Whether it reflects the quality of life, quality of healthcare or affordability, Kentucky ranks last as a retirement destination on WalletHub's 2024 survey.
Kentucky, New Jersey, and Mississippi top the list of the worst places to retire in the U.S. in 2024, according to a new survey from WalletHub. The study compared the 50 states across 46 key indicators, from tax rates and the cost of living to access to quality medical care and fun activities.
However, unlike the companion Best Places to Retire in the U.S., these ten worst states to retire in 2024 generally have higher taxes and crime rates, and inadequate healthcare facilities.
When looking forward to retirement, choosing a location that offers a healthy and happy retreat from the day-to-day grind is an obvious consideration. Living comfortably, having access to quality healthcare, lower housing costs or moving closer to family may all be motivations to make a move or just stay put.
So, before handing in your resignation letter, consider carefully where you want to live (or don't want to live) before you get a move on.
What are the worst states to retire in? We've highlighted the bottom 10.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Rank
State
Total Score*
Affordability
Quality of Life
Healthcare
41
Illinois
47
47
16
26
42
Arkansas
47
13
49
42
43
Washington
47
45
17
27
44
New York
47
50
10
12
45
Louisiana
46
16
46
47
46
Oklahoma
46
17
47
45
47
Rhode Island
45
42
42
23
48
Mississippi
44
12
50
48
49
New Jersey
44
49
35
20
50
Kentucky
43
32
41
44
*Rounded up or down. A rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
Of the ten worst states to retire in, Kentucky holds the unfortunate distinction of being No. 1, followed by New Jersey, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New York, Washington, Arkansas and Illinois. Although each of these states have their redeeming qualities, these next 15 states also represent less than ideal states for retirees in 2024.
Hawaii
Alaska
Iowa
Kansas
Georgia
New Mexico
Texas
Nevada
Connecticut
Indiana
Vermont
Oregon
Maryland
Tennesee
West Virginia
It's likely there is no one perfect place to retire that matches all of your needs. If that were the case, choosing an area of the country would be simple. To find the best place that makes sense for you, carefully consider various factors such as your health, ideal climate, finances and how you plan to spend your well-earned free time.
For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.
