If you're looking to ride off into the sunset, you might want to think about heading to the Sunshine State. Florida, according to a report by WalletHub, has been ranked the best state to retire in 2025.
"Retirement is supposed to be relaxing, but it can also be incredibly stressful given that it typically puts people on a fixed income, which may not be enough for them to live comfortably," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said. "As a result, the best states for retirees are those that have low taxes and a low cost of living to help retirees’ budgets stretch as far as possible. Having access to excellent medical care and homemaking services is also crucial, especially for people who don’t plan to retire in close proximity to their families.”
Supplementing its No. 1 ranking on the list, Orlando was named the best city in the country for retirees. Other Florida cities in the top 10 included Miami at No. 4, Tampa at No. 5, and Fort Lauderdale at No. 10.
St. Petersburg also came in at No. 12, while Cape Coral ranked at No. 20.
For its findings, WalletHub analyzed more than 180 cities across categories including affordability, activities, quality of life, and healthcare. Orlando came in with a total score of 62.63, earning high marks for affordability (5th), healthcare (14th), and activities (18th).
Additionally, Miami ranked 5th for activities and 26th for healthcare. Tampa, just behind Miami, ranked 10th for activities and 35th for quality of life.
Fort Lauderdale, just up the road from Miami, ranked 14th in activities and 47th in healthcare. Both Miami and Fort Lauderdale were bogged down by affordability, ranking 76th and 79th, respectively.
Scottsdale, Arizona (2nd), and Minneapolis, Minnesota (3rd), joined the three Florida cities in the top five. The rest of the top ten included Atlanta, Georgia (6th), Cincinnati, Ohio (8th), Madison, Wisconsin (9th), and Casper, Wyoming (10th).
Overall, Florida was followed by Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota among the best states for retirement.
