Colorado Ranks Among the Nation’s Best States to Retire

Seniors searching for the perfect place to spend their golden years need look no further than the Centennial State.

Colorado is among the top five best states to retire in 2026, according to a WalletHub report released on January 26. The only states that rank higher than Colorado are Wyoming, Florida and South Dakota.

“Retirement is supposed to be relaxing, but it can also be incredibly stressful,” analyst Chip Lupo says in the report. “The best states for retirees are those that have low taxes and a low cost of living to help retirees’ budgets stretch as far as possible. Having access to excellent medical care and homemaking services is also crucial, especially for people who don’t plan to retire in close proximity to their families.”

The report analyzed states based on affordability, quality of life and healthcare. Colorado ranked only 19th for both affordability and quality of life, but its overall ranking was boosted by a third-place finish in the healthcare category.

The most important healthcare metrics considered were the number of family medicine physicians per capita, top-rated geriatric hospitals and geriatricians compared to the state’s estimated need.

Other metrics included a state’s average life expectancy, senior death rate and health status of older residents. Colorado is consistently ranked as one of the healthiest states in the country, and its average life expectancy is typically in the top ten nationwide.

“One of the most common mistakes retirees make is focusing solely on the cost of living without considering other crucial factors like access to healthcare, proximity to family, climate suitability, and the availability of community activities,” explains Juan E. Gallardo, director of the Texan Smart Financial Education Center, in the report. “For example, a low-cost area may lack quality healthcare facilities or social networks, leading to unforeseen expenses and a lower quality of life.”

Overall, Colorado scored 58.37 out of a possible 100 points for retirement-friendliness, the report found. That’s compared to the highest score of 61.56, held by Wyoming, and the lowest score of 41.83, held by Kentucky.