Voting with Their Feet: The Best States for Retirement 2019

Couple of thoughts:
I think where people retire to is somewhat based on where they are moving from. My observation is that people on the east coast tend to move south and people from the Midwest tend to move to TX and AZ. So looking at the data on a per population basis may tell more about the desirability of an area. There are clearly more people in the north east so there should be more numbers moving to FL. The second observation is that AZ has forest fires. This is true but it is in the mountains in remote areas. Most people move to Tucson or Phoenix which is desert with no forest fires

Some other considerations:
1. There's a pretty big difference between places that have warm winters and high humidity (e.g. Florida, the Carolinas) vs warm winter/low humidity (e.g. Arizona, Nevada). For some people, this may be a significant factor in deciding where to move.
2. It would be nice if one could make a customized ranking based on how important various categories are to them. For example, being able to weigh access to health care, educational opportunities, recreation, etc. higher or lower than other categories might give an overall better picture of a place's attractiveness as a future location.
3. Being close to grandkids - this might be the biggest factor of all for some people!

Grandchild was our Colorado main reason.

The attributes chart shows a number of the things to consider when thinking about where to retire and made me think of the old saying "The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts". Even a place that hits a person's top priorities and is ok with the other stuff might not hit those intangible/hard-to-describe bits that make you feel that it is home. It really is very individual. To answer the question at the bottom of the article - What is the best state for hubby and me? We have decided on Bucks County, Pa. Why? It hits many of the usual considerations; no income tax on retirement income and low taxes on income from other investments, great healthcare, beautiful scenery, parks, museums walking, golf, 1 hour from the ocean, within 1.5 hours of family and old friends, great food of all sorts, good public transportation (light rail to Philly and NYC only about 2 hours away by either car or rail,) and we are in the process of buying a home in what we think will be a great 55+ community - only 58 houses and no clubhouse and no pool - the only amenity is a walking/biking trail that leads into town about a mile). Property taxes are relatively high but they pay for great services and a very low crime rate according to usadata.com (formerly city-data). It's close to airports and interstates if the winter gets too bad.

Re moving to be close to grandkids: remember, they can also move. Mine lived in the Phoenix area. Went out there many times to visit them. Just didn't really care for the area--too dry for me and unbelievably hot in the summer, like sticking my head in the oven. If I had moved there to be close to them, I would have been out of luck. Their parents tired of the Phoenix area and moved to the Salt Lake City area this year. That is definitely not on my list--SO done with snow. I will visit them for the first time next month.

Jean, would you mind sharing the name of the Bucks County community? I'm in NJ and am thinking about a move to PA in the near future for many of the same reasons you mentioned.

Hi Linda! We are in Newtown. The community is Lakeview Estates. We also like the Regency at Northampton and Heritage Creek both of which are in the same general area. My husband likes to play his electric guitars (sort of loudly) and insists on an unattached house but there are many communities in Bucks that are town houses and look very nice. We also looked up in the Bethlehem area. There are a couple of nice 55+ communities in that area and building on a new one is supposed to start this year. If we didn't find a house we liked by the time they started building we would have considered having one built there.

Great information, thanks.

Originally from Delaware & Maryland, we moved around a lot over the years. After the last 10 years in SE Tenn. we retired and moved to Maine! If you are considering Tennessee, I would suggest you look being closer Knoxville – so much more to do and better medical. Either way, the summers are long, hot and overly humid. Of course it depends on what kinds of things you are looking to do but we found that the Chattanooga area was not for us.

TN has no income tax but sometimes you get what you pay for. Once we moved, our auto insurance dropped to HALF of what we paid there and sales tax dropped from 9-1/2% to 5%. Fresh groceries and meat are far better quality here too as well as the education of the population. Happy to answer any other questions or put you in touch with some folks already there. ( Myquest55@aol.com).

Hi everyone. We are just starting to think of where to retire in 5 yrs. and so far we have picked Tenn, GA, and SC (in that order) to look at in a few yrs..
I love ALL the comments and thank all for your inputs.
I just wanted to add an opinion:
Blue, red, purple or religion should not matter as long as you stay away from said subject.
I live in a very religious town (Southport, NC) and it doesn’t affect my associations with people; nor does their political affiliations (I have no idea what politics any of them follow…lol). To each his own I guess. (I am originally from NY/NJ area)
Tenn being my #1 choice to retire (no st tax, low prop taxes/no personal prop taxes and low home prices (under $300)) and looking between Chattanooga and Knoxville areas. I am excited to begin my search soon and reading about how people from all over found their “happy forever place” makes me feel confident we will too.

I have lived 24 years in South Dakota and they have blizzards and below zero temps and a short summer so do not there unless you love the cold. It is a state with very small cities and most people grew up there. I lived in California for over 8 years but left in the late 70’s and on return visit was not impressed at all. Though that is the best weather ever and love the ocean. You had better have money and like a diverse population, I currently live in Missouri which is very conservative and very humid. The people are surface friendly but relatives is what it is all about.We are looking at retiring in Florida to be in year round warm weather and a community. Missouri is a beautiful state with hills and trees and streams and lots of fishing in the Southern part. People love to fish and swim and enjoy tubing and so on, It is not real expensive to live here but I am not aware of any big retirement communities where I live.

Hef
I see u lived in Delaware and Maryland
We just retired and live in New York
We have family in Pennsylvania and Maryland and have started to look in Delaware to retire
We seem to really like Delaware and it’s location
Can u provide any pros and cons
Thanks

ANYONE HERE for Puerto Rico?

I did the early-on DC in the mid 90's (still here) but now it's even too gentrified for me now into my early 80's. I'm looking to keep my pied-à-terre in DC and do the same repeat in the PR using the tax Chap 20 & 24 advantages. Thoughts?

