Florida Is The #1 State To Retire In The USA
It’s no surprise that when you think about retirement, it’s usually somewhere warm. Every year millions of people close up shop and start to cash in on their life savings during retirement, but where are they going? WalletHub recently released the best states to retire in 2024 and the results are no shocker. Florida is #1 in the best states to retire in the entire country.
There’s a lot of reasons to love the Sunshine State. Great weather year round, no state income tax, and world class beaches are just a couple reasons why we love the state of Florida. We might be experiencing a sense of over crowdedness down here, but that isn’t stopping anyone from making the move.
How did WalletHub determine these rankings?
WalletHub analyzed all 50 states across three different key dimensions. Affordability, Quality of Life, and Health Care were the three key indicators used to determine the list of the best states to retire in 2024.
After determining the key indicators, WalletHub analyzed the three dimensions using 46 metrics with different weights. Adjusted cost of living, retired taxpayer-friendliness, risk of social isolation, and bingo halls per capita and more. These metrics were graded on a 100 point scale. 100 represented the most favorable conditions for retirement while 0 was the most unfavorable.
WalletHub used the weighted score of each state to determine their rankings.
The Best States To Retire In 2024:
Florida comes in at the #1 best state to retire in 2024 in the USA. Florida score a 4 in affordability, 1 in quality of life and an overall score of 62.19. Colorado comes in at the #2 spot. They rank 14 in affordability, 3 in health care, and an overall score of 61.00. Virginia comes in at the #3 spot. Virginia ranks 11 in affordability, 11 in health care, and an overall score of 60.85.
WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said, “Florida is the best state for retirees in part due to its lack of estate or inheritance taxes and its low cost for adult day health care and homemaker services. Florida provides a great natural environment for retirees, with the second-most shoreline miles of any state, and it ranks among the top states for adult volunteer activities, golf courses, country clubs, and theater companies.”
Now, if you’re looking to move to Florida in retirement, you may want to consider more of the recent trends. Florida is getting more crowded by he day and the cost of living is on the rise. Money doesn’t go as far as it used to down here. Home prices are skyrocketing and construction projects can’t keep up with the busy roads. In Pinellas County alone, there were 2 cities that have some of the fastest growing home prices in the state.
For more information and to see the full list of the best states to retire in 2024, click here.
Realistic Advice For Moving To Tampa
Pack Some Patience
This is slightly a joke but also kind of serious because it really does take an hour to get anywhere in Tampa. If you plan on moving to Tampa be sure to bring some patience. Trust us, you’ll need it for driving on 275 or across the Howard Frankland during rush-hour (or any time of day really).
Get Your Insurance FAST
One of the biggest cons of moving to Florida/Tampa is the insurance rates. You have 10 days to title and register your car, boats, mobile home, etc. You’ll have 30 days to obtain a Florida driver license. If you don’t, you could see a hefty $500 fine. It’s also worth noting the cost of car insurance is 30% higher than the national average.
Also since Florida is constantly threatened by major hurricanes, expect to pay A LOT for home/flood insurance.
Learn Our Driving Habits
It’s something that even locals are guilty of doing. If you want to fit right in with the rest of Tampa, be sure to never use your blinker and let other drivers know your next move. Also, instead of making a u-turn, it’s Florida policy to cut over 3 lanes of traffic to correct your mistake. (For legal reasons, this is a joke).
If you go anything under the speed limit in the left lane, be prepared to be met with a lot of middle fingers from Tampa locals.
Don't Brag About Your Hometown
Seriously, you made the move. Now you’re a Floridian. We don’t care “how you did it in New York”. If you liked it so much, you could’ve stayed. Related note: Once you make the transfer to Tampa, leave behind your old team sports gear. You’re a Bucs/Rays/Lightning fan now.
Sunscreen, Bug Spray, and Allergy Medication Are Your New Best Friends
One thing you may not have realized in Florida is the bugs are INTENSE. Mosquitoes, fire ants, and palmetto bugs are extremely common. You also might want to get used to wearing sunscreen daily and have some allergy medication on hand. We have plants that bloom year-round which causes a lot of issues for people with bad allergies. Plus the ocean breeze can move pollen for miles.
Learn To Wait Out The Rain
If you’ve visited on vacation you probably experienced this. It’s a beautiful sunny day until around 4pm when we get our daily showers. If you’re at an amusement park like Busch Gardens, don’t worry about gathering your things and leaving (unless otherwise stated by the park). Majority of the time, you can wait out the storm in 30-60 minutes.
Do A Trial Run
Before making the move to Tampa, maybe consider doing a trial run during our “worst” months. It’s the hottest in July/August, hurricanes really pick up in September, traffic is TERRIBLE during spring break. If you plan a 2-3 week visit during any of these months, you’ll get a real taste of what it’s like living in Tampa.
