CBS News
This state was named the best place to retire in the U.S.
The best state to retire in the U.S. is also one of the smallest, according to a new ranking.
Based on its high marks for affordability, access to high quality health care, overall well-being and other categories, Delaware, known as the “First State,” earned the top spot in Bankrate’s annual ranking of the best states to retire in the U.S. In 2023, the state ranked No. 2, behind Iowa.
“While you might not think of Delaware as a typical retirement haven, it has many strong selling points for retirees,” Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey told CBS MoneyWatch.
Bankrate ranked states based on their scores across five key metrics: affordability, overall well-being, access to health care, weather and crime. Given its utmost importance for most retirees, affordability weighted more heavily than other categories — 40% of each state’s overall score. Well-being counted for 25%, access to high-quality health care 20%, weather 10% and crime 5%.
“Delaware moved from No. 2 to No. 1 because of the affordability metric. It carries the heaviest weight to reflect what’s been happening in the economy, with the cost of living rising as much as it has,” Gailey said.
Indeed, food prices have increased dramatically since 2019, with Americans spending more of their income on food than they have in 30 years. Home prices rose 5.3% from April 2023 to April 2024, according to a June analysis from CoreLogic. Auto insurance went up a whopping 19.5% year over year in June, the latest CPI data shows.
Americans also say they are behind on saving for retirement. Only one in five workers who are 55 years old have $447,000 or more in retirement savings, Prudential Financial’s 2024 Pulse of the American Retiree Survey found. And a separate study on Gen X’s preparedness for retirement found that half of those surveyed said they’d need a “miracle” to retire.
While Delaware’s cost of living is higher than the national average, the state scored well on other affordability metrics. For example, it has no state or local sales tax, and residents don’t have to pay income tax on social security benefits.
Delaware’s racial and ethnic diversity and its high share of residents who are 62 and older also helped catapult it to the top of Bankrate’s list. The state also provides residents access to high quality health care — a key consideration for many retirees.
“Having access to good quality health care is so important in retirement, because it’s one of biggest costs incurred,” Gailey said.
Worst U.S. state to retire in
In contrast, Alaska was ranked No. 50. The state’s low ranking was driven by its poor marks nearly across the board, Gailey said.
Other low-ranked states include New York (49), Washington (48), and California (47), all of which were dinged for their high costs of living.
“The common thread is they are expensive states to live in,” Gailey said. “In retirement, you’re on a fixed income and it can be jarring and stressful to see your retirement savings going down.”
See the full rankings here.
Georgia’s six-week abortion ban is unconstitutional, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled Monday, permitting abortions to resume later into pregnancies.
The order means the state can’t enforce the six-week ban that took effect in 2022. Abortions may continue to be performed until around 22 weeks of pregnancy.
“While the State’s interest in protecting ‘unborn’ life is compelling, until that life can be sustained by the State — and not solely by the woman compelled by the Act to do the State’s work — the balance of rights favors the woman,” McBurney wrote in his ruling.
When the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade in 2022, Georgia was one of the states where a ban automatically kicked in at about six weeks, which is sometimes before a woman realizes she is pregnant.
This is a developing story.
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Hurricane Helene’s wake of massive rains and flooding isn’t just destructive to property — it is also a major health and safety risk, leaving residents in the storm’s path stranded and potentially exposed to waterborne illnesses and other dangers.
As authorities rush to airdrop supplies, restore power and clear roads, the number of storm-related deaths climbed past 100 across the Southeast.
In the devastated city of Asheville, North Carolina, Megan Drye, who was rescued, watched as her 7-year-old son Micah and her parents got swept away into the flood. They were stranded on a roof when it collapsed into the water.
Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children and those with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly at risk for flood-related hazards, internal medicine physician Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider told CBS News.
But experts say there are a variety of health risks to be aware of when it comes to floodwaters. Here’s what to be mindful of.
Floodwater drowning, injuries and diseases
Even for skilled swimmers, swift flood waters can quickly sweep anyone and anything in its path.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen a trend on social media of people dancing and jumping head first into Hurricane Helene floodwaters,” said Peter Duncanson, disaster expert at ServiceMaster Restore, adding this underscores hazards associated with engaging with floodwaters.
Aside from the water itself being dangerous, floodwaters can also conceal downed electric lines and open manholes or drains, Duncanson said. Floodwaters can also carry harmful debris that can lead to injuries like glass and metal as well as rodents and snakes.
Then there’s the dangers you can’t see with a naked eye like pathogens.
“Mostly we worry about what we call ‘enteric pathogens’ — the same kind of bacteria that cause food-borne illness, like certain strains of E. coli, salmonella, shigella and yersinia. We also worry about norovirus and hepatitis A,” Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told CBS News.
If drinking water becomes contaminated, drink only bottled (or boiled) water until advised by local authorities that the water is safe to consume, Kuritzkes said.
“Remember that you need clean water to be able to wash fruits and vegetables, so either peel or cook those before eating if you’re unable to secure a safe water supply,” he said.
Open wounds or rashes exposed to floodwater can also become infected, Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, previously told CBS News.
Avoid direct contact with floodwater whenever possible by wearing gloves and waterproof clothing and never walk barefoot through a flood.
“Often if your feet get waterlogged that’s a set-up for getting infections, including fungal infections between the toes,” said Glatter. “Wear high boots and keep your feet as dry as possible.”
Health impacts beyond flooding
Once water recedes, mold is another major issue that can trigger asthma and difficulty breathing, watery eyes and allergy-type symptoms, said Dr. Peggy Duggan, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Tampa General Hospital.
“That is why it is important to remove all furniture and items as well as drywall to mitigate the risk of mold,” Duggan said.
Glatter said carpeting and fabric-based furniture should not be salvaged.
“Bacteria can leach onto fabrics and lead to airborne infections,” he said. “I would not recommend holding onto anything with fabric that absorbs floodwater.”
Mold can appear in as little as 24 to 48 hours after floodwater recedes.
Loss of power and no access to air conditioning are also health risks to be cautious of, experts say.
“The loss of power and no access to air conditioning can increase risk to patients who have chronic medical conditions like asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and cardiovascular disease, and heart failure,” Duggan said.
Mental health after Hurricane Helene
It’s not just physical health that can be impact by the hurricane’s devastation — mental health is another concern.
“Surviving Hurricane Helene can have significant impacts on your mental health,” Courtney Morgan, a licensed therapist and founder of Louisville, Kentucky, based mental health therapy practice Counseling Unconditionally, told CBS News.
Feeling scared, hopeless or isolated may come up during or after a hurricane or another natural disaster, she said.
“Many people have lost everything in these disasters, including their homes and even loved ones. Experiencing grief is challenging regardless of the circumstances; however, trying to navigate grief in the midst of a natural disaster is exceptionally difficult, as you often do not have the means to prepare a funeral or other arrangements for your loved ones. Additionally, you may experience survivors guilt if they know that other people have lost their lives,” Morgan said.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and anxiety are mental health concerns that frequently emerge after such catastrophic events, Ungerleider said.
“During a natural disaster crisis, prioritizing mental health is critical for overall wellbeing and resilience. It’s important to first recognize and manage stress reactions early,” she said, adding a few suggestions to support your mental well-being:
- Maintain routines as much as possible to “create a sense of stability amidst chaos.”
- Stay connected to loved ones when possible (either virtually or in-person) for emotional support and to reduce feelings of isolation.
- Seek professional help from a mental health provider if symptoms like persistent anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbances are overwhelming, she added.
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