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I would think Florida would be bad state to retire in because of cost of living so high like property taxes and insurance.
Think Florida is the ideal spot to retire? There are far better, according to Bankrate. The Sunshine State came in only at the No. 17 spot on Bankrate's list of the best states for retirees, based on cost of living, quality of health care, crime, weather, and other factors. Unfortunately for sun worshippers, the states that came out on top tend to be a bit chilly.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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The problem with such an article is that any state will have a wide variety of places to live with great variety of crime rates, cost of living, quality of health care, and weather. We are neither among the best or worst, but in our state we have places with little or no crime. Our city for example has a chance of being a victim of crime one in 3,732, while 32 miles away another city is one in 133. We get 66 inches of rain, Seattle gets 44", Forks gets 121", Sequim gets 16". The average home price in our city is $845,000, but in another city 4o miles away only $275,000, and if you go even farther out in the state it's as low as $42,000.
Every time I read these stories of the best or the worst states for retirees, the list they come up with are completely different. It makes me start to think that they just make this stuff up.
Every time I read these stories of the best or the worst states for retirees, the list they come up with are completely different. It makes me start to think that they just make this stuff up.
It's all driven by the 5 or 6 things they use to identify best/worst. Typically tax rates on SS and pensions and the number of hospitals or cost of health care for geriatric services are two factors that are given heavy weight, but things like outdoor activities, strength of economy, life span of seniors, ease of access to travel (airports, etc.) are an after thought or may not be considered at all.
The reality is, like the debate over when you should take SS (62, 65, FRA, 70), the needs, desires, goals, health, and interests of the individual retiree will be what determines their best state to retire in, and then they vote with their feet...
Those lists generally tell more about the criteria of the list maker than about the places listed. Number one on my list of criteria is that I must be able to look out the window and see palm trees. None of the "best" states qualify. I have lived in Florida for a total of 30 years because it suits me big time. I have traveled in 48 states and will not be moving again.
Since these people don't know my priorities, their overall conclusions don't apply to me.
Freezing my butt off in Minnesota during retirement is, as they say, a non-starter.
Several people on here have quite good retirements in "retirement hell" states, because they adapt properly to the environment.
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