{"id":276775,"date":"2025-10-04T09:18:32","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T09:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/276775\/"},"modified":"2025-10-04T09:18:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T09:18:32","slug":"the-10-worst-states-to-retire-in-2025-according-to-new-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/276775\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Worst States to Retire in 2025, According to New Data"},"content":{"rendered":"

A comfortable retirement depends on more than good weather. Stability and access often matter more than the view.<\/p>\n

As Tim Schmidt, founder of Gold IRA Custodians, puts it, \u201cFinding the right retirement location involves balancing multiple factors that impact both quality of life and financial security.\u201d<\/p>\n

To make that balancing act easier, Gold IRA Custodians<\/a> analyzed all 50 U.S. states across six key categories: cost of living, median home prices, access to healthcare and nursing homes, crime rates, and tax benefits. Each state received a \u201cRetirement Score\u201d based on its performance across these factors, with higher scores indicating more retirement-friendly conditions.<\/p>\n

Note: The \u201ccrime rate\u201d figures reflect each state\u2019s overall crime index \u2014 higher numbers signal higher reported crime per capita.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re narrowing down your shortlist, these 10 states may be worth crossing off.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Rhode Island (Retirement Score: 31)<\/p>\n

Rhode Island\u2019s charm can\u2019t mask the high cost of retiring here. With a median home price of $518,000 and a cost-of-living score of 112.2, expenses pile up quickly. The state also has limited healthcare options (just 11 facilities and 74 nursing homes), which isn\u2019t ideal for retirees who prioritize access. While its low crime rate (168) is a plus, affordability remains the biggest hurdle.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Utah (Retirement Score: 30)<\/p>\n

Utah may have scenic parks and an active lifestyle, but retirees will face steep housing costs ($620,000 median price) and a cost of living above the national average (104.9). Healthcare access is modest (54 facilities, 98 nursing homes), and while crime is lower (232), the financial pressures make it less practical for those on fixed incomes.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Oregon (Retirement Score: 30)<\/p>\n

Between its rising housing market ($522,000 median) and high living expenses (112 cost-of-living score), Oregon is a tough sell for budget-conscious retirees. The state offers decent healthcare infrastructure (61 facilities, 128 nursing homes), but with a crime rate of 326, it doesn\u2019t quite balance the books for seniors looking to downsize comfortably.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Montana (Retirement Score: 29)<\/p>\n

Montana\u2019s wide-open spaces come with trade-offs, particularly in affordability and access. The median home price sits at $539,000, and healthcare is limited (59 facilities, 60 nursing homes). Add in a higher-than-average crime rate (442) and modest cost-of-living score (94.9), and the Big Sky State starts to feel less ideal for aging in place.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Alaska (Retirement Score: 29)<\/p>\n

Alaska\u2019s rugged beauty comes at a steep cost… literally. With a 123.8 cost-of-living score and few healthcare options (20 facilities, 20 nursing homes), retirees may struggle with both expenses and accessibility. The state\u2019s high crime rate (726) doesn\u2019t help its case either, making it one of the least practical and least peaceful places to retire.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Maryland (Retirement Score: 28)<\/p>\n

Despite its East Coast convenience, Maryland\u2019s numbers don\u2019t work in retirees\u2019 favor. The cost of living (115.3) and median home price ($513,000) are steep, and the crime rate (426) sits above average. Healthcare access is fair (47 facilities, 222 nursing homes), but the overall financial picture makes Maryland more stressful than serene for those looking to live off savings.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Colorado (Retirement Score: 27)<\/p>\n

Colorado\u2019s mountains may lure adventure-loving retirees, but the cost of staying there is another story. With homes averaging $662,000 and a cost-of-living score of 102, affordability is out of reach for many. While healthcare is decent (92 facilities, 211 nursing homes), the crime rate (474) and tax pressures push it down the list.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. New Mexico (Retirement Score: 26)<\/p>\n

On paper, New Mexico\u2019s affordability looks appealing, with a 93.3 cost-of-living score and $396,000 median home price. But the nation\u2019s highest crime rate (749) and limited healthcare access (43 facilities, 68 nursing homes) quickly dampen the appeal. Retirees here might save on housing but sacrifice peace of mind.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. Massachusetts (Retirement Score: 23)<\/p>\n

Massachusetts ranks second-worst due to sky-high living expenses (145.9) and steep home prices ($646,000). While the state offers strong healthcare (73 facilities, 345 nursing homes), the financial pressure is intense, especially when paired with a 314 crime rate and heavy taxes. For most retirees, it\u2019s simply too costly to enjoy comfortably.<\/p>\n

\"\"1. Hawaii (Retirement Score: 4)<\/p>\n

Dreaming of island sunsets? You\u2019ll need deep pockets. Hawaii\u2019s 186.9 cost-of-living score and staggering $947,000 median home price make it the least retirement-friendly state in America. Limited healthcare (23 facilities, 42 nursing homes) compounds the challenge, leaving paradise more picturesque than practical for most retirees.<\/p>\n

\u201cHawaii illustrates the perfect example of how paradise comes at a price,\u201d says Schmidt. \u201cWhile many dream of retiring to its beautiful beaches, the financial reality makes it impractical for anyone without substantial savings.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re exploring your options beyond these pricier picks, you might also like this recent breakdown of the best states to live in<\/a> and this data-backed look at the best and worst cities to retire in the U.S.<\/a> – both offer a closer look at where life (and retirement) can feel a little easier.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A comfortable retirement depends on more than good weather. Stability and access often matter more than the view.…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":276776,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[64,8162,51369,49585,143177,42248,143175,55663,35675,255,143176,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-276775","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-cost-of-living","10":"tag-crime-rates","11":"tag-facilities","12":"tag-gold-ira-custodians","13":"tag-healthcare-access","14":"tag-healthcare-options","15":"tag-median-home-price","16":"tag-nursing-homes","17":"tag-personal-finance","18":"tag-tim-schmidt","19":"tag-united-states","20":"tag-unitedstates","21":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115315154091846122","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=276775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=276775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=276775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=276775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}