This U.S. State Was Just Named the Happiest for Retirees

According to a new study, there’s one state in particular that has nailed the recipe for happiness. And it’s the perfect place for seniors looking to live out their golden years. 

In late May, Caring.com released its Senior Happiness Index to determine which places around the U.S. offer the highest chances of finding happiness for older people. To determine the ranking, the team analyzed a number of factors, including the number of senior centers in each state using SeniorCenters.com, and normalized the data per 100,000 people. It then determined the percentage of seniors (65 years and older) living alone, which was collected via the U.S. Census American Community Survey (2023), along with an overall senior health ranking taken from America’s Health Rankings 2024 Senior Report. 

Next, it calculated the cost of living index by state using data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, along with the average annual life expectancy at birth from the National Vital Statistics System. Then, it gathered data on the happiest states in the U.S. using a 2024 study by WalletHub and finally assigned each state a score from zero to 10. 

After looking at all that information, the team named Utah the happiest state of all for seniors. 

“Utah tops the list with the most content seniors, scoring 7.69 out of 10 thanks to its supportive environment for senior living,” the findings noted.” Utah was also named the healthiest state for older people in 2024, and it ranks as the third-lowest percentage of those aged 65 and over living alone (21.48 percent), reducing the risk of social isolation.”

The findings also noted that Utah is among the top five happiest states in general and is a spot where more than two-fifths (44 percent) actively volunteer, which is the highest rate in the nation. 

“This not only means Utah’s aging population is staying connected and involved with their community, but volunteering also contributes significantly to Utah seniors’ well-being and happiness,” the findings added. 

Idaho came in a close second with a score of 7.38, thanks to most of its seniors living with others, ensuring fewer people are experiencing loneliness. And as the findings stated, it’s a fantastic spot for seniors looking to live an active lifestyle with “30 state parks to explore and proximity to national treasures like Yellowstone.” 

Rounding out the top three is Connecticut, with a score of 7.01, thanks to its strong statistics, including the third-highest average life expectancy, access to health care, and its ranking among the top 10 happiest states overall on WalletHub’s rankings.

Ready to find more happiness? See the full report and where your state ranks on caring.com.