Retirement is one of the most exciting chapters in a person’s life, marked by freedom and nearly endless possibilities. How do you want to spend your time? Which hobbies do you want to take up? And most importantly, where do you want to live? Without a job tying you down, you can start over anywhere you choose.
But some locations are better for retirees than others. Important factors to consider when choosing your next home include the cost of living, access to quality healthcare, climate and community. We’ve analyzed all 50 states to determine the overall 10 best states for retirement across a variety of considerations.
When you’ve narrowed down your personal favorite and are ready to make the move, consider Bekins Van Lines for our full-service moves. We’re ready to make your long-distance move smooth and stress-free, no matter where you choose to spend your golden years.
Best States for Retirement in 2025
When determining the best states for retirees to retire, we considered a number of factors:
- Cost of Living: Groceries, gas and housing prices all impact your retirement budget, which in turn affects your quality of life. The ideal place to retire keeps costs low while providing a great bang for your buck.
- Healthcare: As retirees age, access to quality healthcare becomes more important. You’ll want a location that offers easy access to great doctors in a wide range of specialties, all without sitting on a wait list for months. Within the healthcare factor, we also examined the long-term care options available to those who need them.
- Community: When starting your next chapter in a new location, you’ll want to look for vibrant retiree communities. The best communities for retirees offer events, mixers, and even concerts, trips and entire neighborhoods designed just for them.
- Taxes: Many retirees are concerned about taxes. States with the best taxes for retirees typically have no income or sales taxes, plus no tax on Social Security, pensions or other retirement incomes.
- Natural Beauty: Make the most of your retirement by choosing a place to live that’s not just practical, but beautiful, too. Your ideal place to retire depends on your preferences, but features like easy access to the beach, mountains or rolling vistas—plus the recreational opportunities they offer—appeal to many older adults.
Florida
When it comes to the best states for retirement, the first place that comes to mind is Florida—and for good reason. It offers a wide number of tax advantages, including no state income tax and no tax on social security, pensions, 401(k)s or IRAs. All combined, it’s one of the states with the best taxes for retirees.
Its warm climate means year-round fun in the sun, and its easy access to beautiful beaches will please those looking for a relaxing, slow pace of life. Plus, Florida’s abundant golf courses can help you stay active. Florida’s robust medical infrastructure is well-tailored for the older population, with many high-quality hospitals and senior care centers.
Perhaps best of all, Florida boasts some of the most vibrant retiree communities you’ll find. Seniors-only neighborhoods are common, and activities for retirees are numerous.
Overall, these factors combine to make Florida possibly the best state for retirement. Sarasota is often considered one of the best communities for retirees, but you truly can’t go wrong no matter where you choose to retire in Florida.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire offers a great combination of tax advantages, excellent healthcare and natural beauty. Scenic landscapes and recreational opportunities mean you can easily stay in shape and enjoy the great outdoors. Access to excellent hospitals like Dartmouth-Hitchcock means a strong quality of life.
With no state income tax and no sales tax, you’ll save significantly and have some extra dough to make up for New Hampshire’s moderate-to-high cost of living.
Colorado
Nature lovers should look no further than Colorado. An outdoor enthusiast’s dream, it’s filled with opportunities to stay active and enjoy its beautiful mountains. It’s also among the healthiest states, with a high life expectancy and excellent healthcare quality.
Colorado’s flat income tax is relatively low at about 4.55–4.63%, and there’s no estate or inheritance tax. But the major downside is its high cost of living, which can sap a sizeable amount from your retirement income.
Tennessee
Tennessee has something for everyone. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to its numerous lakes and parks, Tennessee has plenty of recreational opportunities, and the weather is generally pleasant enough to enjoy these sights year-round.
Tennessee boasts no income tax, low property taxes and favorable sales tax rates. While the cost of living can be high in cities like Nashville, throughout the rest of the state, you can expect to find low living costs—though you’ll have to travel into the city to find reliable access to quality healthcare.
Home to growing retirement hubs and plenty of cultural venues, retirees will find a lot to love in Tennessee.
North Carolina
North Carolina is another popular state for retirees to retire, and it’s easy to see why. Great weather, affordable living and access to both beaches and mountains make it an attractive destination.
North Carolina is home to some of the best cities for retirees to live in, including Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville. These mid-sized cities offer good healthcare access and active older adult communities.
However, North Carolina taxes all retirement income at a flat 4.75%, and healthcare isn’t quite as high-quality as in other states. If you’re looking for states with the best taxes for retirees, consider looking elsewhere. While North Carolina taxes retirement income, its moderate rate and high quality of life continue to make it a top pick for many.
