This Western State Was Just Named the Best Place to Retire

It’s one thing to imagine your golden years surrounded by open skies and expansive mountains– it’s another to discover the data actually backs it up. Wyoming officially topped all other states as the best place to retire, according to WalletHub’s 2026 Best and Worst States to Retire Report.  

WalletHub’s analysts compared all 50 states across 46 key retirement metrics, including financial factors like cost of living, property taxes, and affordability of long-term care, as well as lifestyle and well-being factors such as healthcare quality, crime rates, and bingo halls per capita. Each factor was weighted to reflect what contributes to a comfortable and secure retirement.

Wyoming falls first in the cost of living category, making affordability one of the key factors of its winning ranking. More affordable than half the nation, the state also offers benefits to retired tax payers, such as no estate or inheritance tax. 

“Retirement is supposed to be relaxing, but it can also be incredibly stressful given that it typically puts people on a fixed income, which may not be enough for them to live comfortably,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo says.

Money isn’t the only attractive quality for retirees, Wyoming also boasts a high quality of life. Besides being home to breathtaking natural beauties such as Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks, it also has the 10th best elder abuse protection in the country. And– your neighbors may be more likely to say hello, with Wyoming having the 14th highest percentage of people who opt into doing favors for their neighbors.  

Two other Western states made the list: Colorado is number 4 with the third highest Health Care Rank and Alaska is number 6 falling into 5th place in the Health Care Rank and 13th place in the Affordability Rank. 

Take a look at the top 10 states to retire in below:

1. Wyoming
2. Florida
3. South Dakota
4. Colorado
5. Minnesota
6. Alaska
7. Delaware
8. Pennsylvania
9. New Hampshire
10. Iowa