Selecting a place to retire requires looking at more than an area’s taxes, according to LPL Financial Inc. The examination of a location also should include such things as the education level of the state’s population and the number of physicians and dentists available.

LPL recently released a report ranking the 50 states and the District of Columbia on the basis of such things as the quality of life, including weather and the crime rate and the employment level of residents. The firm assigned grades of A to F in each of six categories: finances, health care, housing, quality of life, employment and education and wellness, and weighted each for importance.

The following states, including some that are considered retirement havens, came out on the bottom of the list. The states are listed, along with some of the factors that led to the low rankings, with the worst listed last.

10. South Carolina

South Carolina received Ds across the board for its health care, quality of life, employment and education and wellness.

9. Arizona

Although often seen as a retirement destination, Arizona failed in its health-care costs and availability and received only a D for the employment and education level of its residents. 

8. Hawaii

Hawaii’s biggest failings for potential retirees are finances and high housing costs.

7. Alaska

Alaska failed in only one category, the cost of housing, but it also received a D in finances, including taxes.

6. Nevada

Health-care costs and availability and quality of life both received failing grades in Nevada.

5. Arkansas

Arkansas received failing grades for the employment and education levels of its residents and for their wellness levels.

4. California

The only category in which California failed was finances, but it got Ds for the costs and availability of both health care and housing.

3. New Mexico

Health-care costs and availability, quality of life and employment and education levels in New Mexico all received failing grades.

2. New Jersey

New Jersey earned the second worst ranking by failing in finances, including the status of the state pension funds, housing costs and quality of life.

1. New York

New York received failing scores for its finances, including tax rates, its housing costs and its quality of life, including crime rate.