Minnesota
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is a hidden gem for retirees—if you don’t mind the cold. You can expect to enjoy scenery, trails and community-focused living, with beautiful weather in the summer and fall and snowy vistas in the winter. Vibrant urban and lake lifestyles mean there’s a pace of life for everyone. Minnesota’s healthcare is among the best in the nation, with Rochester being home to the Mayo Clinic, and it ranks highly for long-term care services.
The major downsides to retirement in Minnesota are its bitterly cold and snowy winters and its moderate taxes. However, solid senior services do compensate for the taxes and provide tangible benefits for retirees.
Arizona
Arizona is a popular destination for retirees, particularly in Prescott, Phoenix and Scottsdale. Its sunny, dry weather means every day is a vacation, though the downside is an extremely hot, occasionally unsafe climate.
Arizona prides itself on its active lifestyle and top-notch medical care, including the Mayo Clinic Phoenix. It’s home to many popular retirement communities offering a rich social life. However, retirees should consider Arizona’s increasing housing costs, moderate cost of living and ongoing water scarcity challenges.
Texas
Break out your boots and cowboy hat—Texas is a wonderful place for retirement. It has no state-wide income tax and favorable property and sales tax policies. Its weather is a heat lover’s paradise, and its access to lakes, parks and cultural venues means it’s easy to live an active lifestyle.
Living costs throughout the state are low, though you may need to go into pricy cities like Austin and Dallas to access quality healthcare. Austin is a beloved city for its cultural life and outdoor options, but it’ll cost you: Its median home prices are well above the national average.
Wyoming
Wyoming is a paradise for those seeking natural beauty and a quiet lifestyle. It’s home to clean air and a low crime rate, with easy access to Yellowstone National Park. Reasonable housing costs, no income tax and no estate/inheritance tax result in a low cost of living. However, Wyoming’s healthcare isn’t much to write home about, and rural residents may face a long trek to the nearest hospital.
Alaska
The Last Frontier is a surprisingly excellent state for retirement. It boasts majestic wilderness and low population density, so it’s a paradise for nature lovers looking to get away from it all. Alaska doesn’t charge any income or sales taxes, and it has some of the lowest retiree tax burdens and highest average retirement savings in the U.S.
Of course, it’s not for everyone—it experiences long winters, a high cost of living, often difficult access to healthcare and limited access to long-term care in rural areas.
Planning Your Move to the Best State for Retirement
Ready to choose your retirement adventure? Your personal best states for retirement will depend on your goals: Do you want to prioritize outdoor adventures and a slow pace of life, or significant tax savings and strong older adult communities? No matter your preference, there’s an ideal place to retire for you.
Once you’ve determined your destination, you’ll need a trusted partner to make the move smooth and stress-free. Bekins Van Lines helps retirees relocate long-distance with compassion and expertise. We offer full-service moving, packing and storage services, with support every step of the way.
Bekins is proud to be a trusted partner during your major life transition. Ready to start your next chapter in the perfect state for retirement? Get a free long-distance move quote today!
Frequently Asked Questions
The best states for retirement have a few characteristics in common:
- Cost of living and housing
- State tax policies on retirement income
- Access to quality healthcare
- Weather and climate
- Senior-friendly communities
- Availability of recreation and social opportunities
These are just a few of the factors that result in an ideal place to retire, but they provide a picture of overall health and happiness—financially, socially and physically.
Our analysis found that Florida, New Hampshire, Colorado and Minnesota have the best healthcare for retirees. These states balance quality care, accessibility, specialists and long-term care to provide comprehensive healthcare quality.
States like Tennessee, Wyoming, Texas, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin offer a low cost of living while maintaining a high quality of life.
Active seniors will find a lot to love in Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming and Florida. Whether you’re seeking mountainous hikes, desert trail running or tropical golfing, these states offer natural beauty galore.
Bekins Van Lines offers discounts for these groups:
- National Active Retired Federal Employees (NARFE)
- Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
- National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM): This benefit extends not just to move managers but to their clients, too.
While we don’t offer a general senior discount, we pride ourselves on keeping costs low and quality high for our customers. See our discount page for up-to-date information on our savings.
There is a real psychological impact of moving, and it affects everyone, not just seniors. But older adults may be more prone to stress due to this life change, which may uproot the routines, social lives and environments they’ve been accustomed to for years or decades. Luckily, we’ve created a guide on how to reduce an older adult’s stress around moving to make the transition easier.
