With the gender pay gap and the pink tax, women already have a more challenging road when it comes to retirement.
However, where they live can have a significant impact on how successful — or unsuccessful — their retirement is. If you choose the right state, your money will go farther and you’ll have better health outcomes. However, if you pick the wrong state, then you may have to scrimp and save while your health suffers.
Read below for the 10 best and the 10 worst states for women to retire.
Best: Utah
The Beehive State is the best for women in retirement. The life expectancy for women in Utah is 80.2 years, which ranks in the top half of the country. It also has a high number of women aged 65 or older, so you’ll never be short of company. Utah has a relatively modest annual cost of living at $37,600.
2nd Best: Wyoming
The annual cost of living is $33,516.48, but that’s not what makes Wyoming so desirable for women close to retirement. They also have the best air quality in the country, good hospitals and numerous community centers.
3rd Best: Hawaii
What better place to retire in than the Aloha State? Although the annual cost of living is $54,513.36—the second-highest on this list—the life expectancy is also high, at 83.1 years. There are also excellent community centers and high safety ratings.
4th Best: South Dakota
South Dakota may seem like a barren place, but it’s a surprisingly good place to retire as a woman. There’s a very low cost of living, about $34,000. Additionally, the average life expectancy is approximately 79 years.
5th Best: Iowa
One of the main things that most of these states have in common is a low cost of living. Iowa is no exception, with an annual cost of living of $32,600. Adult day care centers are also incredibly affordable, and women in the Hawkeye State have access to some of the most affordable options.
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6th Best: New Hampshire
The Granite State ranks ninth in female life expectancy, but that’s not all it has going for it. If you love being outside, you may enjoy retiring in New Hampshire. It ranks fifth in clean air and fourth in park access.
7th Best: Alaska
When you imagine retiring, you probably don’t think of tundra. But Alaska’s countless community centers, parks, and good hospitals may be just what you need for a happy retirement.
8th Best: Vermont
Women in Vermont typically live 81.2 years, the eighth-highest life expectancy in the country. And the Green Mountain State has one of the highest safety ratings. It’s also home to excellent park ratings, so seniors who love the outdoors will find something to do.
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9th Best: Nebraska
Nebraska may be considered a flyover state to some, but it’s worth considering as a retirement destination. The average cost of living in the Cornhusker State is $35,700 per year. The average life expectancy is 80.3 years, one of the best in the country. Also, their hospital ratings are relatively high.
10th Best: Minnesota
Minnesota may seem too cold to retire in, but it can be a great place if you bundle up. There’s a relatively low cost of living, with an annual income of $35,000. Additionally, women in the Land of 10,000 Lakes live longer, with an average lifespan of 81.4 years.
Worst: New York
New York has one of the highest costs of living, $58,273.56. That alone makes it difficult for women to retire. At least life expectancy is high, at 81.6 years old.
2nd Worst: West Virginia
It might seem surprising that a state like West Virginia is one of the worst states to retire, considering the cost of living is only $38,638.56 a year. However, their life expectancy is fairly low, at 74.1 years old.
3rd Worst: South Carolina
Women in the Palmetto State don’t have it easy—both the safety ratings and air quality rank toward the bottom. Also, the cost of living isn’t as low as you might think, and life expectancy (76.7 years) is also poor.
4th Worst: Illinois
Women in Illinois tend to live a long time (about 80 years old), but they often face challenges in retirement. The Land of Lincoln ranks 47th in parks and 44th in hospital ratings.
5th Worst: Arkansas
Some people may assume that the cost of living is the most critical factor in deciding where to retire. If that were true, then Arkansas, with the lowest average cost of living in the country, would be at the top of this list. Unfortunately, low life expectancy and few fun events mean that the Natural State shouldn’t be high on your list of retirement targets.
6th Worst: Alabama
Alabama’s cost of living is reasonable at $35,561 per year, but it’s not enough to make up for its other problems. The average life expectancy for women is only 75.3, one of the lowest in the country.
7th Worst: Michigan
While Michigan has a relatively low cost of living at $33,269.40, the hospital ratings are also reasonably low. The average life expectancy for women is 78.6 years old, and the state also has poor air quality.
8th Worst: Georgia
Living in Georgia as a retired woman can be difficult. The average cost of living is $39,669, one of the highest rates in the country. Additionally, the average life expectancy is only 77.1 years.
9th Worst: Pennsylvania
Maybe it’s not a coincidence that the Keystone State has some of the worst hospital ratings in the country (2.95). That’s one of the primary reasons it’s not the best place for women to retire in. Additionally, the average annual cost of living is $39,301.08, one of the highest in the country.
10th Worst: Mississippi
When it comes to health outcomes for older women, Mississippi isn’t the best state. The average life expectancy is only 74.3 years. Plus, its safety rating is 32.5, one of the worst in the country. Additionally, the Hospitality State has 0.85 parks per 100,000 residents, one of the lowest figures in the nation.
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