{"id":330664,"date":"2026-05-24T16:48:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T16:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/330664\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T16:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T16:48:13","slug":"is-ca-a-good-place-to-retire-where-state-ranks-in-us-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/330664\/","title":{"rendered":"Is CA a good place to retire? Where state ranks in US study"},"content":{"rendered":"

California offers everything<\/a> from beach towns to bustling cities.<\/p>\n

However, a recent report says it might not be the best state for folks looking to retire<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to a new study by retirement planning site Retirement Living, California ranks among the worst states for retirement because of its high cost of living<\/a> and tax burden.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith more Americans hitting retirement age than ever, that financial concern is entirely understandable,\u201d Retirement Living said in its November report. \u201cWhere you decide to spend your golden years<\/a> can have a major impact on both your financial security and daily happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

To determine the best \u2014 and worst \u2014 states for retirement<\/a>, the site analyzed factors including affordability, taxes, healthcare access and overall quality of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo retirees with the same savings can face very different outcomes depending on state taxes<\/a>, housing costs, healthcare access and everyday expenses,\u201d Retirement Living said. \u201cThe right location can stretch your income further and give you more peace of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why California is one of the worst states for retirement:<\/p>\n

BEHIND THE STORY MORE <\/a> Why we did this story <\/p>\n

Our community-driven series \u2014 How to California \u2014 is here to answer your questions<\/a> about state laws, history, culture, recreation and travel in the Golden State. <\/p>\n

McClatchy\u2019s service journalism team, focused on helping our readers navigate daily life, works in communities across the state, including San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Merced, Modesto and Sacramento. <\/p>\n

Ask us your questions \u2014 big and small \u2014 by emailing howtocalifornia@mcclatchy.com<\/a> or filling out a form here. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"While While California offers everything from beach towns to bustling cities, a recent report says it might not be the best state for folks looking to retire. Branimir76 Getty Images What is the worst state to retire in the US?<\/p>\n

According to Retirement Living, Hawaii was the worst state for retirement<\/a> in the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the year-round mild weather and natural beauty are undeniable, the cost of living is sky-high,\u201d the retirement site said.<\/p>\n

The state\u2019s high income tax rate \u2014 up to 11% \u2014 adds to the financial strain.<\/p>\n

Retirement Living estimates retirees would need about $1.7 million in savings to live comfortably in Hawaii.<\/p>\n

However, the Aloha State still stands out for its quality of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe state has a low violent crime rate, abundant green spaces and a peaceful, scenic environment,\u201d Retirement Living said. \u201cFor retirees with a generous budget, Hawaii can offer a truly tranquil place to enjoy their golden years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why is California ranked among the worst states for retirement?<\/p>\n

Retirement Living ranked California as the fifth-worst state<\/a> for retirement, with the nation\u2019s highest state income tax rate at 13.3%.<\/p>\n

The retirement site said retirees in California need an estimated $1.2 million in savings to enjoy their golden years.<\/p>\n

However, California remains appealing to many retirees because it comes with a retirement lifestyle<\/a> for just about everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cRetiring in California<\/a> also means access to diverse landscapes, a rich cultural scene and countless lifestyle options,\u201d Retirement Living said. \u201cFfor most retirees, those perks come with a price tag that\u2019s simply out of reach, forcing some to relocate in search of affordability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where are the best cities to retire in California?<\/p>\n

According to Retirement Living, here are the 10 best cities to retire in California<\/a>:<\/p>\n

ChicoDaly CityClovisVacavilleThousand OaksHuntington BeachRosevilleVisaliaSanta RosaVenturaWhat are the best states to retire in US?<\/p>\n

Retirement Living said these are the top five best states for retirement<\/a> in the country:<\/p>\n

WyomingWest VirginiaFloridaMontanaDelawareWhat are the worst states to retire in US?<\/p>\n

According to Retirement Living, these are the five worst states for retirement<\/a>:<\/p>\n

HawaiiNew YorkMassachusettsNew JerseyCalifornia \"While While California offers everything from beach towns to bustling cities, a recent report says it might not be the best state for folks looking to retire. rbkomar rbkomar How did Retirement Living come up with its findings?<\/p>\n

Retirement Living ranked all 50 states for retirees by analyzing each one on its quality of life, affordability and economic strength.<\/p>\n

Retirement Living used the most recent data available from government data and industry experts, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>, the U.S. Census Bureau<\/a> and Tax Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Have a question about life in California?<\/p>\n

How to California \u2014 a guide to help you live, work and enjoy life in the Golden State, is here to help.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll answer your questions \u2014 big and small \u2014 about state laws, history, culture, recreation and travel.<\/p>\n

Ask your questions in the form below (can\u2019t see it? Click here<\/a>) or email howtocalifornia@mcclatchy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Angela Rodriguez<\/a><\/p>\n

The Modesto Bee<\/p>\n

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor\u2019s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"California offers everything from beach towns to bustling cities. However, a recent report says it might not be…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":330665,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[121,123,122],"class_list":["post-330664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sacramento","tag-sacramento","tag-sacramento-headlines","tag-sacramento-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330664"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330664\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}