#2 California
Despite its beautiful beaches and sunny weather, the Golden State loses its appeal when it comes to pricing.
The state is expensive to live in, not only in terms of housing but also in health care and in-home services. California also taxes retirees on all income from retirement funds and pensions (excluding Social Security), and sales taxes are pretty high.
California has gained a reputation as a high-cost, high-tax retirement paradise, with a housing index above 200 and well above expenses in every major cost-of-living category.
Actually, California’s typical price for a single-family house is $898,980, which is greater than the national average ($374,900). The state has one of the highest rates of elder abuse, severe neglect, and exploitation allegations, as well as a higher-than-average crime rate.
62 Responses
really I thought Kansas would be #1
I live in New Jersey and having travel to other states for work and vacation, I have found that I would rather retire than live in other state. Reason some of the places I visited have no sense of community, lack of public transportation, it is difficult if you don’t have a car it becomes very depressing because people are not friendly. Living NJ I have access to public transportation easy access to New York for dinner or the theatre if I choose. There are malls in NJ where the seniors have access to every morning for exercising before the crowd so many things to do.
I currently live in NJ. Left for 27 years and then returned for family reasons but since I’m now in my early 60s and live in Essex County, I’ve come to the realization that if I want to have any type of life once I retire, I’ll definitely be leaving NJ. Living on my own and not having another income to rely on, there’s no way I can afford to stay here. Yes, it’s nice to have easy access to NYC and all it offers doesn’t mean much if you don’t have the $$ to enjoy it properly. Essex County is totally ridiculous when it comes to the cost of homes and if you’re fortunate enough to find something affordable the taxes will do you in!
Wouldn’t live in any of these states anyway! MS maybe far behind in a lot of areas but nothing like the country life! Rather be in a small town than a big city.
Absolutely! I love my small town neighbors. Lived most of my life in TN. I’m definitely a TNgirl and a UT fan! We bought a farm several years ago (at 62) in Ringgold, GA. Neighbors mind their own business but when you need help; they show up. One neighbor ran down a car that was trying to steal my G Pyr. LGD, another is an electrician whenever we need him, another owns an air cond company. Needed him last week. He came that day on the way to work. Someone found a pair of sunglasses that have been hanging in a clear bag taped to a stop sign. Got text one day in Memphis that my cows were running up the road. Didn’t even know the person. They collected cows and horses and put them up. I’ve always loved small towns. In traveling, I’ve found that the smaller the town the more likely from teenagers you are to get a “yes ma”am” I prefer small towns in Europe also. Baden Baden beats Zurich any day. We live near Chatt (which is small compared to some) but I do whatever I can to avoid the city. No one has ever blown the horn, flipped us off or yelled in a small town. TN has no state income tax but higher sales taxes. GA has a state income tax but low sales taxes. Live on the line you get one of those two. Either way the cost of living is so much cheaper. People say; but the richer states have to pay for the poorer states. Well, if you ask me, that’s a dumb governor and state legislature. The gov is rich because of the taxes and hey collect. Not the people due to the cost of living. I’d rather keep my hard earned money and make my own decisions with it. Funny thing is, we aren’t poor because it’s cheaper to live here. The company my husband worked for moved their corp offices because no one wanted to move from a large house to a “closet” in CT to go work there.
This survey is misleading listing Colorado as an undesirable state to retire in. Taxes are very low compared to states like Illinois. We find Colorado a much better state in all aspects including snow fall. This issue is primarily confined to higher elevations Not in valleys like Grand Junction. The only drawback right now in Colorado is housing availability
I notice that all are BLUE states, except Alaska.
I noticed that all of them were blue too except Alaska. Hummmm. Something to think about.
What a surprise. All 10 are left leaning states. Lol. The ones that claim to care about the middle class and retirees.
Who gets almost 1700 dollars per month? I worked 40 years and I get 1072 and 23 dollars in SNAP.
Folks with good jobs, Tammy. I have worked 40 years, and if I retired right now, my income would be $1749.00. But, if my health holds, I will hang on until I am 70. When I will receive about $2K.
YEAH YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN . MAKE SURE YOU CHECK HOW MUCH YOU WILL MAKE THEN MAKE THEM GIVE YOU A PRINT OUT ON WHAT YOU WILL MAKE . SO THEY DON`T SCREW YOU OVER .
