Ohio, Indiana and Missouri top the list of the best states to retire in 2026, while Alaska, New York and California rank among the worst, according to Western & Southern Financial Group’s annual analysis of retirement conditions across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Western & Southern evaluated states across five equally weighted categories: affordability, wellness, crime, weather and culture. Each category was scored on a 100-point scale and combined into a composite retirement score. The methodology draws on publicly available data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, FBI and NOAA.
The 10 best states for retirement:
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Kansas
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Maryland
- Georgia
Midwestern states dominate the top of the list, driven by strong affordability scores and relatively low cost of living. Ohio earned the top spot with high marks across affordability and wellness, while Indiana and Missouri ranked closely behind on similar strengths.
The 10 worst states for retirement:
- Hawaii
- New Hampshire
- West Virginia
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- California
- New York
- Alaska
Alaska ranked last overall, weighed down by extreme weather scores and the highest cost of living in the country. New York and California ranked 50th and 49th, respectively, driven by low affordability scores that offset their cultural and healthcare access advantages. New England states including Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire clustered near the bottom largely on cost.
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