How we rank the states
Every state is given a rank from 1 (best) to 50 in six areas. Two of them are calculated directly from numbers. The other four are the editor's own composite rankings. This page explains each, so you can decide how much weight to give them.
Ranks calculated directly from the data
- Public safety: states are ordered by overall reported crime rate (violent plus property crimes per 100,000 residents). The lowest rate is rank 1.
- Cost of living: states are ordered by an overall cost-of-living index, where 100 equals the U.S. average. The lowest index is rank 1. The component indexes (housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare and transportation) are shown on each state page.
These two ranks are re-checked against the underlying numbers every time the site is built, so they cannot drift out of step with the data.
Composite rankings
The overall retirement, quality of life, healthcare and tax burden ranks are the editor's composites. Each one is a weighted average of rankings from several published sources, converted to a single 1–50 order. The weights are the editor's judgment about how reliable and relevant each source is.
The individual source rankings and their weights are still being documented and will be listed here.
How current is the data?
Most of the figures on the state pages (tax rates, crime rates and cost-of-living indexes) date from 2023–2024. Some have since been corrected or updated, including the state income tax rates for Delaware, Montana and New Hampshire and which states tax Social Security benefits (updated November 2026). We are working through the rest. Each state page links back here.
What the rankings cannot tell you
- A composite ranking reflects judgment. A different set of sources or weights would produce a different order.
- A rank hides trade-offs. A state can rank well overall and still be a poor fit for you: for example, a low-tax state with high housing costs, or a safe state far from good healthcare.
- Statewide numbers hide big differences between towns and regions.
- Tax and cost figures change every year. Always confirm current figures with the state or an official source.
That is why the Find a State tool lets you filter and sort on the individual numbers instead of relying on a single rank.
Best2Retire is for general information and is not financial advice. See the full disclaimer and our editorial policy.