A nursing service company, CareScout, announced on its website on January 5 a ranking of the most suitable states in the United States for retirees to live in 2026, providing a new guide for retirees to choose a place to enjoy their later years. The cost of living and quality of life are the most important factors in the ranking.
With more and more Americans reaching retirement age, the population of Americans aged 65 and older reached a record 61.2 million in 2024, significantly higher than the 55.8 million in 2020, according to data from the US Census Bureau.
Retirees are also living longer than previous generations. On average, a 65-year-old today is expected to live nearly 20 more years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.
CareScout stated that a recent analysis found that around one-third of retirees in 2025 had to cut back on essentials such as groceries and healthcare to make ends meet. Meanwhile, many older Americans are delaying retirement or planning to work into their seventies.
Factors such as longer life expectancy, rising cost of living, and healthcare expenses are increasingly influencing Americans’ choice of where to live during retirement. This will determine whether retirement life is stable and comfortable or filled with uncertainty.
CareScout conducted an in-depth analysis of the latest trends and data and developed a ranking of the states most suitable for retirees to live in 2026 by evaluating cost of living, quality of life, and healthcare. The ranking includes all 50 states in the US and one federal district. Here are the top ten states and the district:
Wyoming ranked first as the most suitable state for retirees to live in, benefiting from not levying personal income tax and having the lowest proportion of federal Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions (44%) in the country. Wyoming has moderate cost of living and stable social security income ($28,082). The state excels in affordability of living and medical support.
New Hampshire ranked second, also with a friendly tax policy not imposing personal income tax, and second-highest social security income in the US ($29,422). Vermont ranked third with a high percentage of elderly population at 22.9%, indicating a very senior-friendly community. Montana ranked fourth excelling in cultural resources with 687 arts and entertainment venues per 100,000 elderly residents. South Dakota, fifth in the ranking, offers moderate cost of living, no personal income tax, and abundant entertainment opportunities.
New Jersey, ranked 51st, the last place, due to its high cost of living and personal income tax, becoming the least suitable state for retirees to live in. Additionally, Massachusetts, New York, Alabama, and Mississippi also ranked near the bottom.