White sandy beaches and mild, sunny climates have long been features of the archetypal American retirement. But perhaps not anymore.
New Hampshire, a state known more for its skiing than its sunshine, was named the best U.S. state to retire in Bankrate’s 2025 rankings.
The financial services website ranked all 50 states based on 15 metrics, including affordability, health care and weather. The study used data from a variety of sources, including the Council for Community and Economic Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The metrics were weighed according to survey responses gathered by Bankrate in May 2025 on what Americans say are their top priorities for choosing a retirement destination. As a result, affordability, weather and neighborhood safety influenced overall scores the most.
Retirees won’t be flocking to New Hampshire for its climate, it seems, as it ranked 40th in the country for weather. But it earned the No. 1 spot for neighborhood safety and landed in the top 10 for health care, tax-friendliness and number of residents aged 65 or older.
Here are the 10 best states to retire in 2025, according to Bankrate:
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Wyoming
- Vermont
- Idaho
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Utah
- Virginia
New England may be hotter than the Sun Belt for retirees
Notably, three other New England states joined New Hampshire in the top 10 — Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island — despite the region’s relatively poor weather ratings and the high cost of living in certain states.
Also notable: No Sun Belt states, such as Florida, North Carolina or Arizona, made the cut. States in this region often attract retirees and place high in similar rankings due to their mild climates and tax-friendliness, as is the case in Florida.
“Our survey results may be shocking to any retirees who only considered warm weather and income taxes in their relocation plans,” Stephen Kates, a certified financial planner and Bankrate financial analyst, said in the report. “We incorporated 15 different data points into our analysis for a comprehensive perspective on the true costs of retirement across different states.”
While weather was the second-heaviest weighted category, neighborhood safety and health care were nearly as important in Bankrate’s rankings, pushing up overall scores for Northeastern states with less-favorable weather.
Preferable climates also tend to come at a high cost. California ranked No. 1 for weather, but No. 46 for affordability and No. 48 for local taxes, per Bankrate’s analysis, putting it at No. 43 overall. Although New Mexico earned the No. 2 spot for weather, it came in last for safety, putting its overall ranking at No. 42.
“There is more to being a resident than just the number of sunny days and taxes,” Kates said. “Categories like public safety, walkability, access to health care, air quality, recreational opportunities and more add up to the daily quality of life retirees want.”
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