality of life, and healthcare, which were assessed using 46 different metrics.
In terms of affordability, Wyoming and Florida scored the highest, indicating that they are the most cost-effective options for retirees seeking to stretch their fixed incomes. On the other hand, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi, West Virginia, Hawaii, New York, Arkansas, Washington, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Oregon, Louisiana, Illinois, Alabama, Maryland, and New Jersey were found to be the least affordable states for retirees.
When it comes to quality of life, Hawaii and New York City emerged as the best options, with Wyoming and Florida also ranking well in this category. Kentucky, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Oregon, Louisiana, Illinois, Alabama, Maryland, and New Jersey scored poorly in terms of quality of life. Quality of life was measured using various factors, including the risk of social isolation, weather conditions, and the number of bingo halls per capita.
Healthcare was another crucial factor considered in the study, with New Mexico, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Louisiana, Illinois, Alabama, Maryland, and New Jersey scoring poorly. Wyoming and Florida, along with Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi, ranked highest in terms of healthcare. Healthcare was evaluated based on factors such as the number of healthcare professionals per capita, life expectancy, and other related metrics.
In conclusion, based on the WalletHub study, Wyoming and Florida are the best states for retirees in 2026, offering affordable living costs, high quality of life, and robust healthcare systems. Conversely, Kentucky, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Oregon, Louisiana, Illinois, Alabama, Maryland, and New Jersey are the worst states for retirees, with low scores in all three categories.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
