What are the top 5 states to retire?

The top states for retirement in 2025 often include Florida, Wyoming, Minnesota, Colorado, and South Dakota, based on factors like low taxes, affordability, good healthcare, and quality of life, though priorities vary; Florida excels in taxes/lifestyle, Wyoming in affordability/taxes, while New England/Western states like Maine, New Hampshire, and Idaho also rank high for specific factors like healthcare and safety.

What state is best financially to retire to?

The best states for financially sound retirement balance low taxes (especially no state income tax on retirement income) with affordable living, while also considering healthcare and lifestyle, with top contenders often including Florida, Wyoming, Texas, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and South Dakota, though states like Colorado, Virginia, and Delaware also rank highly for varied reasons like good healthcare or low property taxes. Key financial factors are state income, sales, and property taxes, plus potential deductions for retirement income, with states like Florida and Wyoming often praised for tax-friendliness. 

Where can I retire on $2000 a month in the United States?

You can retire comfortably on $2,000 a month in the U.S. by focusing on affordable Midwest and Southern cities, with top contenders including Fort Wayne, Indiana, Fargo, North Dakota, Knoxville, Tennessee, Oklahoma City, Cincinnati, Ohio, and several locations in Texas (like Brownsville, Abilene) and Florida (like Tallahassee, Fort Myers), which offer lower costs for housing, groceries, and healthcare while still providing good livability and amenities. 

Where do the happiest retirees live?

Barnstable MA is the happiest city in the US for retirees for it's high level of social interactions, activities and entertainment.

Where is the nicest and cheapest place to retire?

1. Fargo, ND. With its low costs and generous tax situation, North Dakota has consistently ranked high among our best states for retirement.

Where Retirees Are Moving in 2025 That Will SHOCK You!

What is the least expensive state for seniors to live in?

The cheapest states for seniors to live are generally in the South and Midwest, with West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee frequently topping lists due to low housing costs and overall cost of living, though factors like taxes and healthcare access matter, with Indiana noted for tax benefits and South Dakota/Wyoming for low poverty rates for seniors. 

Can I live on $5000 a month in retirement?

To retire comfortably, many retirees need between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, or $5,000 to $8,300 per month. This varies based on personal financial needs and expenses.

What is the #1 retirement city in the US?

There's no single #1, as different lists rank cities based on varying factors, but recent top contenders include Midland, Michigan (U.S. News 2026 for affordability/quality), Scottsdale, Arizona (Niche's top retiree city), and Orlando/Tampa, Florida (WalletHub for tax friendliness/activities), with others like Lancaster, PA, Waycross, GA, and New Bedford, MA also frequently cited for affordability or specific amenities. 

What is the number one mistake retirees make?

The top ten financial mistakes most people make after retirement are:

• 1) Not Changing Lifestyle After Retirement. ...
• 2) Failing to Move to More Conservative Investments. ...
• 3) Applying for Social Security Too Early. ...
• 4) Spending Too Much Money Too Soon. ...
• 5) Failure To Be Aware Of Frauds and Scams. ...
• 6) Cashing Out Pension Too Soon.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 a month retirement rule is a simple guideline stating you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of monthly income you want from your investments in retirement, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate ($240k x 0.05 / 12 = $1k/month). It's a motivational tool to estimate savings goals (e.g., $3,000/month needs $720k), but it's one-dimensional, doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or other income like Social Security, and assumes steady 5% returns, making a personalized plan essential. 

What is the $27.40 rule?

The $27.40 Rule is a personal finance strategy to save $10,000 in one year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day ($27.40 x 365 days = $10,001). It's a simple way to reach a large financial goal by breaking it down into small, manageable daily habits, making saving feel less intimidating and more achievable by cutting small, unnecessary expenses like daily coffees or lunches.
 

What state is best for seniors on social security?

For retirees living on Social Security, the best states offer low taxes (no state income tax on SS), low cost of living (especially housing), and affordability, with top contenders often including Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Iowa, Wyoming, and Florida, while states like Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Tennessee also rank highly for affordability and favorable tax environments, making every dollar stretch further. 

What is a good monthly income when retired?

A good monthly retirement income is often considered 70-80% of your pre-retirement income, but it truly depends on your lifestyle, location, and expenses, with benchmarks ranging from $4,000-$8,000+ monthly for a comfortable life, factoring in needs like housing, healthcare, and travel. Financial planners suggest calculating your specific "income gap" by subtracting guaranteed income (like Social Security) from your estimated needs to see what you need from savings. 

What state has the best healthcare for retirees?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on priorities (cost vs. access vs. outcomes), but Minnesota, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California consistently rank high for retiree healthcare due to strong hospitals, good outcomes, or balanced costs and access, with Midwestern states like North Dakota & South Dakota also scoring well for access and affordability, while Florida offers great infrastructure for its large retiree population. 

Is it better to rent or buy in retirement?

Renting vs. buying in retirement involves a trade-off between flexibility/less responsibility (renting) and stability/equity (owning), with renting offering freedom to move and no maintenance worries but rising costs, while owning provides fixed housing costs (if paid off) and potential appreciation but requires upkeep and commitment, making the best choice highly personal, depending on your finances, health, and desired lifestyle. 

What are the 3 R's of retirement?

The Three R's of Retirement: Resiliency, Resourcefulness & the Renaissance Spirit.

What is the number one regret of retirees?

Here are the four most common regrets I've encountered over the years.

1. Waiting too long to retire. This regret comes up over and over. ...
2. Not spending more earlier in life. ...
3. Not tracking their progress earlier. ...
4. Lack of tax diversification.

How many people have $500,000 in their retirement account?

While exact numbers vary by source and year, recent data suggests around 7-9% of American households have $500,000 or more in retirement savings, though many more have significant savings in the $100k-$500k range, with a large portion of the population having much less, highlighting a big gap between the average (which is higher due to wealthy individuals) and the median (typical) saver. 

How many Americans have $1,000,000 in retirement savings?

Only a small fraction of Americans, roughly 2.5% to 4.7%, have $1 million or more in retirement savings, with the percentage rising slightly to around 3.2% among actual retirees, according to recent Federal Reserve data analyses. A higher percentage, about 9.2%, of those nearing retirement (ages 55-64) have reached this milestone, though the majority of households have significantly less saved. 

Where do the happiest retirees live in the USA?

Caring.com's 2025 Senior Happiness Index identifies states where seniors are most content, connected, and live longest. Utah is ranked as the happiest state for older adults due to high volunteer rates, good health, and excellent health care access.

What age is the best to retire?

To maximize savings and investments, you might have to work until you're 67 or longer. Or maybe you should quit when you're 62 and still healthy and active. If getting Medicare means everything to you, 65 is a good age to consider.

What not to do in retirement?

In retirement, avoid overspending, claiming Social Security too early, getting too conservative with investments, isolating yourself socially, neglecting your health, and failing to plan for inflation or medical costs. Also, don't assume work friendships will last, make big financial moves without discussing them with your spouse, or rely on "common knowledge" for financial decisions. 

What is the average Social Security check?

As of early 2026, the average Social Security check for retired workers is around $2,071 monthly, though figures vary slightly by source and month, with recent averages in late 2025 around $2,000-$2,012. This amount is an overall average, with higher payments for those claiming at Full Retirement Age or later, and lower for early retirees, and depends on your earnings history, age at claiming, and Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA).