The sister of one of my best friends is thinking about moving to Arizona when she retires next year.
We live in Washington state. Although it has a great quality of life and the weather is mild, it’s one of the more expensive states to live in.
I’ve seen many examples and read lots of articles about people who have decided to make a big move for retirement and found it was a huge mistake. They moved to a state with lower taxes and were disappointed to find low quality medical care, an unsatisfactory level of service for public facilities, and other flaws.
The five top reasons people decide to move for retirement are lower housing costs, a tax cut, getting close to family, better weather, and a lifestyle reboot, according to an AARP article.
After reaching a three-year high in 2023, retirement moves in 2024 saw a decline. More than 258,000 Americans relocated for retirement in 2024 – a 23.8 percent drop from the spike that occurred in 2023, according to Hire A Helper, a website that offers moving resources.
The 10 states had the highest one-year net migration of people 60 and older – the number moving into the state minus the number moving out – in the latest “Where Retirees Are Moving” report from SmartAsset, a personal finance website.
1. Florida net 60-plus migration – 77,290
2. Arizona – 23,515
3. South Carolina – 20,895
4. Texas – 18,742
5. North Carolina – 11,339
6. Georgia – 10,235
7. Alabama – 8,593
8. Tennessee – 8,329
9. Nevada – 6,091
10. Kentucky – 5,878
If you decide to move for retirement, research possible destinations very, very carefully. You don’t want any surprises.
Look at items such as the cost of living, quality of health care, amenities and recreational opportunities, crime rate, transportation systems, weather, potential lifestyle changes, and proximity to family and friends. Communities with colleges and universities often offer interesting cultural opportunities.
And then there’s politics. Would you be happy living in a state where governmental policies grate on you daily? Or, would working on improving how government works be of interest? It’s certainly a factor.
Be careful to avoid relying on websites or influencers who manipulate data for some reason, including to make money
WalletHub, a personal finance website, is a reliable source of information. I use their information on my blog frequently, and the findings from its research is widely quoted.
WalletHub’s latest analysis of best states to retire to are:
1. Florida
2. Minnesota
3. Colorado
4. Wyoming
5. South Dakota
6. Pennsylvania
7. New Hampshire
8. Delaware
9. North Dakota
10. Wisconsin
Other helpful articles from WalletHub are “Property Taxes by State (2025)” and “Tax Burden By State.”
Also, take a look at AARP’s “7 Places to Retire to Escape Extreme Weather.” Weather is important especially as climate change intensifies. Some people get tired of the rainy weather in the Seattle area. However, you need to be careful and not move to an area where extreme weather is going to ruin your retirement – either your finances, your health, or something else.
Then after you’ve picked out a state that looks good, start researching cities and towns. States can have a big variation in their cities. For example, in Washington, the area west of the Cascade Mountains is rainy with coastal weather, while Central and Eastern Washington have a drier climate with four seasons and snow.
For cities, WalletHub offers “Best and Worst Places to Retire (2025).”
Best
1.Orlando, Fla.
2. Scottsdale, Ariz.
3. Minneapolis, Minn.
4. Miami, Fla.
5. Tampa, Fla.
6. Atlanta, Ga.
7. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
9. Madison, Wis.
10. Casper, Wyo.
Worst
173. Bridgeport, Conn.
174. Salem, Ore.
175. Pearl City, Hawaii
176. Fontana, Calif.
178.Newark, N.J.
179. Bakersfield, Calif.
180. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
181. Stockton, Calif.
182. San Bernardino, Calif.
Best wishes with your research and possible move.
