The 20 Worst States For Retirees

Retirement is meant to be a reward after decades of hard work, but it turns out to be the reckoning for many. Being in the wrong state can ruin your retirement through bad policies pertaining to crime, infrastructure, healthcare, and most importantly, eroding your nest egg through high taxes.

It's a good idea to choose wisely which state you retire in. It is increasingly popular for seniors to move to another state to retire, but this ends up being a mistake all too often. Whether or not a retirement in a certain state is "bad" is subjective, but the following 20 states in this slideshow contain aspects that may not fit you well if you are looking for greener pastures.

This slideshow was updated on December 20, 2025, with the latest information.

• Highest crime rates in the country
• Poor healthcare access with workforce shortages
• Taxes retirement income over single filers over $100,000 and joint filers over $150,000
• Somewhat elevated income tax rates with a top rate of 5.9%, higher than all its neighbors

• Flat 3% income tax rate
• Taxes retirement income except Social Security
• Elevated crime rates in urban areas
• Below average quality but affordable healthcare

• Limited healthcare access in rural areas
• Property crime rate concerns
• No state income tax
• Cost of living index: 101.3

• High sales taxes
• Rural areas lack healthcare specialists
• Limited access to advanced medical facilities in certain areas
• Low property taxes do offset some cons

• High income tax rates: 3.35% to 8.75%, though its 0% for the first $3,825 of income for single filers
• High cost of living
• Harsh weather conditions
• Premium healthcare costs

• High cost of living
• Income tax rates: 2% to 6.99%
• Very high healthcare costs
• Challenging for fixed-income retirees

• Below-average healthcare access in general
• Does not tax retirement income, which is a plus point
• However, it has concerning quality of life metrics
• Limited cultural and recreational opportunities, except in big cities

• Most affordable cost of living, offset by poor healthcare
• Ranks low for elderly healthcare access, 46th according to WalletHub
• Limited healthcare facilities and specialists
• Economic opportunities scarce

• High state income tax rates: 4.75% to 9.9%
• High cost of living
• Estate tax on estates over $1 million
• Somewhat expensive healthcare. Prices are escalating quickly in Portland

• Increasing natural disaster challenges
• Hurricane, flooding, and severe weather risks
• Elevated property crime rates
• Healthcare access varies between urban and rural

• High cost of living
• Taxes most retirement income types, though a new 2025 law exempts the first $50k for pensions and 401(k) income. IRAs remain fully taxable
• Average home prices: $495,631
• Limited space, the second most densely populated state

• High violent and property crime rates
• Limited healthcare access in rural areas
• Taxes pensions, 401(k), and IRA distributions are fully taxable above the first $6,000
• Limited economic opportunities

• High property taxes
• Only partial taxation of retirement income
• Estate and inheritance taxes
• 7th most expensive state

• Highest property tax rates nationally: 2.23%
• High income tax rates up to 10.75%
• 8th most expensive state
• Expensive for fixed incomes

• High cost of living
• 7% capital gains tax on profits over $270,000
• Natural disaster insurance costs
• Expensive healthcare access

• Extremely high tax burden
• Income tax rates: 4% to 10.9%
• Property taxes average 1.54%
• Need well over $1 million in savings

• High mortality rates for senior medical conditions
• Prone to tornadoes, wildfires, ice storms
• Elevated crime rates
• Taxes some retirement income

• Worst elderly healthcare nationally
• Limited healthcare facilities
• High poverty challenges
• Vulnerable to hurricanes and tornadoes

• Often ranks the worst in crime statistics
• Hurricane and severe weather threats
• $290 billion in disaster damages (3rd highest)
• Home insurance premiums rising $2,974 in 2025

• Most problematic state for retirees, according to many rankings
• Frequent natural disasters drive up insurance costs
• Healthcare quality ranks 45th nationally
• Faces poverty challenges