I am surprised that Georgia is not listed. I am a combat disabled veteran living off of 2300.00 a month in a low-end trailer. I have to get my VA medication from the VA & I have to decide whether to eat or take medication or pay off 170K in school loans. How do you do that?
Candi, you have my empathy – particularly regarding the school loans. As a DV I’m surprised you did not opt for retraining under the VA rehab program. It all depends upon the level of your disability.
Use the VFW to seek an increase.
If it is true that migrants get free college eduction then why should you pay 😡!!!!!.
Send them 5 bucks a month. You served our country and your education should be payed for, not illegal aliens!!!!
Thank you for your service.
If it is true that migrants get free college eduction then why should you pay 😡!!!!!.
Send them 5 bucks a month. You served our country and your education should be payed for, not illegal aliens!!!!
Thank you for your service.
VA gives free medications to disabled vets. I would try getting more money from the VA depending on your disability. I would forget about the student loan . I don’t think they can take your VA or SS. Was the student loan before or after your service?
Is Georgia a Great place to live, this was very informative.
Depends on where you live. Small towns yes. Atlanta no. County taxes, crime etc. Look at the states who have no state income tax. We live in Ringgold GA.(3 yrs). We’ve always lived on the TN/GA line. We are “Tennesseans” and will always be! Go Vols! GA has a state income tax, but if you want acreage it’s less expensive there. We bought a farm. Property is more expensive across the line in TN but TN has NO state income tax. Best scenario, if you’re going to move, is to move on the line in TN outside of Chattanooga Tn. Live in TN w no state tax and shop in GA and pay less sales tax.
i graduated 62, not 1960. tk you
Blue States
Completely incorrect. They are red states.
really?
Yup. No brainer.
No, what they have in common are a higher cost of living because of housing BECAUSE so many people want to live there. Spent 20 yrs in CA and would go back if I could afford it!!
Actually blue states have more benefits than red state.
For who? Not people 65 and older; retired and on Medicare.
From someone who worked for the government over 20 years, I would rather deal with a private insurance co any day rather than a bureaucracy of government. If you want something free, move to a blue state. If you want to keep your own hard earned money and believe you can make better decisions w it than the gov, move to a red state. On a fixed income and want a place to live w no state income tax, move to one of the red states w no state tax and a less expensive cost of living. Do some research on what states people are leaving and what states they’re moving to.
Thanks for the info
It is time for everybody to consider remaining employed to pay for their increasing living expenses. They will be known as Pensioned Employees.
Do some research. You can’t do that. Every year you put off getting medicare (@65)
, you’re penalized, even if you’re working and on company insurance. And the more money you make, the more you have to pay for Medicare. I would give anything if we could pay for our own insurance; what we have now and pay for. We have many more options on the insurance we now have. It’s the same cost as Medicare for us, but the federal government won’t allow that. Besides that; welfare was never meant to be a lifelong option. If someone is able to work after so many months; they need to be put off of welfare. But some people want to force others to be dependent on the gov, and dependent on voting for them. Working in inner city schools, I learned that that “method”, takes away incentive and goals leads people to make money illegally so they won’t lose their supplement. Generations of people living on welfare know no better. It’s hard to encourage kids to do well in school when they don’t realize how different their life can be with a good education. When a party makes a group of people dependent on them, makes criminals heroes rather than people who have come out of the gov housing and been successful, such as a black man who was the best neurosurgeon in the world …..something is wrong. Is it about “helping” or “control.” How different my own kids might be if I told them I would give them money every month if they didn’t work (for their entire lives).
“Somebody has to pay for the burgers.” Know what that means…that means we paid money into social security our entire lives and that money is ours. It might be better to spend money on Americans that have worked their entire lives, rather than illegals coming over here.
Hello, thank you for sharing your own experiences on this matter!
This article has a few statistical facts about each state. However, it makes broad generalizations about several and bases them often on the major city or a particular region within rather than the state as a whole. For instance, the article states about New York, the state, that there are no “calming green-areas, obviously referencing New York City. First of all, if talking about the state, you have some of the most beautiful mountain and lake regions in upstate New York as you are likely to find anywhere. But even in NYC that statement belies the fact that the city has several oases of peace and relaxation in the heart of the bustling urban landscape; how can one forget Central Park in the middle of and surrounded by the noise and smells of the city. This landmark urban space offers a plethora of diverse flora, the soothing ambience of a lake, and countless other natural settings that offer respite, if only for a moment, from the hectic pace of Metropolis. There’s also Riverside Park on the Upper Westside, the broad expanse of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadow in Queens Park, and Freshkiils and Barrett Parks in Staten Island. So even the often maligned New York City has magnificent greenspace. The downside is the high cost of living. Yet, there are many places upstate where the cost of living is relatively Inexpensive and that offer the benefit of small city or rural living. The diversity is there if you do your own research.
