What states are retirees leaving?

Retirees are primarily leaving high-cost and high-tax states, with California, New York, and Illinois experiencing the highest net outflows in 2023–2025. Key drivers for departure include expensive housing, high taxes, and cold climates, with many retirees relocating to warmer, more affordable, or tax-friendly states like Florida, the Carolinas, and Tennessee.

What state are most retirees moving to?

Despite a preference for Southwestern cities, Florida and North Carolina are the most popular states for retirees. Florida gained the most retirees over one year at a net of +44,504. North Carolina ranked second at the state level with a net gain of 20,369. Arizona was neck and neck with North Carolina at +20,203.

Where are retirees moving in 2025?

Florida, Colorado, and Virginia rank as the top three states for retiring seniors, according to WalletHub. 1 In a recent study, they compared all states based on 46 indicators in three key categories: Affordability, which includes tax benefits, cost of living, and more.

Where are retirees flocking to?

Retirees are fleeing California and flocking to Florida. In 2023, Florida was the most popular destination for U.S. residents aged 60 and over, according to a June study by SmartAsset, which analyzed the data from the Census Bureau's latest American Community Survey.

What is the #1 state people are leaving?

Key Points (2025)

Top outbound states by volume: New York lost the most residents from 2020 to 2024 with 446,814 people leaving, followed by California with 530,886 net outbound, and Illinois with 139,399 departures, representing the largest absolute population losses in the nation.

10 States American retirees are leaving.

What is the #1 happiest state in the US?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the happiest and least stressed state in the United States, characterized by high levels of emotional and physical well-being among its residents.

What state is paying $10,000 to move there?

Oklahoma. Tulsa Remote is a program designed to help remote workers interested in moving to Oklahoma. It offers $10,000 to anyone who meets the five eligibility criteria below. Once you've applied, select applicants will be interviewed by Tulsa staff in order to learn more about your background and interest in the city ...

What is the happiest state for retirees?

Utah Ranks as the Happiest State for Seniors

This state in the Western U.S. boasts the highest happiness score on the index: 7.69/10. One reason that Utah is cited as the happiest state for older adults is its high number of elders who engage in volunteering.

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.

Can I live off $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.

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. 

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.

Will seniors get an increase in 2025?

For the January to March 2025 period, there won't be an increase, as the CPI showed a small dip over the last three months. But don't worry—over the past year, benefits have still grown by 2.0%, helping seniors keep pace with rising living costs.

What is the cheapest state to live in when retired?

The cheapest states for retirement generally include West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio, Kansas, and Missouri, thanks to low housing, taxes, and overall cost of living, with West Virginia often topping lists as most affordable. These states allow retirement with Social Security to stretch further, though factors like housing costs (e.g., in Mississippi) and healthcare (e.g., Utah, Colorado) also influence overall affordability. 

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 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 $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 biggest retirement regret?

Retirement Regrets: Top 15 Things Retirees Wish They Had Done Differently

• Plan More Carefully for the Fun You Want to Have in Retirement. ...
• Not Saving Enough. ...
• Not Retiring Earlier. ...
• Not Planning Adequately for Healthcare. ...
• Staying Uninformed About Personal Finance. ...
• Invest Too Conservatively — or Too Aggressively.

What does Suze Orman say about retirement?

Orman recommended making the most of retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. She suggested contributing enough to get any employer match, as this is essentially free money. For those closer to retirement, taking advantage of catch-up contributions allowed for individuals over 50 can be a smart move.

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different reports rank states differently, but Vermont is frequently cited as #1 for Quality of Life (CNBC), while Massachusetts often leads overall livability/best state rankings (WalletHub), and Utah ranks high overall for Best States (U.S. News). These rankings vary by the specific metrics used, such as health, safety, environment, education, or economic opportunity. 

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. 

What are the 5 unhappiest states in the US?

The Top 5 happiest states in the U.S. are: Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and Connecticut. The 5 LEAST happy states in the U.S. are: West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Alaska.

What city will pay you $15000 to move and work there?

Topeka, Kansas

The Choose Topeka program sells itself well, thanks in part to its $15,000 cash incentive and its promise of living costs that are 10% lower than the national average, along with the cost of a typical single-family home hovering around the $125,000 mark.

Where to move to start over with no money?

To start over with no money, focus on places with low living costs, find jobs offering housing (like seasonal work via CoolWorks or AmeriCorps), or leverage programs like Job Corps (for under 25s), utilizing community aid (like FindHelp.org or local 211) for immediate needs while you build skills and find stable employment. Consider affordable areas in the Midwest/South (like Enid, OK, Decatur, IL) or places with relocation incentives like some towns in Nebraska. 

What state pays you to move there in 2025?

Yes, several states and cities offer financial incentives to attract new residents in 2025, with programs in West Virginia, Alaska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Maine actively paying people to move, often targeting remote workers or those filling local jobs with bonuses up to $20,000+, housing help, or coworking memberships to boost local economies and workforce diversity.