Bankrate has released its 2025 ranking of the best and worst states for retirement, evaluating all 50 states based on affordability, weather, healthcare, safety, and quality-of-life factors.
Here’s how New York stacks up.
New York’s retirement ranking: 30th Overall
New York ranked 30th out of 50 states, placing in the lower half of the list. While the state scored well in some categories, poor marks in others dragged down its overall position.
New York’s category rankings:
3rd in miscellaneous factors (including walkability, air and water quality, and community well-being)
While New York struggles with affordability and taxes, the state excels in arts, healthcare, and overall livability metrics like walkability and environmental quality.
“Retirees and pre-retirees should take notice of these rankings,” said Bankrate analyst Steven Kates. “We looked beyond the typical categories to focus on lifestyle and risk factors like public safety, healthcare access, and community well-being.”
Top states for retirement in 2025
According to Bankrate, the five best states to retire in this year are:
These states scored consistently well across affordability, safety, healthcare, and quality-of-life indicators.
Worst states for retirement
The five lowest-ranked states for retirement are:
Kates noted that retirees often focus too much on warm weather and low income taxes, saying, “Our survey results may be surprising to anyone planning a move based only on those factors.”
How the rankings were determined
Bankrate used data from a range of federal and nonprofit sources, including:
Environmental Protection Agency
Council for Community and Economic Research
Department of Health and Human Services
More information about Bankrate’s methodology is available on their official website.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Best and worst states to retire in 2025: See where New York ranks