Florida Remains a Top State for Retirees
Florida continues to attract retirees with tax savings and lifestyle benefits, even as affordability challenges shape retirement decisions.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With an ever-changing economy and real estate market, where should retirees go to sit back and relax? The Sunshine State is still among top options.
According to a CareScout study, Florida made the list as the seventh best state in the nation to retire. This year, Florida was able to jump a whopping 11 spots, after ranking #18 in the 2025 report.
The state currently boasts a 21.8% of residents aged 65 and older, ranking fourth in the nation just behind Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia.
The figure represents a national trend as well: an aging population. Throughout the 2010s, the population of Americans ages 65 and older grew faster than it had since the 1880s. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 18% of the U.S. population fits into the age bracket.
At the same time, mature citizens are living longer. On average, individuals can expect to live until they're about 85 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not only does this indicate our medical and societal progress, but also the growing need for individuals to plan ahead for retirement and old age.
While trying to plan for their futures, citizens also face a challenge: financial trouble. With inflation and rising living costs being just some of the many economic factors causing Americans financial stress, a recent Investopedia analysis found that nearly one-third of retirees have to carefully budget for essentials like groceries and medical care just to stay afloat.
Other Americans are delaying their retirement, opting to work into their 70s because they cannot afford to stop working, a Pew Research study found.
With these factors in mind, adult planners and retirees are choosing their landing spots very carefully to ensure they can stay financially afloat.
The state of Wyoming has proved to be an enticing spot for many. After making the top three last year, Wyoming took its first-place spot in this year's ranking. The state ranks high due to its lack of personal income tax, as well as the lowest rate of multiple chronic conditions among Medicare beneficiaries in the nation.
On the flip side, New Jersey also took a top spot: on the list of worst states to retire. The ranking mostly comes from economic factors, including its high cost of living and high personal income tax rate.
With a cozy, warm annual temperature (72.1°) and 0% personal income tax, Florida remains a solid top choice in the nation.
© Copyright 2026 IslanderNews.com