10 worst states in which to retire

[Jim Franklin]

Based on such catagories as climate, cost of living, property taxes, crime rates economy and life expectancy.

1. Michigan, below average in all categories

2. Pennsylvania, low life expectancy and poor economy

3. Alaska, harsh climate and cost of living

4. Illinois, high property tax and unemployment

5. Massachusetts, one of the most expensive

6. tie Ohio, particularly low life expectancy

6. tie New York, highest property tax in the nation and cost of living

8. Maine, harsh climate, low life expectancy

9. Maryland, high property tax, and cost of living

10. Rhode Island, high cost of living and taxes

Nine of ten eastern states beyond the Mississippi and Alaska

Ten best states in which to retire

1. Hawaii, great climate but very spendy cost of living

2. Idaho, seasonal climate with low cost of living and low crime rate,

3. Utah, Economic factors but IMHO can feel like a foreigner amongst the Mormons.

4. Arizona, great climate but some areas of high crime

5. Virginia, low crime rate, good life expectancy

6. Colorado, has its attraction but IMHO don't go to midnight movies.

7 tie, Florida, great climate outside of hurrican season, high crime rate

7 tie, New Mexico, great climate but high crime rate

9. South Dakota, harsh climate, low crime rate

10 tie, California, losing its former attractiveness due to high taxes and poorly run state government.

10. tie, Texas, climate is ok for some but has a high crime rat

Mostly Western states except Virginia and Florida, Texas? So taking all things into consideration unless you have the funds to afford Hawai'i, Idaho is the winner and that's where I am retired. It is surprising how many come from other states particularly California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado to retire in Idaho because of the much lower cost of living.

[Susan Unger]

My parents wouldn't mind retiring in Hawai'i

I could accept VA - nice state.

Mom's cousin retired to Idaho and he seems content.

[Lucas Finch]

6. Colorado, has its attraction but don't go to midnight movies.

Too soon!

(Actually, I don't care. I just like saying, "Too soon!")

[Gina Stevenson]

Knew it was the wrong thing to do (returning to Michigan) when I came here ... but still stuck here, not sure how I'd survive while doing the waiting-list thing in another (warmer) state!

Top of the list ... pretty bad, huh?

[Doug Ward]

All of these are so subjective. For instance, I would rank Arizona as the worst climate. Who wants that heat. I would rather have it be 15 than 100 every day and twice on Sunday. Michigan has a great climate in the summer and fall, and beautiful winters.

[Jim Chabot]

All of these are so subjective. For instance, I would rank Arizona as the worst climate. Who wants that heat. I would rather have it be 15 than 100 every day and twice on Sunday. Michigan has a great climate in the summer and fall, and beautiful winters.

You can say that again! They say that Maine has a harsh climate? What a bunch of rubbish, it hardly ever gets uncomfortably warm there. I don't even have an air conditioner up there.

[Gina Stevenson]

All of these are so subjective. For instance, I would rank Arizona as the worst climate. Who wants that heat. I would rather have it be 15 than 100 every day and twice on Sunday. Michigan has a great climate in the summer and fall, and beautiful winters.

Doug, you & I could apparently never agree on the definition of "beautiful(?!?!?) winters"!!!

It was AZ that had the "beautiful winters.".

[Charlene Clevenger]

My parents chose Idaho because 1) my sisters were there, after attending NNU, and 2) the humidity is low. High humidity bothers my Dad's arthritis. Bonus: There are a lot of Nazarenes around Nampa. They've run into people they knew on the NorCal District more than 50 years ago.

[Susan Unger]

You can say that again! They say that Maine has a harsh climate? What a bunch of rubbish, it hardly ever gets uncomfortably warm there. I don't even have an air conditioner up there.

Exactly!!!!

[Gina Stevenson]

Jim, I don't think my post that you classified as "funny" was funny at all ... it won't be funny when I'm sitting here shivering this winter! Ugh!

[Jim Franklin]

Perhaps we could instead of "Come let us reason together" to "Come let us huddle together." We could sit in our rocking chairs and reminisce. This is the ressident Geographer's attempt at getting NazNetters more interested into what Geographical surveyors like to research and undoubtedly come with someone's own bias. However, as I say there are alot of retirees moving to Idaho. I used to meet them in the JCPenney store asking people whether they were natives or immigrants to our great state. Most of the them would whisper "California" and then go on to tell me that they had sold their house there for $500K-900K or more and came here to get an equal house for $250K here leaving them a good nest egg to live on.