The 10 Best (and 10 Worst) States for Retirement in 2021

Retirement is a fresh start for many people. After years spent chasing job opportunities around the country, Americans are finally able to pick a place to live based on their personal preferences at the end of their career. But there are several factors retirees should consider before choosing the setting for their golden years. To see the best and worst states for retirement in 2021, check out the lists below.

As Realtor.com reports, Bankrate rated states' appeal to retired folks based on five criteria: affordability, wellness, culture, weather, and crime. Data for the report comes from various sources, including the 2020 Cost of Living Index from the Council for Community and Economic Research and the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index published in May 2021.

Georgia tops the list of the best states to retire to in the U.S. Its cheap cost of living and favorable weather earned it the No. 1 rank overall, despite scoring lower in wellness, culture, and crime. It's followed by Florida in second place and Tennessee in the third slot.

On the opposite end of the ranking, Maryland comes out as the worst state for retirees in the country. Its high wellness score wasn't able to make up for its poor performance in culture and affordability. Also appearing at the bottom are Kansas and Minnesota. You can check out the lists of the 10 worst and 10 best states for retirement below.

Retirement age is currently around 66 in the United States, but you can make that number smaller if you start saving now. Here's how much money you need to retire in all 50 states.

10 Best States for Retirement

1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Tennessee
4. Missouri
5. Massachusetts
6. Wyoming
7. Arizona
8. Ohio
9. Indiana
10. Kentucky

10 Worst States for Retirement

1. Maryland
2. Minnesota
3. Kansas
4. Montana
5. Alaska
6. Maine
7. Arkansas
8. Alabama
9. Idaho
10. Connecticut