Best Places For Living Single In Retirement
From cost of living to health care access, here are three states you may want to consider if you are single and retired, according to a new survey.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
When it comes to retirement, not everybody is a couple. In fact, as of the 2023 U.S. Census, roughly 28% of people 65 and older in America live alone.
That’s roughly 16 million people. Back in 1950, one in ten lived alone in retirement. Blame it on divorce, never having married, or the death of a spouse, but either way, a growing number of older adults are going it alone.
As a result, where they live out their older years is important from a health care and cost-of-living standpoint. With one income, living in an expensive city may not be an option, and if they live in a place that doesn’t have easy access to health care, that can add an undue burden to their quality of life.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Recognizing those challenges, Caring.com came out with a list of the top three places for people over 65 living alone to live out their retirement. The study looks at the population of people over 65, the cost of living, the proportion of nursing and assisted living facilities, access to health care and costs in each state.
The study does not take into account weather, entertainment options, walkability, community, classes and culture when coming up with its best places to retire.
But if health care and cost of living are what really matter to you, these three states may be worth considering.
Arkansas tops the list
Solo Living Score: 8.57 out of 10
When it comes to the cost of living, Arkansas, otherwise known as the Natural State thanks to its abdudance of mountains, lakes and hot springs, has one of the lowest costs of living, with a score of 88.7 out of 100, thanks in part to low property taxes and affordable housing, according to Caring.com.
As for the number of nursing facilities per 100,000 people over 65, Caring.com puts that at 41.9, which it says is in the top 10.
Meanwhile, the state’s health care cost index score is 85.7, which is the lowest in the nation, according to Caring.com.
It doesn’t hurt that one in three residents of the state has Medicaid, which can defray the costs of health care. If you want to rent, you are in luck, too. The state average rent is $701 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Missouri comes in second place
Solo Living Score: 8.09/10
Missouri, known as the Show-Me State and popular for its Ozark Mountains, came in second. The state not only has a health care cost index score of 91.8, putting it in the top ten for the nation, but it also has access to top health care facilities in St. Louis.
The state is also in the top ten for its proportion of assisted-living communities, which is at 97.5 per 100,000 people over 65, according to Caring.com.
It also boasts a low cost of living and has an affordability score of 8.71 out of 10. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Missouri is $677 a month
Kansas rounds out the top three in third place
Solo Living Score: 7.98/10
Kansas, otherwise known as the Sunflower State because of the abundance of sunflowers grown throughout the state, ranked high in Caring.com’s survey. Kansas has the second-highest proportion of nursing facilities at 62.7 per 100,000 people over 65 years old. It's also affordable, with a cost-of-living index score of 87.
With no sales tax on food, getting healthy meals is affordable for older adults in this state. If you want to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Kansas, it won’t break the bank, coming in at $714 per month.
Related content
-
Nasdaq Slides 1.4% on Big Tech Questions: Stock Market TodayPalantir Technologies proves at least one publicly traded company can spend a lot of money on AI and make a lot of money on AI.
-
Should You Do Your Own Taxes This Year or Hire a Pro?Taxes Doing your own taxes isn’t easy, and hiring a tax pro isn’t cheap. Here’s a guide to help you figure out whether to tackle the job on your own or hire a professional.
-
Trump $10B IRS Lawsuit Hits an Already Chaotic 2026 Tax SeasonTax Law A new Trump lawsuit and warnings from a tax-industry watchdog point to an IRS under strain, just as millions of taxpayers begin filing their 2025 returns.
-
Quiz: Are You Ready for the 2026 401(k) Catch-Up Shakeup?Quiz If you are 50 or older and a high earner, these new catch-up rules fundamentally change how your "extra" retirement savings are taxed and reported.
-
65 or Older? Cut Your Tax Bill Before the Clock Runs OutThanks to the OBBBA, you may be able to trim your tax bill by as much as $14,000. But you'll need to act soon, as not all of the provisions are permanent.
-
We Inherited $250K: I Want a Second Home, but My Wife Wants to Save for Our Kids' College.He wants a vacation home, but she wants a 529 plan for the kids. Who's right? The experts weigh in.
-
I'm a Financial Adviser: This Is the $300,000 Social Security Decision Many People Get WrongDeciding when to claim Social Security is a complex, high-stakes decision that shouldn't be based on fear or simple break-even math.
-
4 Ways Washington Could Put Your Retirement at Risk (and How to Prepare)Legislative changes, such as shifting tax brackets or altering retirement account rules, could affect your nest egg, so it'd be prudent to prepare. Here's how.
-
5 Best Splurge Cruises for Retirees in 2026Embrace smaller, luxury ships for exceptional service, dining and amenities. You'll be glad you left the teeming hordes behind.
-
Is Your Retirement Plan Built for 2026 — or Stuck in 2006?It's time to move away from the 4% rule and the 60/40 portfolio to an adaptable, tax-diversified strategy focused on reliable income and longevity.
-
Filed for Social Security Too Soon? 2 Ways to Get a Do-OverIf you've claimed Social Security too soon, two SSA rules allow a do-over. But be warned: Using them clumsily can lead to surprise repayments or lost benefits.
