California Ranks Among Worst States To Grow Old

California is the 35th best state in the country to grow old in, according to a new report by the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St. That’s a flat, middle of the road “C” for those who are doing the grade-math.

The rankings are based on an index comprising more than a dozen measures related to income, health, environment, education and access to amenities.

California fell between Michigan and Florida in the rankings, according to the report published Tuesday. Here’s the breakdown for our state:

• The Percent of population at least 65 years old: 13.9 percent - (6th lowest)
• The poverty rate among adults at least 65 years old: 10.2 percent (7th highest)
• Bachelor’s degree attainment among adults at least 65 years old: 31.3 percent (12th highest)
• Healthy life expectancy after 65: 14.7 years (16th highest)

The authors noted that while the best states span the country, the worst states were “almost exclusively in the South.” Here are the 10 worst states to grow old in, according to the report:

1. West Virginia
2. Mississippi
3. Arkansas
4. Louisiana
5. Kentucky
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Oklahoma
9. Texas
10. New Mexico

West Virginia ranked as the worst country in America to grow old in, something to consider when more than 50 million Americans are at least 65 years old. (And that number is expected to roughly double over the next 40 years.) West Virginia has the lowest share of older adults with a bachelor’s degree — 17.1 percent — and the third-lowest healthy life expectancy after 65 at just 11 years. It also has the third-highest share of older adults living in poverty at 10.2 percent.

Those looking to live their best life in the golden years ought to head to Vermont, ranked the No. 1 place to grow old. Vermont has the fourth-highest share of people at least 65 years old and the second-highest share of older adults with a bachelor’s degree. The New England state also boasts one of the best healthy life expectancies after 65 at 15.2 years.

Other great states to live in for older adults include Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Montana, Utah, Minnesota and Massachusetts.

Patch national staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.

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