The Best and Worst States to Grow Old In

If you’re looking to move anytime and down for a change… try moving to some of the best states to grow old in! Thanks to a recent ranking sourced from the U.S. Census, Commonwealth Fund, and Gallup-Healthway, reviews from Caring.com, and our friend, the AARP, we’ve gathered the data to keep you in the loop.

The study, featured in a story on Bloomberg news, took many factors into consideration: quality and availability of long term care and cost of care among others. What’s interesting is that although certain states may be better to plan to retire in, this study emphasized that these states are best to grow old in, a time where you may need assisted living and/or a caregiver!

While it’s important to plan your actual retirement when you’re in your 30s, 40s, and 50s, you should also think ahead to what it will be like in your late 60s, 70s, and 80s. Plan it with care, but be flexible! Consider costs of health care, costs of homecare and assisted living…consider the environment as well, as certain chronic diseases and health conditions, like emphysema, may worsen in areas with high levels of air pollution.

Plan it with care, but be flexible!

Consider costs of health care, costs of homecare and assisted living…consider the environment as well, as certain chronic diseases and health conditions, like emphysema, may worsen in areas with high levels of air pollution.

Now, as much as you’d like to see how Connecticut performed, check out all 50 states and their rankings on this map.

At last, here is the verdict:

The best states (with median monthly costs of an assisted-living facility) are as follows:

Utah/$2,950

Iowa/$3,518

South Carolina/$3,000

Washington/$4,500

Nebraska/$3,510

Here are the worst states:

Wyoming/$3,995

North Dakota/$3,340

New York/$4,136

Indiana/$3,528

West Virginia/$3,263

Did your home state make the cut? Tell us about it in the comments below. Hope this inspired you and your loved ones to think twice about how the area and state you live in really affect the quality and cost of living in your golden years.