"Best of" lists are usually based on subjective points. When choosing our 10 best and worst states to retire, we went with the objective. Earlier this week, MoneyRates.com published a list of the 10 worst states for retirement. This list was based on a combination of quantifiable factors including:
- Economics (factoring in cost of living, unemployment, and average state and local tax burden)
- Climate
- Crime rate
- Life expectancy
Now, the good news. MoneyRates.com has compiled a list of the 10 best states for retirement. You'll find the MoneyRates.com list is not all geared to one set of priorities -- it isn't, for example, a list of 10 warm-weather states -- but instead should have something for everybody.
Some of the choices might surprise you, but when you look over the criteria, you can decide which states have the most appealing characteristics for your tastes.
Then join the discussion on the best and worst states for retirement on the MoneyRates.com blog.
The original article can be found at MoneyRates.com:
10 Best States for Retirement
PHOTOS:
Data sources: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Tax Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, MSNBC, the U.S. Census Bureau, Bloomberg Businessweek