All Retirement State Guides
Click any state for the full deep dive — tax guide, top communities, climate, and healthcare.
Quick Tax Comparison
Side-by-side tax snapshot for all 16 states. Click any state name for the full guide.
| State | Income Tax | SS Exempt? | Tax Grade | Median Home | COL Index |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about retiring in the US.
Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas have no state income tax whatsoever — making all your retirement income (Social Security, pensions, 401k withdrawals, IRA distributions) completely free from state taxation. If you have substantial retirement income, moving to any of these four states can save thousands per year.
Most of the top retirement states exempt Social Security income entirely: Florida, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Oregon, Delaware, New Mexico, and Idaho all do not tax Social Security at the state level. California also does not tax Social Security despite its high income tax rates on other income.
New Mexico and Tennessee consistently rank as the most affordable major retirement destinations. New Mexico has a cost of living index around 86 (14% below national average) with warm, sunny weather. Tennessee has no income tax AND affordable housing — a rare combination. Georgia is also very affordable, especially outside Atlanta.
Florida has by far the most 55+ and active adult communities — including The Villages (the largest in the US with 80,000+ residents), On Top of the World, Del Webb communities, and dozens more. Arizona is a strong second, home to Sun City (the original planned retirement community), PebbleCreek, and Sun City West.
Arizona leads for sunshine with 299 days per year, followed closely by Nevada (294 days) and California (284 days). Florida gets 266 sunny days but has more rain. For heat specifically, Arizona and Nevada have the hottest summers. Florida and South Carolina have the warmest average temperatures year-round because of their humidity and proximity to the Gulf Stream.
East Coast states (Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Maine) offer more established retirement community infrastructure, lower costs, and proximity to major cities. West Coast states (California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho) offer spectacular natural scenery and outdoor lifestyles but tend to be more expensive (except Nevada and Idaho). Most retirees find East Coast/Southeast states offer the best combination of value and community.