6 Things To Know Before Retiring in These Midwestern States

You may have heard of the charm of the Midwest. Or perhaps you know people who live there and praise the opportunity to experience the change in seasons. Maybe you’ve seen rankings where the Midwest tops lists for most affordable places in the United States.

If you’ve never lived in the Midwest, but are considering that part of the country for your retirement, there are some helpful things to know before making the move.

Here’s a look at some information and rankings to help you find the best spot for your retirement.

GOBankingRates analyzed each state to find the best ones to retire. The analysis included cost of living, home values, tax rates and crime rates. Two Midwestern states, North Dakota and Indiana, ranked among the top 10 states for retirement.

Other Midwestern states included in the analysis were Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

According to the analysis, North Dakota ranked as the seventh best state to retire. It finished the highest among Midwestern states.

In North Dakota, the average single-family home is valued around $270,000. With an annual average cost of living for retirees around $41,000, it scored well among the states. The tax rates and crime rates were also favorable for retirees.

The state famous for the Indianapolis 500 may also be a good spot for your retirement. Indiana also ranked among the top 10 states for retiring.

About 17% of the population here is 65 and over. The average single-family home in Indiana is worth about $247,000. The total annual cost of living for retirees is affordable at about $39,000.

In terms of the rest of the Midwestern states, they did overall okay in the analysis. States like Minnesota and Ohio finished in the top 15 states for retiring. Here’s a look at how the other Midwestern states ranked:

• Minnesota (#13)
• Ohio (#14)
• Michigan (#16)
• Wisconsin (#18)
• Missouri (#19)
• Nebraska (#25)
• Iowa (#27)
• South Dakota (#28)
• Kansas (#34)
• Illinois (#40)

The Midwest is generally known for having some incredibly affordable places to live with good access to healthcare for retirees. Per Kiplinger “Many states in the region offer affordability, beautiful scenery, an abundance of activities and quality healthcare.”

On its list of great places to retire in the Midwest, Kiplinger listed Peoria, Illinois, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Des Moines, Iowa.

_{Pictured: Peoria, IL}

While Social Security is not meant to be the only source of income for retirees, that is the reality for many of those in retirement. This situation can present a challenging financial time for retirees who may not have enough money to live as comfortably as they’d like.

With that in mind, Insider Monkey compiled a list of the best states to live on Social Security Alone. Ohio and South Dakota were among the best states. In the list of the best cities in the Midwest for retired couples living only on Social Security, Muncie, Indiana, Youngstown, Ohio, and Keokuk, Iowa, were among the top choices.