All liberal States
Richard and why do you think the liberal states are more expensive? Well to name a few…we have better K-12 education and also universities; we have the best arts; our states pay for healthcare above “Obamacare;” salaries are higher thus income taxes are too. The states at the low end are the big takers of federal taxes even though they pay the least. Minnesota or Mississippi???? I’ll stick with Minnesota
Hi Robert. Thank you for sharing your own experiences with us.
Let’s see where Florida is on this list.
none of these states listed are on my possible list of states to retire. I’ve lived in Alaska, and without a dam good paying job, the average person must do more to survive. It is a beautiful state, but when you live there, there are few options without having a healthy salary, you are isolated. Crime is high in part due to the amount of isolation one endures during the winter, “cabin fever” sets in and crime against society increases. Alcoholism is high among the eskimo natives. Everything is expensive because everything has to be imported either internationally or domestically.
People that have been working there life time
In the USA paying taxes and SS insurance and
Insurance is not paying back,
Is that what we said to society and the other
Countries or the rest of world, that America is
Only, Fair: that’s to be democratic.!!!
I live in Minnesota, surprised it wasnt up there. They finally passed a bill to exempt SS income, but only if your total income meets fairly low limits. Other retirement income is taxed at the going rate. Cost of living is high and the weather sucks 6 months of the year. Only real positive is relatively good medical care, but wait times to get treatment can be very long.
Wait times for medical care are a long wait everywhere. We are an aging society. You get old and the machinery begins to function poorly. Yet, those who care for us overall are caring and capable. Not all of them, but for the most part. (wink)
ALL THE RED STATES
Red states are much poorer and have less benefits for retirees!
Blue states my ass 10 largest cities in the U.S. all run by liberals for the last 50 yrs Have worst crime most welfare and are all in debt to no end But keep voting demacrat because they promise the you the world also in blue states
Check your facts; forget cities because cities tend to be more expensive everywhere. According to Forbes, 6 of the 10 most dangerous states are Red States
Low income, high poverty, low quality of life, high misery states are the red states .
No surprise there.
No brainer. Live in areas that are not saturated with democrats. They will suck the life out of you.
This report on New York is misleading. Up State is much different than New York City.
Any red states for more reasons than just SS!!
I totally disagree with this statement… The red states are by far the best states to live in… The blue states are filled with crime and debauchery… I can’t even imagine anyone wanting to live in a blue state. I do live in California now, but I live in a red zone and I’m telling you when you’re not in the red zone, you’re in with a bunch of street people and crime… Just saying
This is a right wing site. Whole lotta BS, just like Fox “News”- can’t believe any of it! I don’t know why they’re sending me their crap emails…
Maybe it’s a site based on research and facts rather than feelings. There is research to back this up. Do some research on what states people are leaving, where they’re moving and why.
Concerning social security, if you wait until 70 to take it, the value increases by 8% a year. I waited and my SS is almost $5K a month. But I also have a pension and 401K/IRA plus personal investments.
Connecticut should be on the list I currently live here and it is brutal everything is costly trying to find affordable housing is a nightmare. I will be leaving this place soon and wont be coming back only to visit family.
Hi Nelson. Thanks for sharing with our readers. We’ll be sure to include Connecticut next time.
Why can I not pull up the 10 states list to live in? This is disappointing to me! I want to see what 10 states to live in for a person who is retired?
Hello @Nancy. We are so sorry that you’re having difficulty reading this article. You must scroll to the bottom of the page and click to get to the next page.
I was born1928 in this beautiful state when it was golden and great but I have to say since the turning of the century the 2000 to now it’s been nots so golden. Very expensive property tax out of sight gas tax out of sight. City and state taxes and the list goes on. California.
Hello William. Wow, things have definitely changed! Thank you for sharing with our readers.
Is this true if you retired and live in that county for 10 years you entitled reduced property tax
Hello, there IS such a thing as a homestead exemption. But the process differs for each state.
Where you get ss payment is 1,600$ a month stop living I get 850$ a month after 45 years working and pay a lot of money in taxes