Where Should You Retire? Here Are 11 Factors to Consider Before Relocating

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Boldin.

Where should you retire? Choosing the perfect retirement destination is actually a deeply personal and multifaceted decision. And frankly, most people love where they already live.

However, if you want to relocate, you’ll want to carefully consider factors ranging from climate and cost of living to healthcare access and social connectivity. By understanding your retirement vision, conducting thorough research, and prioritizing your needs and preferences, you can identify the place that feels like home for this next chapter of your life.

Remember, retirement is not just about where you live, but how you live. Here are various criteria to consider when figuring out which state is best for YOUR retirement.

1. Home Is Where the Heart Is

When considering the best state for you to retire, you probably first want to think about your loved ones. How close do you need and want to be to family and friends? For many people, this may be the most important factor when choosing where to live.

2. Community and Social Connectivity

Social connections are vital for a fulfilling retirement. Regardless of existing family and friends, retirees should seek out communities that foster social engagement and provide opportunities for meaningful connections with others.

Explore general locales, retirement communities, social clubs, volunteer organizations, and recreational groups that align with your interests and values.

Building a supportive network of friends and peers can enhance your sense of belonging and well-being in retirement. And, having access to people and events that feel comfortable to you can be important.

3. Lifestyle Factors

Retirement is a time to indulge in your passions and interests. So, you ought to choose a locale that enables you to access the activities you want to do.

Consider the recreational and cultural amenities available in potential retirement destinations. Whether you enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, golfing, or fishing, or prefer cultural pursuits such as museums, theaters, and art galleries, ensure that your chosen locale offers opportunities for enrichment and enjoyment.

Not sure what you want to be doing in retirement? Explore ideas for what to do in retirement.

4. Housing and Housing Affordability

There isn’t just one way to make housing work in retirement. In fact, the right answer often has less to do with where you live—and more to do with how you think about the tradeoffs.

Here are two very different approaches that both led to homes people love:

Home is where the heart is. I heard a couple on the radio who took a completely open-ended approach. They didn’t start with a location—they started with a goal: find a home they loved and could truly afford. They searched listings all over the country and eventually landed on a 3-acre property in a small town in Maine. It wasn’t about the state. It was about the feeling and the financial fit.

Location. Location. Location. My mom took the opposite path. She had no interest in relocating, even though she lives in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. Instead, she redefined what “affordable” looked like within that market. She found a beautiful home in a well-kept mobile home community with great amenities, allowing her to stay exactly where she wants to be, on terms that work financially.

Two very different decisions. Both completely valid.

The takeaway: Affordability isn’t just about choosing the cheapest place on a map. It’s about aligning your housing choice with your priorities—whether that’s flexibility, familiarity, community, or lifestyle—and finding a way to make the numbers support that life.

Because in retirement, the goal isn’t just to spend less. It’s to live well, within a plan you can sustain.

States with the most affordable housing: If you are curious, here are the five states with some of the best housing affordability: Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, and Kentucky.

5. Low State Tax Rates

Taxes can be a big line item in many retirement budgets. So, considering state taxes can be a critical factor in your decision about the best state for your retirement. State and local taxes can include income tax, property tax, sales taxes, estate taxes, and more.

Learn more about the best states for low taxes.

6. Overall Cost of Living

U.S. News and World Report ranked states by cost of living. They found that:

• Mississippi, West Virginia, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Arkansas have the lowest cost of living.
• Hawaii, California, New York, Massachusetts, and Alaska have the highest cost of living.

7. Healthcare Access, Affordability, and Quality

Like it or not, you are going to need healthcare in retirement. And, you will want to make sure that where you live provides healthcare that is accessible, affordable, and of good quality.

Medicareguide.com did an analysis to help provide answers on which states provide the best healthcare for seniors. Overall, they ranked:

• Minnesota, North Dakota, Massachusetts, California, and Nebraska in the top five
• Oklahoma, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia in the bottom

However, different states excel or fail at different criteria. Check out the best and worst states for quality and health outcome factors, accessibility factors, and costs in different categories.

Quality and Health Outcomes

Quality Category
Best State
Worst State

Average Life Expectancy at Birth
Hawaii
Mississippi

Fall Deaths per 100,000
Alabama
Wisconsin

Percentage of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Colorado
Alabama

Heart Disease Mortality
Minnesota
Oklahoma

Cancer Mortality
Utah
Mississippi

Stroke Mortality
New York
Mississippi

Alzheimer’s Mortality
New York
Mississippi

Accessibility

Access Category
Best State
Worst State

Number of PDP Plans
California
Alaska

Geriatricians Per Capita
Hawaii
Idaho

Physicians Per Capita
Washington, D.C.
Mississippi

Nurse Practitioners Per Capita
Connecticut
Hawaii

Home Health Aides Per Capita
New York
Florida

Skilled Nursing Facilities Per Capita
Vermont
New York

Medicare Rural Health Clinics Per Capita
Nebraska
Maryland

Share of Doctors Who Opt Out of Medicare
North Dakota
California

Public Hospital System Quality
Hawaii
Louisiana

Affordability

Cost Category
Best State
Worst State

Prescription Drug Prices Per Capita
North Dakota
Tennessee

Average Deductible for a Part D PDP Plan
Missouri
Illinois

Average Medicare Supplement Premium
New Mexico
Connecticut

Nursing/Assisted Living Home Per Capita
Wisconsin
Vermont

Average Medicare Advantage Max-Out-of-Pocket Amount
California
Wyoming

Average Medicare Advantage Premium
South Carolina
North Carolina

Out-of-Pocket Medical Spending
Utah
Washington, D.C.

Average Monthly Insurance Premium
Minnesota
Wyoming

8. Walkability, Public Transportation, and Other Accessibility Factors

When deciding where to live, you’ll want to think about how you are going to get around. The experts say that being able to walk to activities can improve your quality of life and health.

But maybe access to an airport or great public transportation is important to you.

9. Weather and Geography

Climate and geography are key considerations for many retirees. Some may crave the warmth of year-round sunshine, while others prefer the changing seasons. Coastal regions offer beachside living and ocean views, while mountainous areas boast scenic landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Consider how climate and geography will impact your daily life and overall well-being.

10. Natural Disasters and Other Risks

Hand in hand with weather are climate-related disasters. You may crave the warm tropical climate of Florida, but not want to deal with the threat of hurricanes. Arizona has extreme summer heat. California has wildfires and earthquakes.

Almost everywhere has potential risks and burdens related to natural disasters.

CoreLogic did an analysis of wildfire, inland flood, severe convective storm, winter storm, earthquake, and hurricane perils and decided that the following 10 counties are safest from natural disasters:

1. McKinley, New Mexico
2. Duchesne, Utah
3. Conejos, Colorado
4. Emery, Utah
5. Summit, Colorado
6. Pondera, Montana
7. Saguache, Colorado
8. Uintah, Utah
9. Mesa, Colorado
10. San Miguel, Colorado

11. Purpose and Identity

This is the deepest layer—and often the real driver. What will you do there? Does it satisfy who you want to be?

Where Is Your Best State to Retire?

The reality is that most people stay put for retirement, but those who want to relocate have a lot to consider. Think carefully about your options. Use the Boldin Retirement Planner to run financial scenarios for the relocation.