If you have a taste for champagne on a fixed income, you’ll be retiring to the poor house in America’s most expensive states—not the high life you imagine, according to Zippia, a career resource website.
These states might not appear to be retirement budget busters, but appearances can be deceiving.
Zippia says that according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report, over half-a-million adults age 65 and older moved to a different state last year. However, not all states are a great place to retire. In fact, Zippia says that a lot of states are actually pretty dreadful places to retire if you can’t afford them, particularly in the Northeast, where five of the priciest states to retire are located.
To locate America’s most expensive retirement traps, Zippia ranked all 50 states based on several key factors: median house cost, using census data and the costs of home ownership. general cost of living and health-care costs.
Here, in ascending order, are the top 10 worst states to retire to in 2020 if you want to keep your money, according to the report:
10. Minnesota
The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” has the lowest average home cost of the top 10 states, making it a great investment for working families, but not so much for seniors. The median home cost is $211,800; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $111.62; and the annual cost of living is $52,115.
9. New Hampshire
Known for quaint New England towns and large expanses of wilderness, the Granite State will cost seniors who choose to live there. One-quarter of seniors (25.81%) spend over 30% of their income just to own their home. The median home cost is $252,800; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $48.67; and the cost of living is $55,103.
8. Connecticut
The Nutmeg State is a nice place to live if you can afford it, but not so nice if you want to retire there on a fixed income. Connecticut has the third-highest cost of living in the nation and high monthly home ownership costs. The median home cost is $272,700; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $71.06; and the cost of living is $59,502.
7. New Jersey
The Garden State is no retirement Garden of Eden. While New Jersey’s coastal location, proximity to New York City, and easy access to airports that fly direct to most of the world is tempting, the living isn't easy with sky-high monthly homeownership costs. The median home cost is $327,900; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $75.18; and the cost of living is $56,109.
6. Vermont
Clean mountain air and picturesque covered bridges do not make retiring to Vermont worth your time and money. More than one-quarter of seniors (27%) spend 30% or more of their hard-earned savings on home ownership expenses there. The median home cost is $223,700; the monthly cost of Medicare Advantage is $58.66; and the cost of living is $51,977.
5. Massachusetts
The Bay State is the most populous state in New England, with one of the highest costs of living in the nation. The median home cost is $386,800; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $85.56; and the cost of living is $59,560.
4. Washington
Washington State is a jewel of the Pacific Northwest, with scenic forests, hiking trails and plenty of outdoor activities. But it spends less per residence on Medicare than just about any other state in the nation. The median home cost is $311,700; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $84.50; and the cost of living is $51,271.
3. Oregon
Natural wonders abound in scenic Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest, but that natural beauty comes at a price many seniors can’t afford in areas such as housing and health care. The median home cost is $287,300; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $75.28; and the cost of living is $51,900.
2. Colorado
The Centennial State is a land of extremes, from arid deserts, to snow-covered mountaintops, to the fifth-highest home prices in the country. Colorado also spends less on Medicare per person than 40 other states. The median home cost is $313,600; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $89.52; and the cost of living is $53,792.
1. Hawaii
America’s 50th state is also the last place any senior should consider retiring on a fixed income. Hawaii has the highest cost of living out of all 50 states, as well as the highest housing costs. The median home cost is $587,700; the monthly Medicare Advantage cost is $96.40; and the cost of living is $60,700.
The full report can be viewed here.
