These Are the Safest States to Retire, According to the FBI

Where to spend your golden years? There’s a lot to consider — including safety.

By Amanda Breen | edited by Jessica Thomas | Dec 18, 2024

Key Takeaways

  • Hundreds of thousands of U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023.
  • Seniorly, an online platform for senior living options, analyzed the safest states for retirement.

What do you want your retirement to look like? For many retirees, the answer starts with a significant move: More than 338,000 U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023, a 44% increase compared to 2022, according to a report from online moving services marketplace .

Of course, retirees deciding where to live out their golden years have a lot to consider, from the cost of living to taxes, healthcare, climate and more. Safety is another important factor; elder abuse — physical, financial and otherwise — is on the rise, reported earlier this year.

Related: These Are the ‘Wealthiest and Safest’ Places to Retire in the U.S. None of Them Are in Florida — and 2 States Swept the List.

But where, exactly, are the safest states for retirement in the U.S.? , an online platform that helps families and older adults find senior living options, conducted a to find out.

Seniorly used the most recent data from the FBI, CDC, BLS, DOT and CMS to analyze seven safety-related categories: violent crime, property crime, police officers per capita, fall deaths, car deaths, hospital beds per capita and fraud complaints.

Related: The No. 1 State to Retire in Might Not Even Be on Your Radar, According to a New Report

As it turns out, the No. 1 safest state to retire in is New Jersey, which boasts the second-fewest fall deaths and third-lowest crime rates alongside a “healthy police presence,” according to Seniorly’s research.

New York took second place with the third-fewest fatal car crashes and the sixth-fewest fall deaths. Additionally, the Empire State ranks well for its strong police presence, low levels of elder fraud and availability of hospital beds, per the data.

Related: These Are the Top 10 States to Retire in 2023, According to a New Report — And Florida Didn’t Make Top 5

Check out the top 15 safest places for seniors to retire according to Seniorly’s analysis below:

Image Credit: Seniorly.com analysis of federal data

Key Takeaways

  • Hundreds of thousands of U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023.
  • Seniorly, an online platform for senior living options, analyzed the safest states for retirement.

What do you want your retirement to look like? For many retirees, the answer starts with a significant move: More than 338,000 U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023, a 44% increase compared to 2022, according to a report from online moving services marketplace .

Of course, retirees deciding where to live out their golden years have a lot to consider, from the cost of living to taxes, healthcare, climate and more. Safety is another important factor; elder abuse — physical, financial and otherwise — is on the rise, reported earlier this year.

Related: These Are the ‘Wealthiest and Safest’ Places to Retire in the U.S. None of Them Are in Florida — and 2 States Swept the List.

Amanda Breen • Senior Features Writer

Âé¶¹Éç Staff
Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Âé¶¹Éç.com. She is a graduate of Barnard... Read more

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