As the baby boomer generation — those born from 1946-1964 — continue to age, an increasingly larger share of the American population is hitting retirement age. In 2015, there were 44.6 million Americans aged 65 and older, representing 14.1% of the population. In 2019, there were 50.8 million people in the age group, representing 15.6% of all Americans.
Many of these older Americans will soon be searching for a place to spend their golden years — places that offer access to health care services and amenities for retirement-age residents, without being too expensive, as many retired Americans live on a fixed income. Fortunately, there is one county in every state that stands out as an ideal place to retire.
To determine the best place to retire in every state, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of 11 different health and economic factors using data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program, as well as the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and the Economic Policy Institute.
Based on current life expectancy and cost of living, the typical retirement for an American costs well over $1 million. This figure, however, can vary widely depending on the state one lives in retirement, from less than $900,000 to $1.5 million. This is what it costs to retire in every state.
Older Americans researching retirement destinations likely hope to find a place where they can maximize their quality of life, including places with easy access to health care and social activities. Certain areas are home to higher concentrations of doctors, nurses, and other health specialists and to higher concentrations of social venues. Both can promote longer and healthy lives. This is the city with the longest life expectancy in every state.
Click here to see the best places to retire in every state.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Alabama: Baldwin County
> Population: 212,830
> 65 and older population: 20.0% (15th of 67 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 72.9 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,344 (2nd highest out of 67 counties)
> Median home value: $197,900
> Largest city: Daphne
[in-text-ad]
Alaska: Haines Borough
> Population: 2,518
> 65 and older population: 25.1% (1st of 29 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 277.1 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $5,239 (17th highest out of 29 counties)
> Median home value: $254,000
> Largest city: Haines
Arizona: Pima County
> Population: 1,027,207
> 65 and older population: 19.2% (7th of 15 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 84.4 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,877 (14th highest out of 15 counties)
> Median home value: $184,100
> Largest city: Tucson
Arkansas: St. Francis County
> Population: 25,900
> 65 and older population: 16.1% (61st of 75 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 46.3 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,313 (75th highest out of 75 counties)
> Median home value: $64,600
> Largest city: Forrest City
[in-text-ad-2]
California: Marin County
> Population: 259,943
> 65 and older population: 21.6% (14th of 58 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 148.3 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $7,820 (2nd highest out of 58 counties)
> Median home value: $995,800
> Largest city: San Rafael
Colorado: Pitkin County
> Population: 17,926
> 65 and older population: 17.8% (34th of 64 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 72.7 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $5,477 (2nd highest out of 64 counties)
> Median home value: $615,900
> Largest city: Aspen
[in-text-ad]
Connecticut: Middlesex County
> Population: 163,053
> 65 and older population: 19.7% (2nd of 8 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 71.0 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,772 (2nd highest out of 8 counties)
> Median home value: $286,800
> Largest city: Middletown
Delaware: Sussex County
> Population: 224,384
> 65 and older population: 27.0% (1st of 3 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 62.1 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,250 (3rd highest out of 3 counties)
> Median home value: $258,600
> Largest city: Seaford
Florida: Sarasota County
> Population: 419,496
> 65 and older population: 36.0% (4th of 67 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 76.1 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,157 (19th highest out of 67 counties)
> Median home value: $251,600
> Largest city: North Port
[in-text-ad-2]
Georgia: Fayette County
> Population: 112,303
> 65 and older population: 17.7% (58th of 159 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 110.2 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,683 (4th highest out of 159 counties)
> Median home value: $281,400
> Largest city: Peachtree City
Hawaii: Kauai County
> Population: 71,769
> 65 and older population: 19.3% (2nd of 5 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 72.1 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $5,361 (4th highest out of 5 counties)
> Median home value: $570,700
> Largest city: Kapaa
[in-text-ad]
Idaho: Valley County
> Population: 10,709
> 65 and older population: 27.5% (4th of 44 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 149.7 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,917 (11th highest out of 44 counties)
> Median home value: $314,800
> Largest city: McCall
24/7 Wall St.
Illinois: Monroe County
> Population: 34,168
> 65 and older population: 17.2% (78th of 102 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 35.2 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,426 (9th highest out of 102 counties)
> Median home value: $211,300
> Largest city: Waterloo
Indiana: Martin County
> Population: 10,212
> 65 and older population: 19.1% (18th of 92 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 19.6 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,589 (71st highest out of 92 counties)
> Median home value: $117,100
> Largest city: Loogootee
[in-text-ad-2]
Iowa: Scott County
> Population: 172,446
> 65 and older population: 15.8% (90th of 99 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 87.5 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,655 (96th highest out of 99 counties)
> Median home value: $163,200
> Largest city: Davenport
Kansas: Miami County
> Population: 33,417
> 65 and older population: 17.0% (81st of 105 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 47.8 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,179 (5th highest out of 105 counties)
> Median home value: $201,400
> Largest city: Paola
[in-text-ad]
Kentucky: Woodford County
> Population: 26,318
> 65 and older population: 17.7% (52nd of 120 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 68.3 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,855 (5th highest out of 120 counties)
> Median home value: $203,000
> Largest city: Versailles
Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish
> Population: 255,155
> 65 and older population: 16.4% (28th of 64 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 81.1 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,358 (4th highest out of 64 counties)
> Median home value: $218,500
> Largest city: Slidell
Maine: Cumberland County
> Population: 292,307
> 65 and older population: 17.8% (15th of 16 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 166.2 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,721 (the highest out of 16 counties)
> Median home value: $278,100
> Largest city: Portland
[in-text-ad-2]
Maryland: Harford County
> Population: 252,222
> 65 and older population: 15.8% (13th of 24 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 56.7 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,559 (11th highest out of 24 counties)
> Median home value: $293,400
> Largest city: Bel Air South
Massachusetts: Dukes County
> Population: 17,312
> 65 and older population: 23.3% (2nd of 14 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 63.5 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $5,089 (3rd highest out of 14 counties)
> Median home value: $699,500
> Largest city: Vineyard Haven
[in-text-ad]
Michigan: Emmet County
> Population: 33,104
> 65 and older population: 21.7% (32nd of 83 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 132.6 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,850 (29th highest out of 83 counties)
> Median home value: $186,900
> Largest city: Petoskey
Minnesota: Wabasha County
> Population: 21,537
> 65 and older population: 21.2% (27th of 87 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 74.0 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,480 (6th highest out of 87 counties)
> Median home value: $183,900
> Largest city: Lake City
Mississippi: Jackson County
> Population: 142,376
> 65 and older population: 15.6% (56th of 82 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 50.7 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,986 (7th highest out of 82 counties)
> Median home value: $135,900
> Largest city: Pascagoula
[in-text-ad-2]
Missouri: Cole County
> Population: 76,723
> 65 and older population: 16.0% (95th of 115 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 70.4 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,879 (82nd highest out of 115 counties)
> Median home value: $162,300
> Largest city: Jefferson City
Montana: Lewis and Clark County
> Population: 67,805
> 65 and older population: 18.0% (44th of 56 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 93.0 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,291 (9th highest out of 56 counties)
> Median home value: $243,000
> Largest city: Helena
[in-text-ad]
Nebraska: Platte County
> Population: 33,174
> 65 and older population: 17.3% (78th of 93 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 72.3 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,223 (59th highest out of 93 counties)
> Median home value: $149,700
> Largest city: Columbus
Nevada: Washoe County
> Population: 456,936
> 65 and older population: 16.0% (12th of 17 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 73.8 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,991 (15th highest out of 17 counties)
> Median home value: $334,100
> Largest city: Reno
New Hampshire: Grafton County
> Population: 89,777
> 65 and older population: 20.0% (5th of 10 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 196.9 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,093 (6th highest out of 10 counties)
> Median home value: $220,300
> Largest city: Lebanon
[in-text-ad-2]
New Jersey: Hunterdon County
> Population: 124,823
> 65 and older population: 17.9% (4th of 21 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 120.7 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $5,346 (the highest out of 21 counties)
> Median home value: $415,100
> Largest city: Flemington
New Mexico: Santa Fe County
> Population: 149,293
> 65 and older population: 23.1% (10th of 33 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 112.3 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,966 (2nd highest out of 33 counties)
> Median home value: $291,800
> Largest city: Santa Fe
[in-text-ad]
New York: New York County
> Population: 1,631,993
> 65 and older population: 16.2% (52nd of 62 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 132.7 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $5,746 (5th highest out of 62 counties)
> Median home value: $987,700
> Largest city: New York
24/7 Wall St.
