Nebraska Was Just Rated The Best Place In The Country To Retire

No matter how old you are, you’ve probably given some thought to where you want to spend your golden years. According to Bankrate.com‘s 2019 ranking of retirement-worthy states, our very own Cornhusker State is the perfect place for retirees.

We all know that Nebraska is the best place to live. With beautiful natural areas, plenty of things to do, sweet little towns and vibrant cities, and world-class cuisine, our state has a lot to offer people of any age.

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But according to Bankrate’s ranking, Nebraska is especially appealing to retirees. You might expect Florida or Arizona to take the top place, but the Sunshine State actually came in fifth in the ranking and the Grand Canyon State was all the way down at number 38.

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The top four states were all in Middle America, much to the surprise of people who don’t actually live here. Rounding out the top five spots are Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, and Florida.

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What is it that makes Nebraska the ideal place to settle down in after your working years have come to an end? Bankrate measured every state in terms of affordability, wellness, weather, crime, and culture.

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Nebraska was near the top of the list in the wellness category, with only seven states ranking higher. Our healthcare facilities meet or exceed 61% of the benchmarks for quality healthcare, which is higher than about two-thirds of America.

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Cost of living was another big factor in the ranking. Yes, we hear you - the taxes. While taxes for retirees are relatively high here, the overall cost of living is significantly lower than other states. Our ranking for affordability was was 14th out of 50 states.

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We also received great rankings in crime (#19) and culture (#21), two other factors that are important to retirees. Being in the middle of the country, we’re also a terrific jumping-off point for road trips, no matter what direction you’re going.

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The only slight blemish on Nebraska’s ranking was the weather. It’s strange, it’s volatile, and it can be frustrating at times. We ranked #30 in weather, but that’s the only criterion in which we didn’t rank in the top half of the states.

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Read Bankrate’s study, including every state’s rankings, right here.