Best States for Independent Living

The US population is aging rapidly. Estimates suggest that by 2040, one in five (22%) Americans will be 65 or older. Currently, over a quarter (27%) of people over the age of 65 are living alone, and this trend is set to continue. Living alone can be a challenge for older people, from increased safety concerns to the toll on their mental health. 

So, which states are the best for seniors to live independently?

To find out, Caring.com examined the data, looking at the proportion of populations over 65, the cost of living, the proportion of nursing and assisted living facilities, health care access and various costs in each state. We’ve also used this data to discover the most affordable states for solo living in later life. 

         1. Arkansas                                             Solo Living Score 8.57/10

Arkansas is the best state for solo living, scoring 8.57 out of 10. The state has one of the lowest average costs of living index scores in the nation, placing in the top five with 88.7 out of 100. 

This could be due to the state’s high rate of affordable housing and low property taxes, making retiring to the state comparatively inexpensive. Arkansas also ranks in the top five for its transport index score of 90, where the national average is 100, and the top 10 for its proportion of nursing facilities, at 41.9 per 100,000 people over 65.

         2. Missouri                                              Solo Living Score: 8.09/10

Missouri takes second place. The Show-Me State ranks in the top 10 for its health care cost index score of 91.8. Retiring to one of Missouri’s major cities, like St. Louis, means residents also get access to first-rate healthcare, with top medical facilities like Barnes-Jewish Hospital, which ranks in the top 20 nationally for orthopedic treatments. Missouri also ranks in the top 10 for its proportion of assisted-living communities at 97.5 per 100,000 people over 65.

This could be due to the state’s relatively low cost of living, making it an attractive destination for retirees and driving the demand for more assisted living facilities.    

         3. Kansas                                                Solo Living Score: 7.98/10

ansas rounds out the top three U.S. states for solo living. The Sunflower State has the second-highest proportion of nursing facilities at 62.7 per 100,000 people over 65 years old. 

It also ranks third for its cost of living index score of 87 and has the lowest grocery cost index score at 94.8. The cost of food is so low as the state recently abolished its sales tax on food, making food there more affordable in general.

        1. Arkansas                                           Affordability Score: 8.94/10

In addition to topping the ranking overall, Arkansas is also the most affordable state for solo living, with a score of 8.94 out of 10. The state has the lowest health care cost index score, 85.7, with 100 being the average cost in the US. 

This could be due to the fact that Medicaid covers one in three Arkansas residents. The state also has some of the cheapest grocery prices, with an index score of 95.2. Arkansas also has one of the country's most affordable average rent prices. A one-bedroom apartment costs just $701/month.

        2. Missouri                                            Affordability Score: 8.71/10  

issouri not only places second overall, but also ranks high for affordability, coming in after Arkansas. The state has the cheapest average rent, $677/month, which could be due to the state’s low housing costs. St. Louis, in particular, has been recognized as the fifth-best city in the Midwest for its low cost of living.

Missouri also has the lowest transport cost index score, 87.2. Its costs for assisted living communities are also the most affordable in the US, averaging $40,241 annually. This gives the state an affordability score of 8.71 out of 10. 

        3. Oklahoma                                          Affordability Score: 8.53/10  

klahoma takes third place, scoring 8.53 out of 10 for its affordability. The state ranks in the top five for the cheapest annual cost of a comfortable retirement, at $59,995. 

Unlike other states, Oklahoma doesn’t tax social security benefits, making it perfect for retirees. It also has the second-lowest index scores for the average cost of living and housing at 85.7 and 68.6, respectively.   

Seniors can be vulnerable to loneliness and isolation, but spending time with people their age can help combat this. Maine has the highest proportion of senior citizens compared to its total population. Nearly a quarter (22.9%) were above the age of 65 by 2020.

Spending less on essentials means retirees can afford to spend more on enjoying their retirement. West Virginia has the lowest cost of living index score, at 84.1, with 100 being the national average. This could be due to the state’s relatively low sales taxes, making shopping for essentials more affordable for residents.

Seniors often rely on fixed incomes like pensions or retirement savings; these fixed incomes are among the top ten causes of senior anxiety, per Caring’s 2025 poll. In Caring’s 2024 Seniors in the Workforce survey, respondents reported cutting back on food, leisure, and travel to live within their means. Cheaper rents mean seniors can manage their money without worrying about missing out on doing what they enjoy. Missouri has the most affordable rent in the nation for a one-bedroom apartment, costing an average of $677/month. Looking at cities within the state, rents in St. Louis average $984/month, which is $200 less expensive than in Kansas City, MO, making it a great option for retirement.

Due to its relatively low population over 65, Iowa has the country’s highest proportion of nursing facilities, at 71 per 100,000 senior citizens. This could be a result of the state’s high rural population, meaning a higher number of smaller nursing facilities. This means Iowa residents can expect shorter wait times for nursing facilities and better care access when needed.

Alaska residents are spoiled for choice regarding assisted living facilities. As the state has a comparatively low number of people over 65, it has the highest proportion of assisted living communities, with 698.3 per 100,000. This could be the result of the state’s growing elderly population creating a higher demand for assisted living communities.

