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No, I'll pass. I chose to retire in the worst state on the list. It's great, partly because it isn't going to get a flood of retiree wannabes looking for a low cost Disneyland!
I don't find these to be at all helpful or interesting.
One reason they are close to useless is the diversity within each State. In NY we have economically low cost areas, a number of major cities and of course NYC. These areas are all very different.
Exactly.
That "22% above national average" cost is wholly driven by Metro NYC, otherwise it would be at or below national average for the rest of the state.
In addition, all government pensions are not taxed by NYS, which includes FERS Supplement and TSP (401k) for federal retirees. My income tax burden in retirement is the same as a no income tax state.
I have also found that my homeowners insurance rate is less than half what I paid in Texas, and because of lesser home valuations in my area my property taxes are also less than half.
Weather is another issue, but at this stage in my life winters in NY are not a deal breaker, especially as I no longer have to drive to work daily. I can do without Texas summers (as I enjoy my coffee outdoors on a sunny 65 degree morning today).
States are too big and have too many different types of cities and towns to generalize. A list of the best and worst cities or metro areas is more valuable.
I really wonder...well, not really....how many outsiders go to Iowa to retire?
I will say that living in Iowa City was a wonderful period for me, of course I was 25yo in a university community But it does have all the advantages that university communities have: Ann Arbor, Madison, Austin, etc.... But the winters
I really wonder...well, not really....how many outsiders go to Iowa to retire?
I actually have a cousin who moved there just prior to retirement, and she and her family are still there, out on a farm near Ames. She loves it, despite the winters being on the rough side. She and her husband have lived all over the country (and visited many other countries). She was originally from Utah, near SLC. Nice lady.
Maryland being ranked worst is not such a surprise.
I agree traffic in MD is miserable (think NoVa is worse though) but if you are retired does it really matter? The majority of my family are native Marylanders (some traced back to the Ark and the Dove) and they have retired there for generations without too many issues. My mom lives fine on her own in MD as a retiree.
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But it does have all the advantages that university communities have: Ann Arbor, Madison, Austin, etc.... But the winters 
