Retirees Be Warned: Bankrate Says This Southern State Is The 4th Worst For Retirement

When planning for retirement, people often consider where they'd like to retire a top priority. Bankrate releases an annual survey that specifically ranks states based upon their suitability for retirees to help people make this decision. Of course, everyone has different wants and needs, so the website provides rankings for each state's various attributes in addition to an overall ranking. If sunny weather matters to a retiree, for example, Arkansas could be a good choice as that Sun Belt State comes in at No. 9 in the weather category. Meanwhile, it ranked No. 26 in terms of retirement-aged population — and that was one of its higher scores. In every other category considered, Arkansas ranked mediocre at best, landing dangerously close to the bottom overall at No. 47. 

For 2025, Bankrate modified its methodologies to better reflect retirees' concerns. Relying on 15 data points, Bankrate investigated how much value the survey respondents placed on each of the attributes. For example, people deeply care about affordability in retirement years. In fact, most Americans worry that their retirement savings will run out. So, Bankrate gave more weight to the affordability category. It also prioritized weather, safety, and healthcare, while giving factors like local taxes, similarly aged people, and recreational activities less influence on rankings. So, why did Arkansas rank so poorly overall?

In the Bankrate survey, Arkansas ranked No. 33 in affordability, a red flag for retirees. To be fair, though, this state is also one with some of the cheapest assisted living costs for seniors, which could appeal to some retired demographics. According to a study by Genworth and CareScout, the median monthly cost to live in an assisted living community in Arkansas in 2025 was $4,724, while the national median was $5,900.

Bankrate ranked Arkansas No. 36 in local taxes, which can also add to expenses. It landed at No. 42 in healthcare, which some may see as a big red flag because healthcare can be a major expense during retirement. According to a 2025 Fidelity Investment report, someone retiring in 2025 at the age of 65 can anticipate spending an average of $172,500 on healthcare expenses during retirement years. As an even worse ranking, Arkansas comes in at No. 46 in the safety category, ranking fourth from the bottom in the subcategory of violent crimes. Even in the more minor category of arts, entertainment, and recreation, it landed the dismal No. 48 slot. Even worse: In the "other" category, which includes walkability, community well-being, and some environmental factors, Arkansas ranked lower than every state except Mississippi. In short, retirees should take some serious caution before they decide to post up in The Nature State for their golden years.