Best States For Older Americans: How Georgia Measures Up

When it comes to deciding where to live, many older Americans opt to live in a warmer place or closer to family. While personal preference may be the deciding factor for most, older Americans should keep in mind which states are objectively better suited for living out their golden years.

According to a new ranking by 24/7 Wall St., some states are better for older Americans to call home when it comes to factors such as income, health care, safe streets, reliable public transportation and more.

Georgia is among the worst states for older Americans, according to the ranking. Overall, your state ranked 35 out of all 50 states.

To determine each state’s place on the list, 24/7 Wall St. looked at which states have an advantage when it comes to the aforementioned factors such as health care and income.

For older residents, Georgia compares favorably to many other states in the South, but it still ranks poorly relative to national averages. The state ranks relatively poorly in measures of senior health, with a below-average life expectancy at 65.

It also has one of the highest shares of retirement-age residents who do not have a personal doctor or health care provider. The state has one of the smaller senior populations in the country relative to the general population — just 13.8% of residents are 65 or older.

24/7 Wall St. also determined how well Georgia might suit older Americans by taking into determining the following figures:

• Life expectancy at age 65: 83.5 years (tied – 13th lowest)
• 65 and older poverty rate: 10.2% (tied – 11th highest)
• 65 and older population with a disability: 34.0% (tied – 20th highest)
• Median income for 65 and older households: $42,781 (22nd lowest)
• Population 65 and older: 1.5 million (13.8% – 4th lowest)

Using data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of measures related to income, health, education, environment and access to public transportation in order to identify the best and worst states for older Americans.

Out of all states, Colorado ranked as the best state for older Americans. According to the ranking, the state has one of the lowest senior poverty rates and one of the smallest shares of 65-and-over residents with a disability, as well as the third lowest annual mortality rate for residents 65 and over.

Here are the top five best states for older Americans:

1. Colorado
2. Maryland
3. Hawaii
4. New Hampshire
5. Connecticut

On the other hand, several states were considered not good fits for older Americans, according to the ranking. At the bottom of the list is West Virginia, followed by Arkansas and Mississippi, respectively.

See more on 24/7 Wall St.’s methodology in determining the best states for older Americans.