Colorado Ranked Among Best States To Grow Old

ACROSS COLORADO – Colorado is the 2nd best state in the country to grow old in, according to a new report by the financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St. The rankings are based on an index comprising more than a dozen measures related to income, health, environment, education and access to amenities.

Colorado fell between Vermont (ranked No. 1) and Virginia in the rankings, according to the report published Tuesday. Here’s the breakdown for our state:

• Percent of population at least 65 years old: 13.8 percent
• Poverty rate among adults at least 65 years old: 7.8 percent
• Bachelor’s degree attainment among adults at least 65 years old: 38.5 percent
• Healthy life expectancy after 65: 15.3 years

Related: These Are The Top-10 Places To Retire In Colorado: Study

Related: Colorado One Of The Best States For Nursing Home Care: Report

The authors noted that while the best states span the country, the worst states were “almost exclusively in the South.” Here are the 10 worst states to grow old in, according to the report:

1. West Virginia
2. Mississippi
3. Arkansas
4. Louisiana
5. Kentucky
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Oklahoma
9. Texas
10. New Mexico

West Virginia ranked as the worst country in America to grow old in, something to consider when more than 50 million Americans are at least 65 years old. (And that number is expected to roughly double over the next 40 years.) West Virginia has the lowest share of older adults with a bachelor’s degree — 17.1 percent — and the third-lowest healthy life expectancy after 65 at just 11 years. It also has the third-highest share of older adults living in poverty at 10.2 percent.

Those looking to live their best life in the golden years ought to head to Vermont, ranked the No. 1 place to grow old. Vermont has the fourth-highest share of people at least 65 years old and the second-highest share of older adults with a bachelor’s degree. The New England state also boasts one of the best healthy life expectancies after 65 at 15.2 years.

Other great states to live in for older adults include Maryland, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Montana, Utah, Minnesota and Massachusetts.

By Patch national staffer Dan Hampton.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

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