4. South Carolina
If you are a fan of outdoor activities, moving to South Carolina is actually the best place where you can move as a retiree. In particular, residents are those who recommend the surroundings, and if you are a fan of the mountain view but also of the seaside one, then we have news: Jackpot! Carolina is your dream state.
Taxes here are low and there are a lot of budget-friendly prices when it comes to housing. Unfortunately, the retirement income gets taxed here.
A lot of people are choosing this place among other states, mostly because of its benefits. Every year, South Carolina hosts the Spoleto Festival, which is known as one of the biggest performing arts festivals in America. And if you are a golf lover, then this is going to be your heaven for sure.
Are you a mellow person and do you like the simple things in life, like watching birds? In South Carolina, there are more than 400 species of birds. And you can do the birdwatching whenever you like.
Note: South Carolina does NOT tax retirement income such as Social Security or Military Retirement. That being said – property taxes have been climbing at an astronomical rate and home insurance has almost doubled in the last year. I may have to sell my house within the next 6 months and start renting.
Heaven knows it’s run but Communists now, but being 74 and having been here since1963, I’m not leaving California (the weather, the natural beauty, redwoods anyone?) no matter what ever you champion!
I was surprised to not see Texas listed. It has a low cost of living. I moved here because of marriage, but I miss the West Coast. I agree with others that the Northwest offers the best lifestyle, temperate climate and accommodating political atmosphere. It may not be the cheapest place to settle but it isn’t expensive either, and healthcare is great!
Tucson AZ. I am relatively new here and I’m retired and loving it. I’m in my very early 60’s.
I love most things about living here. This winter was wonderful, it rained a few times and snowed once, but of course didn’t accumulate. Yeah. It gets hot in the summer, dry air, not humid like New Hampshire, my home town State.
I’m happy living here. I made the right choice, I love my house and my 2 acres of land, love living on the outskirts on a dirt road, the people are nice, doctor’s are awesome, my 2 dogs are healthier and happier, shopping is great, taxes suck tho lol, not used to taxes on just about everything, so many places to go omg, beautiful scenery, I can go on.
If you’ve never lived here or never visited AZ, don’t comment negative things, because you’re clueless. I’m happier and extremely content living here after living in New Hampshire all my life, I should of moved here years ago.
When you choose a location, be very aware of the crime rate.
You left out the 8th state.
Money and cost of living is not everything, I would prefer not to live in anti American Red States with the lowest standard of living and education and crappy healthcare even if it costs more. I will take the pacific northwest any time over the south. It costs more but weather,services and healthcare are best in country.
OK, enough with how great NH is for tax purposes. The state has a flat take on unearned income, read that as interest and dividends etc. It has no income tax on earned wages. As a retired person I do not have earned income, hence no savings by not having an income tax on earned income.
The current tax on unearned income is being phased out, but until last year was 5%, not nothing.
Before you relocate study the state taxes, it is far more involved than just reading some silly chart on income taxes that get published all the time.
Poorly researched since you omitted Georgia. In addition to no State taxes on retirement income, there are several counties in the Metro Atlanta area where at age 62 you are eligble for an exemption on the school portion of you property taxes resulting in a big reduction as long as you do not have children in grade or high school.
Add in the low cost of living, the fact that you have 4 seasons with enough winter that you don’t miss it if you’re from the North but not enough that you get sick of it and the eventual elimination of State income taxes over the next 5 years and I can’t think of a better place although Florida is a close second.
Most of the states selected have real drawbacks, Florida has hurricanes, humidity, bugs, snakes, alligators. Mississippi has the same. Delaware, New Hampshire have terrible winters and high humidity in the summer. The Pacific Northwest probably has the most comfortable weather conditions, yet none of them are mentioned.