There’s a hard and simple truth: some states are simply better than others when it comes to retiring. You have to keep in mind things like the climate, the crime rate… and of course the rent. High rent can cripple a retiree’s budget if they’re not careful. Let’s take a look at the 35 states where rent is rising.
South Dakota
Many people move to South Dakota for the peace and quiet, but they can only afford to do so if they’re already rich. People on lower incomes might have trouble with rent in the big cities, but at the same time rural housing is limited and isolated.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a lot of good points, including beautiful scenery and good healthcare, but many people feel forced out of the state because of the high rent. And that’s not even the only problem: wages aren’t going up, either.
North Dakota
North Dakota is just as bad as its southern twin when it comes to rent. Admittedly unemployment is low, but rent seems to be ever-increasing in the big cities. Retirees are also turned off by the long, harsh winters and lack of things to do.
Indiana
Indiana has a lot of economic inequality. The rich will have a great time there, and the poor, to put it bluntly, won’t. Rent is constantly shooting up and some say the infrastructure is in shambles. Taxes are low, though, which is a plus.
Tennessee
People flock to Nashville because of its music culture and find themselves hugely disappointed when they get there. It’s a great place to visit, of course, but actually living there is difficult. The rent is just too high. And other places in the state are much the same way.
Idaho
Idaho has a low crime rate, a growing economy, and lots of great outdoor scenery. So lots of people want to live in Idaho and that’s the problem… so many people have moved to the state that rent prices have gone up.
Montana
Montana is a remote-living type of state with impressive natural beauty and lots of opportunities to live an outdoor lifestyle. Unfortunately, this comes with a high price tag. Rent has shot up in the state, causing some retirees to cut their losses and leave.
Maine
People love Maine for its charm and beauty. It’s also considered a very safe area with a low crime rate. However, retirees pay high prices for all of this, and they also suffer if they no longer drive, because public transport in the area is not very good.
Delaware
To be fair to Delaware, it does have low taxes, and people flock there to take advantage of that. But on the flip side, the rent is high. If you have the money to pay high rents every month, you’ll probably enjoy the state a lot… but many do not.
Vermont
Bad news if you’re a retiree looking to re-enter the workforce in Vermont, because the job market is very bad. And in addition to that, rent is high. Some people stay in Vermont anyway, though, because they like the tight-knit retirement communities there.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire ranks high in many aspects. There’s no income or sales tax, the crime rate is low, and there’s a lot of beautiful scenery. But unfortunately, rents are high and rising all the time. If you have little money coming in, it’s one to avoid.
Minnesota
Minnesota has a high quality of life for people who can afford to live there, but many can’t. Property taxes, heating costs, and high rent cripple some people financially. Unfortunately, this might be a state to cross off your list of places to retire to.
South Carolina
South Carolina is the place to be if you’re looking for Southern charm, but all the good things about the state come with a high price tag. Rent is skyrocketing in the cities, and in addition to that the healthcare options aren’t always great.
Pennsylvania
People love Pennsylvania because of its rich history, but some retirees find it simply too expensive. Property taxes and rent are both high, and it’s thought that the infrastructure is aging as well. You might have better luck in the rural areas rather than the cities, but not by much.
North Carolina
Rents in the cities are rising and making retirees leave fast. Although the state has a lot to recommend it, such as a mild climate and close-knit communities, it’s also considered to have great inequality between rich and poor. Gentrification is a big issue.
Georgia
Georgia is another state where the rich do well and the poor get forced out. People move there because of the growing economy, but find that rent is much too high in the big cities. Some folks do better out in the rural areas, though.
Utah
Utah has a strong job market which attracts lots of people, but the rents are sky-high, much too high for retirees on little income. Salt Lake City is especially bad for this. The area also has poor air quality, which is very bad for elderly people.
Rhode Island
The smallest state also has some of the highest rents. Though many people enjoy the communities that have sprung up in Rhode Island, they can’t deny that they’re paying a lot of money for housing that is sometimes of poor quality.
Illinois
Illinois is home to Chicago, a city that everyone wants to visit… but actually living there may be more expensive and difficult than you think. The rent in Chicago is sky-high, but that’s not the only problem: there are concerns about the high crime rate.
Connecticut
Generally, people report a good quality of life in Connecticut. But the issue is always the same: the rich have it and the poor do not. Heating costs shoot up in winter, property taxes are high, and the rent is as much as $1,941 in some places.
Nevada
People move to Nevada for Las Vegas, the iconic city that offers no end of entertainment options for young and old alike. But behind the bright lights there’s skyrocketing rental prices that drive plenty of people away. And the heat is also often a concern for the elderly.
Virginia
Virginia is beautiful, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s also expensive. Admittedly the wages are quite high, but the rents are as well. Many a retiree has moved to Virginia only to be disappointed at how much money they’re shelling out every month.
Arizona
If you like the desert environment, Arizona is the place to be. Many retirees flock to the place… but plenty of them find themselves disappointed, because rent is rising higher and higher. It’s thought that some people pay as much as $2,070 in monthly rent.
Alaska
Alaska is the polar opposite of Arizona climate-wise, but it comes with a lot of the same problems. Despite the natural beauty of the area, people are being turned away because of the high rents. And the long dark winters are also a problem for many.
Maryland
Rent is high in the suburbs of Maryland, but that’s not the only problem. The taxes are high, the traffic is bad, and the summers are too hot for some people. On the plus side, though, healthcare in the area is considered pretty good.
Florida
A lot of people choose to retire to Florida, and to be fair it’s not hard to see why. It’s warm, there are already retirement communities there, and there’s a never-ending parade of things to do. However, renting costs are high, and some people choose to leave as a result of that.
Colorado
People move to Colorado for the beautiful scenery, but then find themselves crippled by the high rent prices. And the trouble is, a lot of people are doing this, putting strain on the state’s infrastructure. All in all, it’s best to avoid Colorado if you’re looking to retire.
Texas
Texas has a reputation for being one of the poorer states to live in when it comes to getting bang for your buck. Rents are high in the big cities, the infrastructure is collapsing, and the heat can be downright dangerous for older people.
Oregon
People love Oregon for its beauty and progressiveness, but it has problems too. Rent is high and so is the cost of living. Unfortunately, this has led to a growing homelessness issue, and no-one seems to be doing much about it.
Washington
Washington has been successful due to the tech industry, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a cheap or even good place to live. Rents are high, especially in Seattle, and it’s thought some people are paying up to $2,295 a month for what’s sometimes not even very good housing.
New Jersey
New Jersey is attractive to many because of its good schools, its links to New York City, and its diversity. However, there are many cons to the area as well, and one of these is the high rent prices. Add that to high property taxes and high cost of living, and it’s a no-go.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts does have a lot of attractive things about it. Healthcare is good, education is good, and there are a lot of jobs in tech. But at the same time, it’s so expensive. Some people pay as much as $2,461 per month in rent.
New York
New York is not considered a good place to retire. It’s a vast, sprawling urban jungle with little in the way of peace and quiet. Crime is high, and there are crowds of tourists everywhere you look. And rent is incredibly expensive – it’s thought to be around $2,335 per month for some people.
Hawaii
Hawaii looks good on paper, but the reality is more sobering. Overtourism is ruining some parts of the island, and job opportunities are limited. And rents are among the highest in the whole United States. Despite the warmth and the beautiful beaches, it’s not a good idea to retire to Hawaii.
California
California is home to Hollywood, the land of glitz and glamor. But the whole city is divided into the haves and the have-nots. Rent is incredibly high, as much as $2,803 in some place, and as if that wasn’t enough taxes are very high as well.
