10 Worst States for Retirement article

[EllisWyatt]

(Have never linked an article before, hope it works)....

10 Worst States For Retirement | Bankrate.com

Yet anoter article based on limited assumptions. Article bases it's conclusions on three criteria: Crime rate, % of retirees living below poverty and life expectancy.

Does not note the tax rates (no income taxes in TN, for example), COL (all with significantly lower costs of living than, say, NY or CA), cultural aspects, climate, etc.

Found it interesting that they are essentially all the southern states.

Somehow, don't think this article will factor much into my choice of where to retire.......

 

[Midpack]

GIGO...once you decide where you want to retire, you can find a list that lists your location as 'best.' Everybody's happy.

 

[jclarksnakes]

Really hard for me to understand how I can be so happy retired here in Savannah GA?

 

[marko]

OMG! Talk about a 'study' with an agenda! As you say, no mention of taxes, COL or climate.

Yeah, after reading this, I think I'll retire to CA or better yet, NY!

What a lotta crap!

 

[Brett_Cameron]

This is funny. I remember a previous list that was linked that had many of these same states list in the top 10 best states to retire.

Different criteria, different results. IMHO the top 10 best places to retire should be based on your own criteria.

 

[ziggy29]

I guess someone who retires relatively affluent and healthy is expected to suddenly get broke and sick if they move to these states? The only thing that could "break" them down here is the summer cooling bill.

 

[rbmrtn]

Almost directly opposite from this article

The 10 best states to retire in - MarketWatch

 

[explanade]

That's weird, the two lists have some of the same states.

Not paying taxes is nice but COL can't be the only factor.

I look at the lower taxes in neighboring NV and AZ, not to mention lower housing costs. Hopefully though, I will be able to afford to stay in CA if I choose, because it's hard to imagine the lifestyle in those states being preferable.

I saw a House Hunters episode of a young guy buying his first home in Las Vegas and his budget was $75k. The homes he saw weren't the greatest but you could fix them up or spend a bit more and still be at a fraction of what comparable homes cost here in CA.

But LV has the casinos and hot summers and what else?

 

[Semiretired2008]

The list seems to be made up of mostly the lower COL states. Maybe that is why such a high percentage of poverty income level retirees live in them. That would mean if you had a real retirement income in those areas you should live quite well... IMO

 

[friar1610]

Any of these articles (whether worst or best) are based on assumptions that may or may not fit with your values. I find them interesting reads but don't put much stock in them.

I looked quickly at the list cited by the OP earlier today in the Boston Globe on-line. I didn't really check the original source of the rankings but when I saw all the Southern states I figured it was just Boston snobbery. You can sure find lots of lists of worst places to retire that have all the New England states based on cold winters, higher taxes, higher COL. But some of us wouldn't want to live anywhere else. So, to each his/her own.

 

[audreyh1]

The list seems to be made up of mostly the lower COL states. Maybe that is why such a high percentage of poverty income level retirees live in them. That would mean if you had a real retirement income in those areas you should live quite well... IMO

Excellent point!

 

[packrat44]

The list seems to be made up of mostly the lower COL states. Maybe that is why such a high percentage of poverty income level retirees live in them. That would mean if you had a real retirement income in those areas you should live quite well... IMO

That is exactly the way I read it. It should be a positive, not a negative.
Life Expectancy should not be an issue. It is not likely your life expectancy will become lower by moving from where ever to one of these states.
Crime Rate could be a player. It depends on what kinds of crime and how they are reported.

 

[Semiretired2008]

Crime Rate could be a player. It depends on what kinds of crime and how they are reported.

Even with Crime Rate it is subjective in these reports. In my town if you check the crime rate it is above the national average. I have lived here over 20 years in three parts of town. Never seen any crime (on the news sometimes). It is predominate in a part of town that I do and would not frequent... Not saying there is not crime in the other areas, but if you removed this one part of town from the equation the crime rate for our area would be negligible...

 

[Original Wally]

We are in central California. Could we live "cheaper" elsewhere? YES!!!

