Forget Florida’s huge bugs and Arizona’s mummifying air and California’s expensive tastes: Massachusetts is not only a great place to live, it’s a great place to retire. Massachusetts came in 7th in BankRate’s survey of top places in the United States to retire. And although we didn’t beat out our neighbors to the north—#1 New Hampshire and #3 Maine—we still have reason to be proud. BankRate rated the states according to cost of living, healthcare quality, crime rate, culture and social, weather, senior prevalence, and senior well-being. The top 10 are:
| Rank | State | Cost of living | Weather | Health care quality | Crime | Tax | Culture | Senior | Well-being |
| 1 | New Hampshire | 40 | 45 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 2 |
| 2 | Colorado | 33 | 20 | 7 | 26 | 16 | 9 | 46 | 3 |
| 3 | Maine | 38 | 44 | 1 | 2 | 35 | 19 | 2 | 11 |
| 4 | Iowa | 14 | 36 | 9 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 9 | 10 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 30 | 47 | 3 | 14 | 43 | 7 | 34 | 4 |
| 6 | Virginia | 31 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 23 | 14 | 42 | 29 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 45 | 29 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 3 | 24 | 9 |
| 8 | South Dakota | 26 | 40 | 18 | 20 | 3 | 34 | 20 | 15 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 24 | 42 | 2 | 16 | 46 | 29 | 22 | 6 |
| 10 | Idaho | 5 | 31 | 20 | 4 | 22 | 42 | 37 | 19 |
Why Retire in Massachusetts?
Here are 10 reasons to retire in Massachusetts:
You can reach everything in a couple of hours.
Live in a larger state, and it may take you 7 hours or more to travel to a ballgame featuring your favorite team (Go, Sox!), visit a museum, or take in an opera. We have it all in Boston, which is less than 3 hours away from any location in the state.
Boston has everything you want or need.
Boston may be the reason for our state’s high cost of living, but it’s also the reason BankRate listed it as 3rd in the nation for culture. It’s the only real metropolitan city in the northeast. No matter what you want to do, Boston has it.
Massachusetts has great health care.
BankRate rated Massachusetts 5th in the nation for quality of health care. Massachusetts had universal health care before any other state, and it’s still going strong. Before most other states, the state adopted payment systems designed to control costs while improving care. And it has some of the most comprehensive programs for older adults anywhere.
Enjoy the fall foliage.
The state has breathtaking expanses of fall foliage and numerous tours to take advantage of them.
Massachusetts has more history than you can shake a stick at.
From Faneuil Hall to Old Sturbridge Village to Salem, everywhere you go in Massachusetts is replete with history.
Natural attractions take your breath away.
Check out the beaches on Cape Cod during the summer, watch the whales at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, canoe down Chesterfield Gorge, watch tuckered-out folks descend Monument Mountain, or gambol down the Mohawk Trail. Massachusetts features a variety of natural wonders to enjoy.
Massachusetts residents are smart.
Massachusetts schools consistently rank among the highest in the world. Not to mention, Massachusetts hosts Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Amherst, Cambridge, and Wellesley. Why does that matter to someone who’s retiring? Wouldn’t you rather have neighbors and people running the state who are smart? When was the last time a Massachusetts politician made a statement that made you cringe?
Massachusetts has Wine and Cheese Trails.
The state has more than 29 apple, blueberry, cranberry, peach, and grape wineries, and one of the 5 trails probably visits each one.
Safety first in Massachusetts.
Weather-wise, Massachusetts is one of the safest states in the Union. There are no hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or any other dangerous environmental hazard.
Recreational marijuana is legal.
You may think that’s not of interest to you, but marijuana alleviates chronic pain. There’s also evidence it improves other health conditions. Massachusetts also mandates that Assisted Living communities meet stringent and comprehensive requirements for certification. At The Arbors Assisted Living Residential Communities, we believe in creating a stimulating environment that respects resident privacy and encourages independent living. We promote a lifestyle of health and wellness with programs for mental and physical wellness.