It's no secret that retirees generally don't like the cold, so it should come as no surprise that there is an abundance of northern states on this year's list of 10 Worst States to Retire from MoneyRates.com.
However, the weather is far from the only problem these states have.
Check out the worst states to retire in >
If you love one of the states below, don't take its inclusion personally. This list only reports what an objective look at retirement-related factors dictates.
Naturally, individual preferences can greatly affect your choice of retirement destinations. However, as a guide to some possible warning signs for retirees, MoneyRates.com has sought to identify the states that may have the most significant issues on quantifiable measures.
Key factors for retirement
The following measures formed the basis of this year's analysis:
- Senior population growth. Based on census data, some states have just been more attractive to retirees than others in recent years, so the growth in each state's senior population factored into these rankings.
- Economic conditions. Even if you don't intend to work at all in retirement, chances are you wouldn't find living in an area of high unemployment very pleasant. Cost of living and property taxes were also taken into consideration, since these greatly affect seniors.
- Crime rate. Seniors can be especially vulnerable to both violent and property crimes, so both were factored into the list.
- Climate. Not everyone wants a warm-weather retirement, but seniors tend not to enjoy extremes, so the climate factor in this list was based on monthly deviations from a moderate 68 degrees.
- Life expectancy. Looking at each state's average life expectancy for people at age 65 can provide clues on factors ranging from quality and availability of health care to the purity of the environment.
10 worst states for retirement in 2012
When rankings for all these factors were considered, the following states achieved the 10 lowest scores.
10. Rhode Island
The U.S. population overall is both growing and aging, yet Rhode Island was the only state to see its senior population shrink between the 2000 and 2010 census surveys.
Having a cost of living and average property tax that are among the highest in the nation might be one reason. Seniors have a pretty long life expectancy in this state, but that's not enough to offset the negative factors.
9. Maryland
Like Rhode Island, Maryland suffers from relatively high property taxes and cost of living.
Crime and life expectancy are also well below par, which are enough to more than cancel out an above-average climate.
8. Maine
One of the harshest climates in the nation, along with a low life expectancy for seniors, were leading factors in putting Maine on this list, despite the fact that the state does have a very low overall crime rate.
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