North Carolina: Buncombe County
> Population: 256,886
> 65 and older population: 19.4% (48th of 100 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 143.6 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,330 (37th highest out of 100 counties)
> Median home value: $238,200
> Largest city: Asheville
North Dakota: Burleigh County
> Population: 94,793
> 65 and older population: 15.6% (43rd of 53 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 105.2 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,761 (46th highest out of 53 counties)
> Median home value: $263,600
> Largest city: Bismarck
[in-text-ad-2]
Ohio: Medina County
> Population: 177,980
> 65 and older population: 17.3% (54th of 88 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 59.4 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,878 (11th highest out of 88 counties)
> Median home value: $196,300
> Largest city: Brunswick
Oklahoma: Wagoner County
> Population: 78,958
> 65 and older population: 16.0% (58th of 77 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 33.1 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,220 (10th highest out of 77 counties)
> Median home value: $159,000
> Largest city: Coweta
[in-text-ad]
Oregon: Deschutes County
> Population: 186,251
> 65 and older population: 19.6% (21st of 36 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 106.5 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,587 (7th highest out of 36 counties)
> Median home value: $364,600
> Largest city: Bend
Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Population: 519,560
> 65 and older population: 15.9% (65th of 67 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 85.5 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $5,013 (the highest out of 67 counties)
> Median home value: $357,100
> Largest city: West Chester
Rhode Island: Newport County
> Population: 82,801
> 65 and older population: 21.7% (1st of 5 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 82.7 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,517 (the highest out of 5 counties)
> Median home value: $387,900
> Largest city: Newport
[in-text-ad-2]
South Carolina: Charleston County
> Population: 401,165
> 65 and older population: 15.9% (37th of 46 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 121.6 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,512 (3rd highest out of 46 counties)
> Median home value: $315,600
> Largest city: Charleston
South Dakota: Hughes County
> Population: 17,608
> 65 and older population: 16.8% (49th of 66 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 79.2 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $3,815 (62nd highest out of 66 counties)
> Median home value: $177,500
> Largest city: Pierre
[in-text-ad]
Tennessee: Hamilton County
> Population: 360,919
> 65 and older population: 17.2% (66th of 95 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 110.9 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,152 (7th highest out of 95 counties)
> Median home value: $180,900
> Largest city: Chattanooga
24/7 Wall St.
Texas: Kendall County
> Population: 43,769
> 65 and older population: 18.9% (91st of 254 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 86.3 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,308 (9th highest out of 254 counties)
> Median home value: $348,500
> Largest city: Boerne
Utah: Grand County
> Population: 9,640
> 65 and older population: 17.7% (7th of 29 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 134.4 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,066 (12th highest out of 29 counties)
> Median home value: $247,800
> Largest city: Moab
[in-text-ad-2]
Vermont: Washington County
> Population: 58,350
> 65 and older population: 19.0% (11th of 14 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 106.4 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,745 (8th highest out of 14 counties)
> Median home value: $226,900
> Largest city: Barre
Virginia: Winchester city
> Population: 27,897
> 65 and older population: 15.9% (96th of 133 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 257.8 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,006 (73rd highest out of 133 counties)
> Median home value: $244,900
> Largest city: Winchester
[in-text-ad]
Washington: San Juan County
> Population: 16,788
> 65 and older population: 32.9% (3rd of 39 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 77.8 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,129 (8th highest out of 39 counties)
> Median home value: $488,800
> Largest city: Friday Harbor
West Virginia: Tucker County
> Population: 6,982
> 65 and older population: 25.3% (2nd of 55 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 43.4 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,109 (15th highest out of 55 counties)
> Median home value: $121,600
> Largest city: Parsons
Wisconsin: Ozaukee County
> Population: 88,597
> 65 and older population: 19.2% (33rd of 72 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 136.8 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,219 (4th highest out of 72 counties)
> Median home value: $282,500
> Largest city: Mequon
[in-text-ad-2]
Wyoming: Sheridan County
> Population: 30,140
> 65 and older population: 20.5% (9th of 23 counties)
> Primary care physicians: 69.5 per 100,000
> Est. monthly living expenses for family of 2: $4,354 (4th highest out of 23 counties)
> Median home value: $272,400
> Largest city: Sheridan
Methodology
To determine the best places to retire in every state, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of 11 different health and economic factors.
Health factors considered in the index include: the number of dentists per capita, the number of primary care physicians per capita, the number of mental health professionals per capita, the number of social associations per capita, the percentage of the population with adequate access to locations for physical activity, the rate of preventable hospitalizations per 100,000 Medicare enrollees, the percentage of female Medicare enrollees ages 65 to 74 that receive an annual mammography, the number of annual deaths among residents under 75 per capita, and the percentage of adults 20 and over with diabetes diagnosis. All health data came from the 2020 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint program, and are for the most recent year available.
Economic factors considered include median home value and the average monthly cost of living for two people with no children. Data on median home value came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates. Data on cost of living came from the Economic Policy Institute and are for 2017.
Only counties where the share of the population 65 and over was greater than the 15.6% national share, and where growth rate of the 65-plus cohort from 2015 to 2019 was greater than the 13.8% national figure were included in the analysis.
The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.