Barbara - we just moved to Delaware nine months ago (originally from NY/NJ). We live on the outskirts of Milton, in Sussex County. I have mixed feelings. Of course the cost of living is much lower here, although groceries tend to be more expensive. The grocery stores are very disappointing, not only because of the prices but the selection.
It is great being so close to beaches, but the NJ beaches are much nicer. Seafood is good here, but pizza is awful. Traffic is increasing as more people retire here but roads aren’t keeping up. Many locals resent the influx. On the other hand, there are plenty of “transplants” who are eager to make new connections. I’m used to doing errands in a close loop, but here things are very spread out. The winter was much milder than what we are used to. As I drive past cornfield after cornfield, inhaling the smell of manure, I feel like I’m on another planet. The slower pace of life is nice. Despite the complaints from the locals about traffic congestion, it is nothing like NY/NJ traffic. Medical care is said to be improving, with lots of new facilities and expansions being built, but it is still hard to find a primary care doctor without a wait, but once you are a patient, then it isn’t a problem. If you have any specific questions, please ask!

Barbara - it has been many years since I grew up in Delaware but I will tell you that everyone my parent's age moved over the border into PA to retire since there was no tax on pensions there. Southern DE has built up now, I guess, but you are still far from Wilmington & Christiana medical as well as any central transportation. My father still lives in the Erickson community of Maris Grove (Glen Mills PA - just over the border) and it is a FANTASTIC place! We considered it but, outside of that, there wasn't anything for us there. As with any place, you should visit with a list of "must haves" and see how you fit in. e-mail me if you have another other questions.

Thanks to both Linda and Hef
For your feedback. Really appreciate it
We are going to begin looking now in Kent county
Healthcare is one of our biggest concerns.
Linda -thank you for the info on the primary doctor waitlist.
Was wondering about the Christiana Healthcare System.
Any thoughts
Hef - we love Pennsylvania but the weather is a little milder in Delaware we think?

Thanks

Barbara - Sorry but I don’t know much about Christiana for health care. Many people from down here drive up there though, yet I keep hearing that the hospitals here are quite good.
As far as your question about mixed age vs 55+, we are in a mixed age community that happens to have a lot of retirees in it. Many disappear for the winter. I kind of wish that we were in a community with a pool. We would be able to meet more people that way.

HEF - Enjoy reading your experiences in these NE states. Curious how you selected ME recently and your feedback on their healthcare and long winters. We have enjoyed many vacations along the coast of ME and it is at the top of my list along with WA and OR. The extreme heat and humidity of the southern states is a turnoff for us. My husband has just returned from a visiting his elder brother in AZ and does not care for the lack of green and their very hot summers.

Barbara: As for Delaware... Its a nice state, I have family and friends who live there half love it half aren't crazy about it. The temps aren't much different that those in Southeast Pa, maybe moderated a tad by being close to the ocean but not that much. My suggestion would be to rent for a year or so before you buy.

For Barbara - PA is a BIG state so yes, Delaware climate can be milder than the Poconos or western PA however its not much different from SE PA and can get snow or hot summers. The weather has been unpredictable everywhere as we move forward so I would not let climate be your only reason to move.

For JoannL - ..and that said, we knew we wanted to come back to New England for cooler weather but were not happy with the tax and finance sitautions of CT & RI - where we had been before. We wanted a small city - lots to do but not sprawled across miles of highway and traffic. So, we made a list, came up in 2015 and did a week of intense investigation. We subscribed to the local paper online, Maine magazines and read posts on sites like this. We were fortunate to find a fantastic Realtor who patiently worked with us for 2-12 yrs before we finally were ready to buy. The more we found out, the more we knew we would like it here - the medical clinched it. There are a LOT of creative people here and a group, to join, for EVERYthing! Yes we are indoors during the winter but snow doesn't stop anyone! They love veterans and we have had a lot of respect anywhere we've been. If you (or anyone else) have more specfic questions or would like to plan a visit - ask Admin to forward you my address.

HEF, remind us, where specifically are you in Maine?

Jennifer - We are not far from Portland, so the southern half of the state. Hope that helps.

Thanks, Admin, I have not had any un-wanted e-mails but I appreciate that you would forward that information to someone from this discussion who wanted to reach out for more specific information.

HEF: Lots of people in Washington, DC spend their summers in Maine and yes I am familiar with Portland. I am so glad that you enjoy the area year round. Snow is great if you do not have to drive in it too much and if other people also know how to drive through it safely.
Congratulations on finding your dream retirement.

My husband and I will not move far from our children. Period.

Having overseen the medical care for three of our parents during periods of declining physical and cognitive health, we are very clear about the critical importance of close family members checking in frequently and taking the lead when necessary during various crises.

When or if my husband and I need loved ones advocating for us we would deeply regret moving to another state for more advantageous tax situations or a lower cost-of-living.

We are fortunate to have close relationships with our children, children-in-law, and grands, and are even more fortunate to live within 20 miles of each other. We are all strongly rooted to the area.

Proximity to our family trumps all other location considerations, whether viewed singly or in aggregate.

Jcarol, I agree with you about the importance of staying near family. Too many people minimize the importance of family. I was so glad that my parents stayed nearby so they could see their grandchildren grow up. The grandkids benefit so much from the older generations. My former in-laws headed off to Florida and never got to know their grandkids at all. Yearly visits are just not the same to a child. I say stay near family and travel if you can.

Would like to hear from people that may have retired to the Baldwin County, Ala area. Would apprecaite information on lifestyle, cos of living, medical care available.