A recent study reveals the best and worst states to retire in America, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky is sitting at the bottom of the list.

The Key Categories to Determine Retirement Rankings By State

Wallethub looked at all 50 states and essentially graded each of them in three key categories: Affordability, Quality of Life, and Healthcare.

Not only is Kentucky at the bottom of the list, but it's dead last making it the worst state for retirement.

A Look at the Math and the Metrics

Each of those three categories were broken down into 46 sub-categories, and each sub-category was weighted with a set number of points. The scores were then averaged across each sub-category, or "metrics" as Wallethub calls them. Those scores were used to rank each state.

We evaluated those dimensions using 46 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for retirement. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across states. -Wallethub
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A Deeper Look at the Metrics of the Study

Some of the sub-categories or "metrics" used in the study include:

  • How much of the populations aged 65 or older that are unable to afford a doctor
  • Rate of food insecurity in the elderly
  • The number of theaters, bingo halls, gold courses per capita
  • The risk of being isolated socially

These are just a small number of the metrics used to calculate each state's score.

Where Are The Best States to Retire?

The top three best states to retire to in America ranked the highest in the key categories. Florida, Minnesota, and Colorado hold the top three spots while their rankings vary between the three categories. Florida took the number one spot despite having ranked 27th for Healthcare because it ranked #2 overall for both Affordability and Quality of Life . Likewise, Minnesota is ranked 2nd in the nation overall but ranked 27th for affordability. However, it took the #6 and #1 spots for Affordability and Quality of Life, respectively.

Kentucky Ranks as the Worst State for Retirement in America

So just how poorly did Kentucky rank in the study to find itself at the bottom of the list in the #50 position, making it the worst state for retirement in the entire nation? It was ranked #36 for affordability, #41 for Quality of Life, and #45 for healthcare. It's weighted score calculated to 42.26. That's a difference of 20.3 points from #1 ranking Florida.

Of course, if you do plan to retire in Kentucky, knowing the best counties to do so would be helpful. We have a list of the best counties in the Commonwealth for retirement below. Then keep scrolling to see a list of the best FREE things to do in the state.

[Source: Wallethub]

LOOK: Best counties to retire to in Kentucky

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to retire in Kentucky using data from Niche.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: Highest-rated free things to do in Kentucky, according to Tripadvisor

Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated free things to do in Kentucky from Tripadvisor.

Gallery Credit: Stacker