Move over Florida! Iowa is ranked the best place to retire - while Alaska, New York and California come out worst

[demarpaint]

Iowa is a surprise, Florida losing the spot is not a surprise. The comments about AK, CA, and NY, no surprise there. IMO NY and CA were neck and neck for years as being the worst, but I'd give the title to CA for being worse than NY now. About the only thing CA has over NY is the weather in Southern CA, that's about it.

 

[svtrit]

We toured NY State by far a few years back and fell in love with it. Like any state, it’s the large urban centers that ruin it for everyone. If not for Chicago, IL isn’t a bad place, having grown up there.

Deadwood, there is a trail ride coming up in October at the Oak Ridge motocross track in the Tama, IA area. It was a blast last year, though a tad too muddy for me. UTV’s are welcome as well and you pay to get in. Most trails in Iowa are pay to play.

I also cruise the State Parks a lot. Panel State Park in Winterset, IA in one of the pictures below. Oak Ridge is the other two pictures.

Vice Grip Garage just drove an old pickup and camper across Iowa in his last video. He showcases it well.

 

[tmorris1]

If you take the government away, California is actually a pretty nice place.

That is like marrying a psycho that is very beautiful... Take her brain and personality away and she is great!

 

[The_Eric]

I've been saying for years that Iowa is a great place to live and even drive through. Now maybe people will listen

You'll never convince my wife of that

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

If you like cold winters and literally nothing to do, sure… Iowa.

 

[Cujet]

If you like cold winters and literally nothing to do, sure… Iowa.

That's the thing with location. I like the beach, the ocean, the mountains, the canyons, the rapids, the everglades, the islands.

But when it comes to Iowa, I have not found a dramatic physical feature of any sort. relatively flat, open and well, bland.

 

[GON]

That's the thing with location. I like the beach, the ocean, the mountains, the canyons, the rapids, the everglades, the islands.

But when it comes to Iowa, I have not found a dramatic physical feature of any sort. relatively flat, open and well, bland.

You move to Iowa for the pork tenderloin sandwiches.....

 

[Jdeere562]

You move to Iowa for the pork tenderloin sandwiches.....

Not all of Iowa is flat and boring. I live in the Loess Hills. Very pretty part of the State They run south into MO.
And yes, the pork tenderloins are great. We have a few "porky women" as well.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...okEHanCBpkQ7Al6BAgPEFM&biw=1920&bih=937&dpr=1

 

[PandaBear]

Rating a "state" in general is just pointless IMO. I can happily retire in Los Altos but I would be sad in Compton. Whoever put WV as better than CA, I'm not sure what is his or her agenda, and whether retiring in a town losing population due to joblessness and drug problems are really that good for your moral.

The best place to be when you retire is always be close to your family, that's all I'm going to say.

 

[LDB]

Rating a "state" in general is just pointless IMO. I can happily retire in Los Altos but I would be sad in Compton. Whoever put WV as better than CA, I'm not sure what is his or her agenda, and whether retiring in a town losing population due to joblessness and drug problems are really that good for your moral.

The best place to be when you retire is always be close to your family, that's all I'm going to say.

They probably ate at Minard's Spaghetti Inn which definitely puts WV ahead. Same family around 90 years. Interesting story. Delicious meals.

 

[MNgopher]

That's the thing with location. I like the beach, the ocean, the mountains, the canyons, the rapids, the everglades, the islands.

But when it comes to Iowa, I have not found a dramatic physical feature of any sort. relatively flat, open and well, bland.

In generalities, yes, Iowa is flat in some portions of the state. However, there are parts with significant hills like near the Mississippi River in Dubuque for example.

 

[cmarshall78]

I would never live in Florida, but would take Iowa in a heartbeat.

 

[Shel_B]

Not all of Iowa is flat and boring. I live in the Loess Hills. Very pretty part of the State They run south into MO.
And yes, the pork tenderloins are great. We have a few "porky women" as well.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...okEHanCBpkQ7Al6BAgPEFM&biw=1920&bih=937&dpr=1

Thanks for posting the link. Some nice pics as well as good info. It's going into my travel folder.

 

[svtrit]

Not all of Iowa is flat and boring. I live in the Loess Hills. Very pretty part of the State They run south into MO.
And yes, the pork tenderloins are great. We have a few "porky women" as well.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_e...okEHanCBpkQ7Al6BAgPEFM&biw=1920&bih=937&dpr=1

That’s exactly what I was going to say: Loess Hills. The NE part of the state is also very hilly and forested, with great rock outcroppings. You have to be into the outdoors to like that stuff, I suppose

Car and old tractor buffs have a plethora of museums to visit. There are other oddities in IA as well that are worth a look.

As a Jeep guy it’s tough, as there aren’t many options unless you are in a club, but I get some good time in here or there. The classic car scene is huge.

The point about retiring near family is the key though. We stay here if our kids stay here. They move, we decide if we need to based on the distance between them all.

 

[Leo99]

Iowa is a surprise, Florida losing the spot is not a surprise. The comments about AK, CA, and NY, no surprise there. IMO NY and CA were neck and neck for years as being the worst, but I'd give the title to CA for being worse than NY now. About the only thing CA has over NY is the weather in Southern CA, that's about it.

The weather is a huge factor. Cali has a healthier lifestyle, too.

 

[demarpaint]

The weather is a huge factor. Cali has a healthier lifestyle, too.

Weather yes, lifestyle can vary. Either way "imo" they both suck.

 

[tmorris1]

Cali has a healthier lifestyle, too.

Not even sure what that means?

 

[tbm5690]

Not even sure what that means?

It takes quite a bit more determination for you to leave your house in MN in January to go exercise than it does someone living in SoCal the same time of year.

 

[GON]

Not even sure what that means?

 

[tmorris1]

CA looks nice. Camping spots all over the place.