There are a number of factors to take into consideration when choosing where you want to retire, including the lifestyle you want and your financial situation.
In addition to looking for options that meet most of your needs, you’ll want to consider any major downsides or trade-offs you’d have to make, such as a lack of accessible health care or a high cost of living.
Financial services website Bankrate recently ranked all 50 states based on 15 metrics, including affordability, health care and weather, to determine the best and worst places to retire in the U.S. The study used data from a variety of sources, including the Council for Community and Economic Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The metrics were weighed according to survey responses gathered by Bankrate in May 2025 on what Americans say are their top priorities for choosing a retirement destination. As a result, affordability, weather and neighborhood safety influenced overall scores the most.
Here are the 10 worst states to retire, according to Bankrate, where you may have to compromise when it comes to cost, safety and access to health care:
