It might come as a surprise to those with dreams of retiring to some sunny warm spot like Florida or Arizona, but the majority of the top five senior-friendly states are on the chilly side, a U.S. News & World Report study suggests.
Heading the list is Colorado, followed closely by Maine. While Hawaii does squeak in at third, Iowa and South Dakota round out the top five.
Colorado wins the top spot because of its high quality nursing homes and the number of adults 65 and older reporting at least “good” health, according to Deidre McPhillips, data editor at U.S. News & World Report.
McPhillips says many may have the wrong impression of states with chilly climates. “Many cold weather states offer an attractive lifestyle by means of being home to vast national parks and other outdoor activity spaces,” she said. “We include a factor that measures which states’ seniors are the most physically active.”
The rankings were based on 12 metrics, including life expectancy at age 65, health of seniors, primary care coverage and cost of care, according to data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Florida, a popular option among seniors came in 10th, while Arizona ranked 23rd.
Which state was dead last? Alaska. Too cold, maybe.