Real estate agents focused on the retiree market might be interested in the latest data report from WalletHub: 2026’s Best & Worst States to Retire.
For this report, the WalletHub team number crunched 46 key measures, covering affordability, health-related factors, and overall quality of life.
“Wyoming is the best state for retirees due partly to its friendliness towards retired taxpayers, including no estate or inheritance taxes,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “In terms of overall quality of life in Wyoming, the state has the fifth-lowest violent crime rate and the 10th-best elder abuse protections in the country, which guard elderly residents against physical and financial harm. In addition, it has the seventh-lowest share of seniors who are in poverty and the 14th-highest percentage of people who do favors for their neighbors, reflecting both financial security and a strong sense of community.”
Florida places second on the WalletHub list, with Lupo noting it has “relatively low taxes for retired people” and the fact the state receives the third highest level of funding per senior from the Older Americans Act. And while the Sunshine State’s weather is a strong selling point, Lupo acknowledged “the overall cost of living is pretty high in Florida compared to many other states.”
Rounding out the top five states considered best for retirees were South Dakota, Colorado, and Minnesota. Kentucky ranked last among the 50 states.
The report also found New Hampshire has the highest share of the population aged 65 and older still working, which is 1.7 times higher than in West Virginia, where it is lowest, and Maine has the highest share of the population aged 65 and older, which is 1.9 times higher than in Utah, where it is lowest.
