{"id":34905,"date":"2025-07-24T23:31:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T23:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/34905\/"},"modified":"2025-07-24T23:31:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T23:31:15","slug":"arizona-ranked-in-bottom-third-of-the-country-for-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/34905\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona ranked in bottom third of the country for retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 Could Arizona be losing its luster as a retirement destination? The state ranks 31st on Bankrate\u2019s<\/a> list for best states to retire.<\/p>\n

The study compared every state across eight categories. The Grand Canyon State received below-average marks for health care (33rd), neighborhood safety (32nd) and arts and entertainment (33rd).<\/p>\n

Arizona also ranked 48th in the miscellaneous category, which included areas like walkability and air pollution.<\/p>\n

However, the largest segment of survey respondents cited something different as their top factor when considering a place to retire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat it did worst in was affordability \u2014 37th out of 50,\u201d said Stephen Kates, a financial analyst at Bankrate. \u201cArizona has a cost-of-living index that\u2019s well above average, and the home insurance premiums\u2026are coming in right above average \u2014 but are certainly not low.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arizona\u2019s home insurance rates<\/a> increased by more than 70% from 2019 to 2024, which was the fourth highest in the country, according to Lending Tree<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Still, Kates noted that states as large as Arizona might not have a universal retirement experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you live in the state is going to potentially change your actual experience relative to our rankings,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at a state level. If you live in a rural area in Arizona, it\u2019s going to be very different than if you lived in an urban environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arizona did earn high scores for its weather (4th), number of similarly aged people (13th), and local taxes (15th).<\/p>\n

New Hampshire ranked as the top spot to retire, while Louisiana came in as the worst.<\/p>\n

We want to hear from you.<\/p>\n

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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