Kentucky Named Worst State For Retirement Once Again

If retirement is starting to creep into your daydreams – or maybe it’s already circled on the calendar – you’ve probably asked yourself some important questions. Will I stay put or relocate? Will my money stretch far enough? And what kind of lifestyle do I actually want once the daily grind is over?

Retirement is supposed to be relaxing, but it can also be incredibly stressful given that it typically puts people on a fixed income, which may not be enough for them to live comfortably. ~WalletHub analyst

How WalletHub Ranked The Best States For Retirement

A new study from the personal finance website WalletHub tries to help answer some of those questions by ranking all 50 states from best to worst for retirement. The rankings are based on three major categories that matter a lot once you’re living on a fixed income: affordability, quality of life, and health care.

I hate to break it to you, Bluegrass State, but Kentucky is at the very bottom of the list – again – earning the title of the worst state to retire in, according to the study.

Where Kentucky Ranked In Each Key Category

Kentucky ranked 34th for affordability, 42nd for quality of life, and 47th for health care. The commonwealth also has the 47^th lowest life expectancy. Kentucky continues to struggle with higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, which can drive up health care costs and affect day-to-day quality of life as we age.

ALSO READ: Kentucky and Indiana Rank Among Top 10 Best States for Teen Drivers

Why Retirement Rankings Are Not The Whole Story

Now, before anyone starts packing boxes, it’s worth keeping this in perspective. This ranking doesn’t mean Kentucky isn’t livable or lovable—it just measures how comfortable and affordable retirement might be here compared to other states. For many people, family, community, and familiarity matter just as much as rankings on a map.