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(NewsNation) — Safe streets, quality health care and a strong retiree community make New Hampshire the best state to retire in 2025, according to a new report.
The Granite State finished first on Bankrate’s annual list of the best states for retirees, edging out Maine and Wyoming in second and third.
Bankrate’s rankings, released Monday, evaluated all 50 states across eight key categories, including affordability, weather, safety and health care.
Four New England states cracked the top 10 with strong health care, safety and a high share of similar-aged residents. Three Mountain West states also ranked high thanks to affordability and low local taxes.
Meanwhile, the Sun Belt appears to have lost some of its shine, with eight of the 10 worst states for retirees located there, according to Bankrate.
“Our survey results may be shocking to any retirees who only considered warm weather and income taxes in their relocation plans,” Stephen Kates, CFP, Bankrate financial analyst, said in the report.
Florida, long seen as a retirement haven, ranked just 41st overall. The Sunshine State was strong on local taxes and the abundance of other retirees but was dragged down by health care, home insurance costs and natural disasters.
Bankrate weighted each category based on how Americans ranked their priorities in a recent survey — with affordability, weather, safety, health care and local taxes topping the list of retirement must-haves.
Here are the 10 best states to retire in 2025 and how each one stacks up in those five key areas.
10 – Virginia
- Affordability: 16th
- Weather: 8th
- Safety: 16th
- Health Care: 25th
- Local Taxes: 27th
9 – Utah
- Affordability: 11th
- Weather: 6th
- Safety: 15th
- Health Care: 27th
- Local Taxes: 16th
8 – Wisconsin
- Affordability: 6th
- Weather: 44th
- Safety: 9th
- Health Care: 15th
- Local Taxes: 19th
7 – West Virginia
- Affordability: 1st
- Weather: 12th
- Safety: 6th
- Health Care: 38th
- Local Taxes: 23rd
6 – Rhode Island
- Affordability: 38th
- Weather: 34th
- Safety: 4th
- Health Care: 7th
- Local Taxes: 39th
5 – Idaho
- Affordability: 9th
- Weather: 24th
- Safety: 3rd
- Health Care: 19th
- Local Taxes: 11th
4 – Vermont
- Affordability: 12th
- Weather: 43rd
- Safety: 19th
- Health Care: 1st
- Local Taxes: 43rd
3 – Wyoming
- Affordability: 4th
- Weather: 21st
- Safety: 7th
- Health Care: 39th
- Local Taxes: 1st
2 – Maine
- Affordability: 17th
- Weather: 41st
- Safety: 2nd
- Health Care: 3rd
- Local Taxes: 29th
1 – New Hampshire
- Affordability: 14th
- Weather: 40th
- Safety: 1st
- Health Care: 5th
- Local Taxes: 6th
For more on the study, see the Bankrate website.
