The Best State to Retire, But You May Not Want to Go Yet

It may be the best state to retire to, but most Americans might want to to avoid it, well at least for now.

In a recent study by the Blacktower Financial Management Group, Florida toped the list of best states for retirees to live. A quarter of the population of the state is 60 years old or older. A couple of the main reasons for this is the warmer climate and the miles of sandy beaches. The average home price falls into the range of $252,000. One analysis found that the average life expectancy is just short of 80 years old. The sunshine state had jumped from nine places in 2019 from where it ranked.

Florida may be the best spot for retirees, but it is also has seen a disturbing spike in coronavirus cases, confirmed this week by the governor. According to the NPR, other states with rising cases include Idaho, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.

On Monday, the southern state exceeded 100,000 total cases of COVID-19, and recently has seen the highest peak since the pandemic has started. The U.S. has had 21.1 million cases, with the last three weeks a dramatic upturn due to the holiday season.

Surprisingly Minnesota ranked second. This comes to the shock due to the cold winters. Minnesota was followed closely by Iowa, Ohio, and Texas. To create its ranking, Blacktower analyzed and weighted crime, living costs, older populations, average real estate prices and life expectancy.

The worst retirement state is Alaska which also had the highest crime rate found by the firm. Hawaii had the best life expectancy, while Mississippi, with its cheap food and property prices, had the best living costs for the retirees. West Virginia had the lowest prices of properties.

While rankings can help you figure out certain information, these lists are usually just one step in deciding where to move to retire. Health care is another important factor, and being close to hospitals and care facilities that address certain health concerns.

Some retirees do not always want to move to another region of the U.s but an entirely different country that comes with its own list of weighing factors.