Iowa Tops Best States to Retire Study, Massachusetts Ranks Worst

Iowa has been ranked as the best state to retire in a new study by Bankrate, which considered factors such as affordability, healthcare quality/cost, weather, and crime. Iowa scored well in affordability, quality/cost of healthcare, and crime. The study also found that Alaska, New York, California, Washington, and Massachusetts were the least favorable states for retirement, primarily due to high costs of living. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) reports that an increasing number of retirees are moving to find cheaper housing, with 12% of American retirees doing so in 2022, the highest percentage since 2014.