10 best U.S. states to retire in

Tying for 10th place we've got a tie. California's struggling economy and high cost of living haven't been enough to deter seniors. "California couples a good climate with good life expectancy at age 65: 19.08 years," Barrington says. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Also tied for 10th place: Texas' warm climate and solid economy have made it "enticing to seniors," Barrington notes. "However, it's a big state that's not without its trouble spots: The overall crime rate is another one of the nation's 10 worst." But for their trouble, seniors enjoy a cost of living that is just over 91 percent of the national average. (WENN/Cherokee Michaels)

New Mexico just might be the 'Florida' of the Southwest. "This state saw its senior population grow by 28.29% from the 2000 to the 2010 census," Barrington says. But crime runs rampant, landing it among the 10 worst states in the nation, according to the study. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Despite it's senior-magnet reputation, Florida tied for 7th place with New Mexico in this list. Blame it on its massive crime rate, which is among the highest in the nation, Barrington found. Crime is especially important to seniors, who are often targeted by malicious scams. Less than a year ago, three people were charged with tricking Florida seniors into buying $1 million worth of toilet paper over the phone. Still, the state boasts the kind of climate retirement dreams are made of –– and has a life expectancy rate for seniors that's a year higher than the national average. (Wikipedia)

"Only three states have seen faster growth in their senior populations, which is helped by the fact that seniors in Colorado tend to live for a long time," Barrington says. That's never more apparent than when you look at the growth in the state's 65-and-up population, which boomed 32 percent between the 2000 and 2010 census. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Despite a relatively mild climate, Virginia didn't score high on life expectancy. But it was a standout in terms of crime. "The violent crime rate is 214 per 100,000 residents," Barrington says. "While for the average state it’s 366. The property crime rate is 2,327 per 100,000 residents, compared with 2,856 for the average state." (Wikipedia)

Chalk it up to a sunny climate and booming senior population, but Arizona has the third highest life expectancy rate for the over 65 crowd in the country, Barrington found. "Arizona’s life expectancy at age 65 is 19.48 years," he says. "Third best in the nation and more than a year better than the average state’s figure of 18.19 years." A note of caution: A higher than average crime rate makes neighborhood scouting crucial. (Wikipedia)

Despite a cost of living that ranks among the nation's highest, seniors are flocking to Hawaii and living longer for it. While the average life expectancy after age 65 in the U.S. is 18.19, seniors in Hawaii add an extra two years to their lives, Barrington found. "We looked at life expectancy because it's a good proxy for what the environmental state might be like for seniors," he says. Just be sure you've set realistic expectations for island life. "One of Hawaii's drawbacks is that is has the highest cost of living. Retirees moving there need to understand they have to have the financial resources to handle it." (pdxjeff/Flickr)

Seniors can live like kings and queens in Utah, where the cost of living is much lower than the national average, Barrington found. And its 5.8 percent unemployment rate (as of August) doesn't hurt much either. "At a time when people are absolutely banging their head against the wall trying to find a job, there's something to be said for a place that has a very low unemployment rate," he says. (Wikimedia)

Cold states aren't typically high at the top of anyone's retirement dream list, but Idaho's quiet, crime-free scene has made it one of the hottest retirement destinations. "Just because you're a cold state, it doesn't condemn you the worst list," Barrington says. Idaho saves itself with a stellar crime rate. Per the study, Idaho only saw 221 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, compared to a national average of 366. Property crimes averaged 1,996 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,856. (Boise Metro Chamber/Flickr)