If you’re looking for a place to kick back, put your feet up, and relax during retirement, we’ve got news for you: you’re going to want to say sayonara to New York. A 2025 survey from Retirement Living evaluated a number of metrics to determine the best and worst states for seniors to retire in, and–unfortunately not surprising to many–New York’s ranking is bleak.
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDC, the Tax Foundation, and other trusted institutions, Retirement Living scored each state across three key categories:
- Quality of life
- Affordability
- Economic strength
According to the data, New York was named the second worst state to retire in, just ahead of Hawaii.
New York’s low ranking reflects the harsh reality of retiring in one of America’s most expensive states. According to a study conducted by GOBankingRates this past July, New Yorkers need over $1.5 million to retire comfortably, lasting about 29 years.
The caveat: with a high senior poverty rate of 14.3%, retirees aren’t likely to have that large of a savings.
To add insult to injury, safety is another concern for New York retirees–the ranking notes that both violent and property crime rates exceed those in many other states. Category by category, New York ranked as follows:
- Affordability:46
- Economic Strength: 50
- Quality of Life: 24
The ranking writes:
For retirees with the means, New York offers rich cultural experiences and diverse living options, but for most, the financial tradeoffs are hard to ignore.
As for where you should actually be looking to retire? One of America’s fastest-growing retirement cities is less than an hour from NYC, and these two NY towns are among the cheapest places to retire in the U.S.
Best States to Retire 2025
1. Wyoming
2. West Virginia
3. Florida
4. Montana
5. Delaware
6. Maine
7. Pennsylvania
8. Mississippi
9. Idaho
10. Kentucky
Worst States to Retire 2025
1. Hawaii
2. New York
3. Massachusetts
4. New Jersey
5. California
6. Maryland
7. Connecticut
8. Texas
9. Vermont
10. Virginia
See the full ranking on Retirement Living’s website.