10 worst states for retirement

Retirement is an ongoing challenge for employers and employees — given lackluster savings (according to the Federal Reserve, nearly 25% of non-retired adults haven’t saved any money for retirement), increased life expectancies and threats to Social Security.

But considering where to retire may help employees by making their post-work savings go even further.

Some states are better for this than others. Financial website WalletHub has compared states across three key metrics: affordability, quality of life and healthcare.

Affordability was calculated using metrics such as tax-cut friendliness and adjusted cost of living. Quality of life measured areas including crime rates and water and air quality. Lastly, healthcare put weight on areas including healthcare facilities, physicians per capita and life expectancies.

According to WalletHub’s research, these states came up on the bottom. For the full report, click here.

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Annapolis, Maryland, USA downtown cityscape on Main Street.
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10. Maryland

Total score: 50.55
Affordability score (ranked out of 50): 42
Quality of life score (ranked out of 50): 30
Healthcare score (ranked out of 50): 19
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Aerial photo Downtown Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
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9. Louisiana

Total score: 50.06
Affordability score: 10
Quality of life score: 45
Healthcare score: 45
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Jackson, Mississippi, USA skyline over the Capitol Building.
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8. Mississippi

Total score: 48.87
Affordability score: 3
Quality of life score: 50
Healthcare score: 50
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The State Capitol of Little Rock stands lit by bright sunshine near dusk Arkansas River in the backgound
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7. Arkansas

Total score: 48.53
Affordability score: 11
Quality of life score: 49
Healthcare score: 46
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Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and the seat of Santa Fe County
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6. New Mexico

Total score: 47.92
Affordability score: 33
Quality of life score: 47
Healthcare score: 39
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NJ state capitol complex at night in Trenton, New Jersey
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5. New Jersey

Total score: 47.85
Affordability score: 45
Quality of life score: 33
Healthcare score: 29
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Burlington, Vermont, USA at Church Street Marketplace.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

4. Vermont

Total score: 47.76
Affordability score: 50
Quality of life score: 6
Healthcare score: 23
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Charleston, West Virginia, USA skyline at twilight.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

3. West Virginia

Total score: 47.26
Affordability score: 22
Quality of life score: 41
Healthcare score: 49
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Providence, Rhode Island city skyline from Prospect Terrace Park.
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2. Rhode Island

Total score: 45.94
Affordability score: 46
Quality of life score: 43
Healthcare score: 18
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Frankfort, Kentucky, USA town skyline on the Kentucky River at dusk.
Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

1. Kentucky

Total score: 43.85
Affordability score: 32
Quality of life score: 48
Healthcare score: 47
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