This U.S. State Is One of the Best Places to Retire for Low Crime, Taxes, and an Affordable Cost of Living

There are a few key things to look for in a retirement destination. It has to be safe, affordable, and above all, beautiful. And there’s one Western state that delivers all that and more. 

In 2024, Wyoming was named the fifth-best spot for retirement in the nation in WalletHub’s Best and Worst States to Retire list, and in 2025, it moved up one spot to fourth, making it an even more enticing place to move to for your golden years. 

To reach this conclusion, the team at WalletHub compared all 50 states across three key categories: affordability, quality of life, and health care. The website explained that it measured those categories using 46 metrics, including the adjusted cost of living, the average annual cost of in-home and out of home adult health care, the share of the population over age 65. It also used a few fun metrics like the number of golf courses, museums, and theaters per capita, as well as the number of volunteer activities to ensure those in retirement can stay busy.

After looking at the data, the Equality State ranked No. 38 for health care, but No. 3 for quality of life and No. 1 for affordability, giving it a serious edge in the overall rankings. 

In Wyoming, retirees can easily make friends in their age group as well. According to the 2023 Healthy Aging Report, the 65 and older group was the fastest-growing age group from 2010 to 2021, now accounting for more than 16 percent of the state’s population. “The rapid growth among the state’s older population is noteworthy, and sound public policy going forward will take this factor into account,” the report added. 

What’s more, the state ranked No. 6 in the country lowest violent crime, according to U.S. News, and No. 7 for public safety.

Additionally, as WalletHub mentions, the state is also quite affordable. According to SoFi, the median monthly mortgage cost in the state is $1,691, while the median rent for a one-bedroom home is $739. The state also offers plenty of chances to get out and explore, including across its more than 100 hiking trails and stunning mountains like the Teton and Big Horn Ranges.

Plus, the tax perks. Social security income isn’t taxed in the state, and it’s one of just nine U.S. states with no state income tax at all. There are also no estate and inherited taxes, allowing seniors to enjoy their full retirement income tax-free.

Of course, there are a few spots that ranked even higher than Wyoming on the 2025 list, including Colorado at No. 3, Minnesota at No. 2, and, no surprise here, Florida at No. 1. 

“There’s a reason Florida is known as a retirement paradise—it ranks as the best state to retire due to its relatively low taxes for retired people, including no estate, inheritance, or income taxes,” WalletHub wrote in its findings. “Plus, Florida receives more funding per senior from the Older Americans Act than all but two other states. This funds things like transportation, homemaker assistance and nutrition programs for seniors.” 

See the full findings and where your state stands at wallethub.com.