Think hard about which state you plan to live in during retirement. Some are more welcoming than others. We ranked all 50 states on retiree-friendliness. Here are the top three.
First on the list is South Dakota. Winters can be cold, but health-care costs are below average and tax policies favor retirees. Good cities to target are Sioux Falls and Rapid City.
The second-place finisher is a good choice for active retirees. Utah boasts dozens of national and state parks, plus plenty of options for boating and skiing. Check out St. George, an affordable city near the Arizona border.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Coming in third is Georgia. Mild weather and cheap living costs make the state especially appealing to retirees. Consider settling in Sandy Springs, a charming small city that’s close – but not too close – to Atlanta.
Check out seven more of the best states for retirement. Plus, take a look at the 15 states to avoid in retirement.
-
President Trump Makes Markets Move Again: Stock Market TodayThe White House is moving ahead with plans to reshape the Federal Reserve and to buy shares in more sectors and stocks.
-
Is the ‘Pumpkin Spice Tax’ Coming for Your Fall Coffee Budget?Food Taxes Inflation pressures, tariffs, and talk of the so-called 'pumpkin spice tax' have some wondering about rising coffee prices.
-
Will You Get a ‘Surprise’ Tax Bill on Your Social Security Benefits in Retirement?Retirement Taxes Social Security benefit payments might land you in hot water when filing 2025 taxes — here are three reasons why.
-
Ask the Editor, August 22: Tax Questions on What Congress Will Do NextAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer questions from readers on what Congress will do next with taxes.
-
Ask the Editor, August 15: Tax Questions on the OBBB, Tax RatesAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the OBBB and changes, if any, to tax rates.
-
Ask the Editor, August 8: Tax Questions on Roth IRA ConversionsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
-
Ask the Editor, August 1: Tax Questions on Standard DeductionsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on claiming standard deductions on your tax return.
-
Ask the Editor, July 25: Questions on Four New Tax DeductionsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on four new tax deductions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill."
-
Five Ways Trump’s 2025 Tax Bill Could Boost Your Tax Refund (or Shrink It)Tax Refunds The tax code is changing again, and if you’re filing for 2025, Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ bill could mean a bigger refund, a smaller one or something in between next year. Here are five ways the new law could impact your bottom line.
-
Ask the Editor, July 18: Questions on the $6,000 Senior Deduction
Ask the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers 65 and older.
