Most people have an idea of when they will retire. Where to retire, however, may be a more complex decision to make.
Minnesota ranks as the 14th worst state for a physically and socially active retirement.
States that have relatively large 65 and older populations are likely to also have plenty of retirement homes and communities. In Minnesota, 16.3% of the population is 65 or older, the 18th lowest share in the U.S.
Plenty of hours of full sun during the day, nice weather year-round, and plenty of recreational sites such as national parks can help support an active lifestyle. There is an average of 3 hours 54 minutes of peak sunlight a day in Minnesota, the fifth lowest in the country. The National Parks Service manages a total of 5 parks, historic sites, and monuments in the state.
Volunteering can have a major impact on well-being, especially for older individuals. About 43.3% of Minnesota residents 65 and older volunteer several times a year. This is the second highest share in the U.S., and compares to 28.0% of older adults nationwide.
To rank the best and worst states for people who want to stay active, both physically and socially, in retirement, 24/7 Tempo used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We created an index of more than 20 measures of retirement-friendliness, representing four categories — environment, health-related factors, social support, and demographics. These are the best and worst states for retirees.
| Rank | State | Share of population 65+ | NPS sites | Average peak sun time per day | Adults who volunteer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 20.9% | 11 | 5 hours 10 minutes | 20.3% |
| 2 | Maine | 21.3% | 4 | 3 hours 46 minutes | 33.7% |
| 3 | Delaware | 19.5% | 1 | 4 hours 23 minutes | 32.0% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 20.5% | 6 | 4 hours 4 minutes | 31.0% |
| 5 | South Carolina | 18.2% | 7 | 4 hours 49 minutes | 31.9% |
| 6 | Hawaii | 19.0% | 8 | N/A | 20.5% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 17.4% | 6 | 4 hours 12 minutes | 36.8% |
| 8 | Montana | 19.5% | 8 | 4 hours 6 minutes | 35.1% |
| 9 | Iowa | 17.5% | 2 | 4 hours 5 minutes | 36.9% |
| 10 | Vermont | 20.1% | 2 | 3 hours 45 minutes | 33.6% |
| 11 | Alabama | 17.4% | 9 | 4 hours 43 minutes | 25.4% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 17.1% | 7 | 4 hours 31 minutes | 32.6% |
| 13 | Arkansas | 17.4% | 7 | 4 hours 35 minutes | 28.9% |
| 14 | Mississippi | 16.4% | 8 | 4 hours 44 minutes | 20.2% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 18.7% | 19 | 3 hours 56 minutes | 32.8% |
| 16 | Arizona | 18.0% | 22 | 5 hours 27 minutes | 25.0% |
| 17 | Kansas | 16.4% | 5 | 4 hours 37 minutes | 36.0% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 18.0% | 15 | 5 hours 20 minutes | 30.5% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 16.7% | 10 | 4 hours 35 minutes | 32.7% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 17.7% | 2 | 4 hours 11 minutes | 28.4% |
| 21 | Nebraska | 16.1% | 5 | 4 hours 23 minutes | 35.5% |
| 22 | New Jersey | 16.6% | 9 | 4 hours 14 minutes | 21.9% |
| 23 | Oklahoma | 16.1% | 3 | 4 hours 45 minutes | 33.0% |
| 24 | Missouri | 17.2% | 6 | 4 hours 20 minutes | 26.7% |
| 25 | New Hampshire | 18.6% | 2 | 3 hours 53 minutes | 32.3% |
| 26 | Kentucky | 16.9% | 5 | 4 hours 14 minutes | 18.9% |
| 27 | Tennessee | 16.7% | 12 | 4 hours 23 minutes | 27.6% |
| 28 | North Dakota | 15.8% | 3 | 4 hours 2 minutes | 38.7% |
| 29 | Oregon | 18.2% | 5 | 4 hours 29 minutes | 36.5% |
| 30 | Ohio | 17.5% | 8 | 4 hours 3 minutes | 30.3% |
| 31 | Connecticut | 17.6% | 2 | 4 hours 8 minutes | 30.7% |
| 32 | Virginia | 15.9% | 22 | 4 hours 24 minutes | 33.5% |
| 33 | Wisconsin | 17.5% | 2 | 3 hours 56 minutes | 37.1% |
| 34 | Louisiana | 16.0% | 5 | 4 hours 53 minutes | 22.0% |
| 35 | Massachusetts | 17.0% | 15 | 4 hours 6 minutes | 30.1% |
| 36 | Maryland | 15.9% | 18 | 4 hours 17 minutes | 38.2% |
| 37 | Minnesota | 16.3% | 5 | 3 hours 54 minutes | 43.3% |
| 38 | Indiana | 16.1% | 3 | 4 hours 7 minutes | 35.2% |
| 39 | Michigan | 17.7% | 5 | 3 hours 58 minutes | 26.1% |
| 40 | Illinois | 16.1% | 2 | 4 hours 10 minutes | 27.8% |
| 41 | California | 14.8% | 28 | 5 hours 21 minutes | 23.3% |
| 42 | Georgia | 14.3% | 11 | 4 hours 48 minutes | 19.7% |
| 43 | Colorado | 14.7% | 13 | 4 hours 50 minutes | 31.7% |
| 44 | Nevada | 16.2% | 4 | 5 hours 1 minutes | 24.1% |
| 45 | Washington | 15.9% | 15 | 4 hours 4 minutes | 36.8% |
| 46 | New York | 16.9% | 24 | 3 hours 52 minutes | 22.2% |
| 47 | Idaho | 16.2% | 7 | 4 hours 26 minutes | 30.5% |
| 48 | Texas | 12.9% | 14 | 5 hours 6 minutes | 27.5% |
| 49 | Alaska | 12.4% | 24 | N/A | 35.0% |
| 50 | Utah | 11.4% | 13 | 4 hours 52 minutes | 44.6% |