But 2 of the 3 kids are here (the other is in Germany) and 3 of the 5 g'kids are here.
House is paid off. Property taxes not TOO bad. And the weather is great. I think I will stay put.

 

[photoguy]

Keep in mind that the purpose of these articles are not to inform the reader in any meaningful way but rather to try and drive traffic to their site.

 

[NW-Bound]

I guess someone who retires relatively affluent and healthy is expected to suddenly get broke and sick if they move to these states? The only thing that could "break" them down here is the summer cooling bill.

Eh, that's because the misinformed article writer did not know about the other hazards that are so well-known to our enlightened forum members.

In case anybody missed out, here are the dangers facing a newcomer to Texas: Peril in Texas.

 

[truenorth418]

But LV has the casinos and hot summers and what else?

I live in NYC but I have considered relocating to Las Vegas. I am not into gambling, but the casinos come with some great entertainment and shows not to mention great restaurants such as those found in NYC and other places.

Also, LV is a reasonable distance to some of the best national parks in the country, especially in southern Utah and Arizona. For that matter, southern Cal is only a few hours away by car.

The COL is low, and the airport will connect you easily to virtually anywhere else you want to go.

I would be interested in hearing others chime in on Vegas as an early retirement locale.

 

[NW-Bound]

In 2009, when in Las Vegas, we visited a nearby development called Lake Las Vegas, which was inside the town of Henderson. There were many nice townhomes going for a bit more than $100K, if I remember correctly. These were $300-400K back in 2006-2007. I was tempted, but having owned two homes already, I had to pass.

Just now looking on the Web, and do not see such good deals anymore. The price range has moved up to the $200K+ range.

PS. Found my earlier post. Yes, a condo sold at $500K at the top of the market was listed for $120K in 2009. See: http://www.early-retirement.org/for...ne-looking-to-buy-there-42897.html#post817259.

 

[Brat]

My concern about Las Vagas is water. NYC it is not!

Live in Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake. Las Vagas, San Franciso are easy to visit.

 

[Walt34]

In case anybody missed out, here are the dangers facing a newcomer to Texas: Peril in Texas.

Reading that list it sounds surprising that anyone could survive in Texas, let alone live an enjoyable life.

I think you're just exaggerating so no more people move there and you can have it all to yourself.

 

[REWahoo]

Reading that list it sounds surprising that anyone could survive in Texas, let alone live an enjoyable life.

I think you're just exaggerating so no more people move there and you can have it all to yourself.

Would it change your opinion if I added Governor Rick Perry to the list?

 

[NW-Bound]

Reading that list it sounds surprising that anyone could survive in Texas, let alone live an enjoyable life.

I think you're just exaggerating so no more people move there and you can have it all to yourself.

It was not my list, so I cannot attest to its exaggeration, if any.

And talk about enjoying life, or rather inability to do so, I am not living there and have no plan to move there, so I claim impartiality. However, I will note that for the hardy type, just staying alive is a challenge that one will enjoy.

Just relaying the info, that's all. People who want to move there will have to think for themselves.

 

[Chuckanut]

I can't think of one person I know who lives in Texas who does not like it. Obviously, the state has something going for it.

 

[NW-Bound]

Again, those could be the hardy survivor type who can now brag about it. The ones that perish cannot tell their story. Again, I am not a Texan, but just want to point out some possibility.

Where I live, it's so hot that many of the murderous critters in the above Texan list could not even survive, though some like the scorpions love the heat and thrive. And we have the Gila Monster, an ugly venomous lizard. But the real danger is very short: HEAT. The record high is 122F (50C), which matches that of the Sahara desert. Just the HEAT. That's it. If you can stand the heat, the little critters are mere annoyances. They don't bother me any.

PS. The scorpions sometimes cannot handle the heat either, and seek refuge in the homes. I forgot to point this out. Yes, they can be a bit bothersome, occasionally.

 

[Tyro]

The heat in AZ is something that concerns me. Not now, but over the next 30-40 years with climate change. So we're hoping to find someplace a bit higher up (than the valley) that's still affordable and close enough to the ammenities (mostly medical).