Assisted living facilities offer a safe, secure environment with round-the-clock access to care without sacrificing residents' independence. Missouri has the lowest annual cost for assisted living facilities, at just over $40,000. One reason for this could be the state’s relatively low cost of living, which reduces operating costs for assisted living facilities and makes them cheaper for residents.

When you retire, you’ll want to live comfortably, and knowing how far your income can go can give you peace of mind. At only $58,190, West Virginia has the lowest cost of a comfortable retirement.

As we age, easy access to health care is paramount for addressing and managing any health issues that may arise. In the terms of this study, “access to health care” does not account for environmental barriers, instead measuring whether or not quality health practitioners are available in the area, and how many residents have health insurance.

Retirees in the Aloha State won’t have to worry too much about the availability of good care. Hawaii tops the ranking as the area with the easiest access to healthcare. Hawaii has one of the nation’s highest rates of health insurance coverage, making health care access easy for its residents.

Many seniors deal with chronic health conditions such as arthritis, so health care quality in their chosen state is vital in effectively managing potential health issues. We determined “high quality health care” by looking at data factoring in how many of a given state’s Medicare enrollees with 4-star health plans, how good the hospitals in a state are with common surgeries and treatments, and how many of a state’s Medicare enrollees receive treatment that prevents in-patient stays. For all these factors, Alaska ranks highly.  As it ranks first, seniors in Alaska are seeing the benefits of high-quality healthcare.

• Alaska Commission on Aging (ACoA) senior snapshot older Alaskans 2023. (2023). Alaska Commission on Aging
• America’s best orthopedic hospitals. (2024). Newsweek
• Arkansas Medicaid barriers report. (2023). Arkansas Community Organizations  
• Ausubel, Jacob. (2020). Older people are more likely to live alone in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world. Pew Research Center  
• Burke, Sandra Chavarat. (2023). Census 2020: urban and rural population in Iowa’s counties. (2023). Iowa State University
• Cooper, Nancy. (2024). America’s Best Orthopedic Hospitals 2024. Newsweek  
• Cost of living. (2025). Arkansas, Incorporated
• Cost of living data series. (2024). Missouri Economic Research and Information Center
• Get the facts on older Americans. (2024). National Council on Aging
• Health care in Hawaii (2024). KFF
• Missouri fair market rent. (2025). RentData.org  
• Oklahoma retirement tax friendliness. (2024). Smartasset
• Pub. KS-1223 food sales tax rate reduction. (2023). Kansas Department of Revenue 
• State health facts. (2024). KFF
• Taxes in West Virginia. (2024). Tax Foundation
• Toberman, Craig. (2024). Is St. Louis, MO a good place to retire? Toberman Becker Financial Planning  
• Vespa, Jonathan et al. Demographic turning points for the United States: population projections for 2020 to 2060. (2020). U.S. Census Bureau  
• Walczak, Jared. State and local sales tax rates, 2025. (2025). Tax Foundation  

Beginning with a list of U.S. states, we analyzed each one on the following factors. We then gave each state a normalized score out of ten for each factor before taking an average across each score to reach our final overall score out of ten.

Proportion of Population 65 and Over

The proportion of the population aged 65 and over in each state in 2020, according to The United States Census Bureau.  

Average Rent for 1-Bedroom Property

The average fair market rent price for a one-bedroom home in each state in 2025, taken from RentData.org.   

Average Cost of Living Index Score

The average cost of living index score for each state in 2024, taken from MERIC.

Grocery Index Score

The relative cost of groceries in each state compared to the US average in 2024 taken from MERIC. 

Housing Index Score

The relative cost of housing in each state compared to the US average in 2024 taken from MERIC. 

Utilities Index Score

The relative cost of utility bills in each state compared to the US average in 2024 taken from MERIC. 

Transportation Index Score

The relative cost of transportation in each state compared to the US average in 2024 taken from MERIC. 

Health Index Score

The relative cost of healthcare in each state compared to the US average in 2024 taken from MERIC.

Nursing Facilities per 100,000 People Over 65

The total number of nursing facilities in each state in 2024 sourced from KFF per 100,000 of the population over the age of 65.  

Assisted Living Communities per 100,000 People Over 65

The total number of assisted living communities in each state in 2024, taken from Consumer Affairs, per 100,000 of the population over the age of 65.

Average Annual Cost of Assisted Living Facilities

The average cost per year of assisted living facilities in each state in 2024, according to Consumer Affairs.

Annual Cost of Comfortable Retirement

The average retirement income needed to live comfortably in each state in 2024, sourced from GoBankingRates. 

Healthcare Access Ranking

The availability of healthcare in each state in 2024, ranked by US News.  

Healthcare Quality Ranking

The quality of healthcare in each state in 2024, ranked by US News.

Public Health Ranking

The quality of public health in each state in 2024, ranked by US News.  

Total population figures for people aged 65 and older in 2020 were taken from The United States Census Bureau.   

We then created a separate index using the same method, taking into account average rents, the average annual cost of assisted living facilities, the annual cost of a comfortable retirement, and index scores for the average cost of living, groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, and health sourced above to find the most affordable states for solo living. 

This data was collected in March 2025 and is correct as of then.