Planning on retirement?

By Phil Edwards | Jun 27, 2012

Today AARP.org published the top ten worst states to retire in, out of all fifty states. The criteria looked at included: cost of living, taxes, income, crime rate, and climate. Four New England states made the top ten.  In 7th place was Rhode Island. Fourth place was Connecticut. In 3rd was Massachusetts. And!!, sitting on top of the heap as the worse state to retire in was Maine.

Comments (6)
Posted by: Robert J. Williams | Jul 04, 2012 08:18

Rank ordering with the criteria used is highly subjective.  maine cannot control climate and that was one of the top rated measures. for me, living in "The Best State"texas with its heat and humidity makes the choice personal not a something  everyone would agree is the top consideration. Many from the south flee north in the non winter months. . Maine did well in  two categories and if one cares about personal safety, then we ore first. If the weightings of the rankings were changed the results would be different.

No question it costs more to live here but if one has the means to choose where to live it becomes a personal choice. We seem to do well since many choose to live here. The idea we are the worst in the country is foolish and it makes Maine sound like a third world country. Below is the text from the report.

No. 1: Maine

Why it's the worst state for retirement: Maine's low ranking was a result of having bottom-five scores in the two most heavily weighted categories, economics and climate.

Economic factors: Maine got the fifth-lowest score for economics, with its high cost of living and tax burden as the primary culprits.

Climate: Maine's climate ranked third-worst in the nation.

Life expectancy: At 77.6 years, Maine's life expectancy is about average.

Crime: If personal security is a high priority, you may want to reconsider Maine. Its violent crime rate is the lowest in the nation, and its property crime rate is below average as well.



Posted by: Phil Edwards | Jun 30, 2012 08:14

Well, I did enjoy the Maine falls. Hunting up north with frat brothers from college. Deer hunting around here. A moose hunt. Happiness is a warm gut pile.



Posted by: Richard McKusic, Sr. | Jun 30, 2012 05:41

Am staying here to vote in November. TRUE Mainers are CAN DO thrivers; not just survivors. We have always known how to tighten up our belts, our homes and our wallets through the lean times; because there have been many. When the fishing industry was our mainstay many families struggled to make it yet have seen kids who grew up in that era become great citizens. Think it was the LOVE that makes the difference; both of family and community; that brings us through.

 



Posted by: Ronald Horvath | Jun 29, 2012 20:32

I suppose it's the price we pay for life the way it should be.



Posted by: Phil Edwards | Jun 28, 2012 07:47

Ron, you seem proud and accepting of those numbers.



Posted by: Ronald Horvath | Jun 27, 2012 18:27

Maine isn't for sissies, Phil.



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