The 7 Worst States for Retirement

With November behind us and the icy grip of winter nearly upon us, many of you may be thinking a bit more seriously about relocating to another, possibly warmer, state for your retirement. It’s no secret that relocation can be an effective part of any retirement strategy. In some ways, the grass is greener in other states, where you may experience more favorable property taxes, lower cost of living, or better access to the health services you may need in your golden years.

Last month, we took a look at the 7 best states for retirement. The number-crunching gurus at WalletHub ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia by 3 criteria: Affordability, Quality of Life, and Health Care. Each dimension was assigned a total point value: Affordability—40, Quality of Life—30, and Health Care—30. The dimensions broken into sub-criteria, each eligible for a specific amount of points. Affordability was measured by 4 criteria, including Adjusted Cost of Living and Annual Cost of In-Home Services. Quality of Life was measured by 12 criteria, including Percentage of the Population Aged 65 and Older, among others. And Health Care was scored on 8 criteria, such as number of Dentists per 100,000 Residents.

Here’s how the 7 least retirement-friendly states stack up, in ascending order: