Place · State guides

State retirement guides

Click a state, choose a region, or browse the list — taxes, healthcare, cost of living, and Medicaid explained plainly for all 50 states.

Real state geography — Alaska and Hawaii shown as insets. Hover a state to preview its region; click to filter. Small states are easier to select via the region chips above or the list on the right.

Select a region above or on the map to see individual states here.

Select a region to see what makes it distinct for retirement.

Showing: All regions

Northeast 11 states
Southeast 12 states
Midwest 12 states
Southwest 4 states
Mountain West 6 states
Pacific 5 states

Published state guides

AL~12 min

Retiring in Alabama: A State Guide for 2026

Alabama has the country's lowest property taxes and UAB Health depth. Birmingham, Huntsville, Gulf Coast — taxes, healthcare, Medicaid watch-outs.

ND~12 min

Retiring in North Dakota: A State Guide for 2026

North Dakota's income tax tops out at 2.5% with Social Security exempt under $50K/$100K. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot — four regions.

AZ~10 min

Retiring in Arizona: A State Guide for 2026

Arizona: 2.5% flat income tax (lowest of any income-tax state), SS exempt, Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale — but Phoenix summer heat is a real mortality risk.

AR~7 min

Retiring in Arkansas: A State Guide for 2026

Arkansas exempts Social Security, cut its top income tax to 4.4%, and has Hot Springs Village — one of the largest gated communities in the country.

CA~5 min

Retiring in California: A State Guide for 2026

California's Prop 19 lets homeowners 55+ transfer their property tax base anywhere in the state. Palm Springs, San Diego, and Sacramento compared.

CO~10 min

Retiring in Colorado: A State Guide for 2026

Colorado exempted Social Security in 2026 and removed the pension deduction cap, with UCHealth depth on the Front Range. Denver to the Western Slope.

DE~8 min

Retiring in Delaware: A State Guide for 2026

Delaware has no sales tax and exempts most retirement income. Within an hour of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Wilmington, Sussex coast, and Dover compared.

FL~11 min

Retiring in Florida: A State Guide for 2026

Florida isn't one destination. Region-by-region look at taxes, healthcare, insurance, and Medicaid — with the honest watch-outs most Florida coverage skips.

GA~19 min

Retiring in Georgia: A State Guide for 2026

Georgia's $65,000 retirement income exclusion effectively eliminates income tax for most retirees. Region guide: Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, and the coast.

HI~5 min

Retiring in Hawaii: A State Guide for 2026

Hawaii has no state income tax and county-level senior property tax exemptions. Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island — with honest healthcare tradeoffs.

ID~8 min

Retiring in Idaho: A State Guide for 2026

Idaho fully exempts Social Security. The Treasure Valley, Coeur d'Alene, and Twin Falls — costs, healthcare, and honest rural-coverage watch-outs.

IL~5 min

Retiring in Illinois: A State Guide for 2026

Illinois exempts Social Security and most pensions. Chicago suburbs and downstate Champaign — with Medicaid and property tax context.

IN~8 min

Retiring in Indiana: A State Guide for 2026

Indiana's 3.05% flat income tax exempts Social Security. Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Bloomington — three retirement regions compared.

IA~7 min

Retiring in Iowa: A State Guide for 2026

Iowa exempts Social Security and is phasing out retirement income taxes by 2026. Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities — three regions.

KS~7 min

Retiring in Kansas: A State Guide for 2026

Kansas exempts Social Security for income under $75,000. Johnson County, Wichita, and Lawrence — three regions with strong healthcare comparisons.

KY~8 min

Retiring in Kentucky: A State Guide for 2026

Kentucky exempts Social Security and has a 4.5% flat income tax. UK HealthCare in Lexington and Norton Healthcare in Louisville — four regions compared.

LA~8 min

Retiring in Louisiana: A State Guide for 2026

Louisiana's homestead exemption removes $75,000 of home value from property taxes. New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport — three regions compared.

MD~8 min

Retiring in Maryland: A State Guide for 2026

Maryland offers a pension exclusion and is within an hour of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Baltimore metro, DC suburbs, and the Eastern Shore compared.

MI~9 min

Retiring in Michigan: A State Guide for 2026

Michigan exempts Social Security and offers tiered pension deductions. Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City — three retirement regions compared.

MN~8 min

Retiring in Minnesota: A State Guide for 2026

Minnesota's seniors-only deduction shelters up to $5,850 of Social Security. Twin Cities, Rochester and Mayo Clinic, and northern Minnesota compared.

MS~7 min

Retiring in Mississippi: A State Guide for 2026

Mississippi taxes no retirement income — Social Security, pensions, and 401(k) are all exempt. Gulf Coast, Jackson, and North Mississippi compared.

MO~9 min

Retiring in Missouri: A State Guide for 2026

Missouri exempts Social Security and public pensions. Lake of the Ozarks, Springfield, Kansas City, and St. Louis — Midwest prices, strong healthcare.

MT~8 min

Retiring in Montana: A State Guide for 2026

Montana has no sales tax and declining income taxes. The 55+ ecosystem is limited and complex care requires real distance — Bozeman to Great Falls.

NE~6 min

Retiring in Nebraska: A State Guide for 2026

Nebraska is phasing out its Social Security tax by 2025. Omaha, Lincoln, and the Platte River corridor — with honest costs and healthcare access.

NV~10 min

Retiring in Nevada: A State Guide for 2026

Nevada taxes no retirement income. Henderson and Reno are the two retirement anchors — honest healthcare and summer heat tradeoffs between them.

NJ~5 min

Retiring in New Jersey: A State Guide for 2026

New Jersey's $150,000 pension exclusion and proximity to Philadelphia and NYC. Jersey Shore, South Jersey, and Ocean County — three regions compared.

NM~8 min

Retiring in New Mexico: A State Guide for 2026

New Mexico improved its retirement income tax in 2025. Three regions: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces — with honest crime and healthcare watch-outs.

NY~6 min

Retiring in New York: A State Guide for 2026

New York's Enhanced STAR saves $1,400–$2,500/year on school taxes for seniors 65+. Hudson Valley, Long Island, Buffalo, and the Finger Lakes compared.

NC~10 min

Retiring in North Carolina: A State Guide for 2026

North Carolina's income tax rate is declining to 2.49% by 2030, Duke and UNC anchor the Triangle. Mountain to coast — five regions.

OH~8 min

Retiring in Ohio: A State Guide for 2026

Ohio exempts Social Security and has a homestead property tax exemption for seniors 65+. Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton compared.

OK~7 min

Retiring in Oklahoma: A State Guide for 2026

Oklahoma exempts Social Security and pensions, with a Senior Property Tax freeze under $73,900 income. Oklahoma City and Tulsa — two regions compared.

OR~9 min

Retiring in Oregon: A State Guide for 2026

Oregon has no sales tax and OHSU anchors Portland — but it has the country's highest income tax rates. Bend, Medford, and Portland compared.

PA~9 min

Retiring in Pennsylvania: A State Guide for 2026

Pennsylvania exempts all retirement income from state tax: pensions, 401(k), IRA, and Social Security. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Central PA.

SC~11 min

Retiring in South Carolina: A State Guide for 2026

South Carolina exempts Social Security and offers a $15,000 per-person retirement deduction. Upstate to Lowcountry — taxes, healthcare, Medicaid.

SD~8 min

Retiring in South Dakota: A State Guide for 2026

South Dakota has no income tax and among the lowest property taxes in the US. Sioux Falls and Rapid City — two regions with honest healthcare tradeoffs.

TN~15 min

Retiring in Tennessee: A State Guide for 2026

Tennessee has no income tax and Vanderbilt anchors Nashville healthcare. Four regions from East Tennessee's Smokies corridor to the Nashville metro.

TX~11 min

Retiring in Texas: A State Guide for 2026

No income tax, Houston's medical infrastructure, and five very different retirement regions — Texas property taxes are among the highest in the US.

UT~9 min

Retiring in Utah: A State Guide for 2026

Utah's 4.65% flat income tax and $1,130,000 Medicaid home equity limit. St. George, Salt Lake Valley, and Provo — three regions compared.

VA~9 min

Retiring in Virginia: A State Guide for 2026

Virginia offers a $12,000 retirement income subtraction and strong healthcare systems. Northern Virginia to the Shenandoah Valley — five regions.

WA~8 min

Retiring in Washington: A State Guide for 2026

Washington has no income tax and UW Medicine in Seattle. Puget Sound, Bellingham, and Spokane — three regions, with honest costs and watch-outs.

WV~7 min

Retiring in West Virginia: A State Guide for 2026

West Virginia exempts Social Security and is phasing out retirement income taxes. Eastern Panhandle, Morgantown, and Charleston — three regions compared.

WI~8 min

Retiring in Wisconsin: A State Guide for 2026

Wisconsin taxes Social Security above income thresholds but has strong healthcare. Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and the Fox Cities — four regions.