Worst States For Retirees to Be Healthy
Retirement life is all about a slower pace of life. Ideal retirement for some may be traveling the world or spending more time with children and grandchildren. Or chasing hobbies such as music, gardening, cooking, playing golf, or fishing. And for some retirees, retirement life may simply be about relaxing and relishing the freedom.
Whether a retiree should make the decision to settle by the beach, in the mountains, city area or wants to enjoy the rural life, determining where to retire can be as imperative as planning when to retire.
At the end of the day, the destination chosen for retirement life determines the cost of living, taxes, and health care options available. Most Americans these days plan their golden years well in advance, to identify areas and locations with better weather, lower cost of living, and suitable health care systems.
1. California
The Golden State – California may seem desirable for living, with full of on-the-go cities, stunning beaches, regal mountains, and a top-notch health care system, but all this comes with a very high price tag. The state of California is amongst the most expensive places to live in the country.
Retirement life is mostly about a fixed income, where California has a very steep sales tax and to make it worse California fully taxes most forms of retirement income at high rates.
Climate is another factor to consider for retirees. California experiences the world’s most varied and volatile climates, with more and more frequent droughts that lead to dry surroundings and high fire danger all year round.
2. New Mexico
New Mexico – The fifth-largest state by area in America, located on the Southwest border is home to some of the most breath-taking sceneries and the warmest and welcoming culture. Also, known as the land of enchantment.
But considering a retirement life in New Mexico is a bad idea, for reasons such as the state has one of the highest percentages of the residents living in dearth. Secondly, it has the lowest income growth.
Thirdly the lowest population is aged 25 and older and fourthly the worst factor is it has the highest crime rate. The last and most important factor to consider for retirees is the health factor. New Mexico is positioned in the bottom 1/3 of states in public health, which can excessively impact retirees.
3. West Virginia
West Virginia also known as “The Mountain State” – located in the Appalachian region, is typically rural and thus has the craggiest land in the country. Offering a moderate climate, picturesque views, rolling mountains, rocky topography, and is an ideal place for outdoor activities, such as; hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and whitewater rafting.
The state is ranked as 4th worst for poverty which is why some areas in the state experience high violent crime rates and maintain a dangerous reputation.
Moreover, the population tends to suffer a lot of health issues which is obvious with the fact of having a poor healthcare system. These factors when highlighted, make West Virginia an unappealing state for a retirement destination with many retirees.
4. Louisiana
Call it the Pelican State, Creole State, or Sugar State – Louisiana is a southeastern U.S. state on the Gulf of Mexico. When it comes down to settling in Louisiana for your Golden Years of Life, Louisiana is very appealing with its low cost of living and activities, interesting for retirees such as visiting museums, and other cultural activities at low cost. Furthermore, it has affordable housing and is a tax-friendly state for retirees.
But all of the above-mentioned positive factors are outweighed when it comes to Louisiana’s extreme weather.
Living in Louisiana is actually all about dealing with hurricanes, flooding and droughts, and heavy rain. Additionally, utilities can also cost more due to climate damage repairs needed on the home. Worst of all, Louisiana is ranked as having the worst healthcare system in the country, according to a new WalletHub study.
5. Alaska
“Land of the Midnight Sun” – Alaska the largest state (in the area) of the United States holds the smallest population of seniors, located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America.
Alaska has some of the most spectacular layouts in the U.S., boasting 17 of the nation’s 20 highest peaks, also taking pride in Tongass National Forest, which is the largest in the country.
Alaska is not the best state to retire, with its cold climate, with long and dark winter days, the state ranks as the worst climate in the country for retirees. The state is mostly quite rural with high rates of rape, drowning, and suicide per capita.
6. Connecticut
“Land of Steady Habits” – Connecticut is located in southern New England that has a blend of seaside cities and rural areas speckled with small towns. Connecticut normally enjoys a moderate climate and is considered as one of the nonviolent and delightful destinations for retirees.
But, once you move past the peculiarity, nevertheless, there is little to promote the wellness and welfare of the resident retirees. Moreover, the freezing winters that are in New England living are hardly ever seen as an encouraging factor to move.
Worst of all, Connecticut is known to be one of the most inauspicious states for retirees, with high real estate taxes and taxation of retirement income.
7. New Jersey
Popular for being one of the original 13 colonies, New Jersey is a northeastern U.S. state with some 130 miles of Atlantic coast. Also, known as the “Garden State” – New Jersey was an important battleground during the American Revolution.
Its long and stunning coastline has long made New Jersey a popular vacation destination and welcomes tourists to enjoy over 50 seaside resort towns including Asbury Park, Atlantic City, and Cape May.
The Garden State is more of a spot for a vacation than a retirement destination. Since the residents suffer the high cost of living with retiree health costs ranking third highest.
Additionally, the state suffers in fiscal soundness, with pension funding problems and little or no room for the tax situation to progress.
8. Rhode Island
“The Ocean State” – Rhode Island covers an area of 1,214 square miles and is one of the smallest states in size in the United States. Rhode Island is recognized for its grimy shores and coastal colonial municipalities.
Rhode Island is rated with a run-of-the-mill health care system, which is challenging for retirees as it is not safe for aging residents. With average living costs, Rhode Island has high taxes due to its poor financial state.
The climatic factor is also not in favor of retirees as Rhode Island experiences humid summers, harsh freezing winters, high danger of flooding, and exposure to hurricanes given the immediacy to the Atlantic Coast.
Conclusion
For a slow-paced retirement, while preference and comfort are definitely significant factors, we have highlighted above some states in terms of economic, financial, and health care terms. When planning where to retire, there are numerous features to look into.
Some factors to consider a retirement destination are personal or focused on lifestyle, such as where children and friends are or where one has more connections. Other factors are more of the Measurable features, such as taxes on seniors, the quality of healthcare and cost of living, etc.
Whichever factor you keep in mind while shortlisting a retirement destination, whether it’s personal or financial, it must meet your particular comforts, goal line, and needs.
Read also: 5 Social Security Mistakes That Reduce Your Payments
