Overview
- WalletHub compared all 50 states using 46 weighted indicators across affordability, quality of life, and health care to produce its 2026 list.
- The top five are Wyoming, Florida, South Dakota, Colorado, and Minnesota, while Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Hawaii sit at the bottom.
- State-level results show notable regional variation, with Pennsylvania ranked No. 8, Virginia No. 12, Maryland No. 36, New Jersey No. 35, and New York No. 45.
- WalletHub’s analysis highlights low taxes, lower living costs, strong medical care, and accessible homemaker services as key drivers for retiree-friendly states.
- A separate CareScout study cited by Florida Realtors ranked Florida seventh, underscoring that differing methods can shift state placements.