Delaware Is Ranked As The #1 State For Older People
Delaware Is Ranked As The #1 State For Older People in a new survey.
According to AgeFriendly.org “Based on 60,000+ user-submitted star ratings to AgeFriendly.org, here is a ranking of the top states for age-friendly living.”
AgeFriendly.org used a blend of things to calculate the best states for older people.
Outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation, and community and health services.
Data was collected from over 60,000 submissions from older people across America.
Care ratings for the list were based upon the access and availability of services to the aging community.
To calculate working category scores Age Friendly took into account the opportunities for working and volunteering in the community. They also took into consideration how active and involved a resident can be within that community.
Transportation also factored into the survey.
“Convenient public transportation services, and ability to walk to employment and other surrounding services are crucial factors communities consider in enabling aging populations to have mobility and accessibility to all of the services it has to offer. ”
Delaware took the top spot in the survey followed by Idaho, Hawaii, Arkansas, and New Jersey.
South Dakota was ranked at the very bottom.
Delaware is also ranked highly as a top place to spend retirement years.
It is close to tons of states and cities so you are never too far from the action.
This also includes all the beaches within the Delaware state lines.
The biggest reason that Delaware is a sought after retirement state is for tax reasons.
- If you retire to Delaware, state income taxes allow for an exclusion of $12,500 from retirement income such as IRA’s, pensions, and 401(k) plans.
- There’s no sales tax (tax-free shopping!)
- An additional $2,500 standard deduction is available for those over 65.
- The gas tax is less than the national average. (ActsRetirement.org)
Delaware Is Ranked As The #1 State For Older People in a new survey.
Happiest Cities In The Delaware Region
#7 Columbia, MD
COLUMBIA, MD – DECEMBER 09: A general view of the atmosphere during a visit from Torrey Smith and Chanel Smith at PANDORA at Columbia Mall on December 9, 2014 in Columbia, Maryland. (Photo by Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images for PANDORA)
About 80 miles away from Wilmington, DE, Columbia Maryland ranks high in Emotonal and Physical well-being.
#32 Jersey City, NJ
JERSEY CITY, NJ – APRIL 06: With the New York City skyline in the background, immigration reform advocates participate in a “Time is Now” rally for immigration reform on April 6, 2013 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Labor unions and immigration reform advocacy organizations held the event at Liberty State Park to urge Congress to find a path to American citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Just over the river from NYC, Jersey City also ranks well in emotional and physical well being. The city is one of the most diverse in the entire country. JC is known for the many luxury high rise riverfront condos.
#50 Washington, DC
What DC lacks in income and employment, he gets high marks on emotional and physical well being.
#100 Wilmington, DE
Our home! In this survey, Wilmington ranks best in community and environment. Actually we come in at #17 when just ranked on community and environment. Wilmington is seen as a caring city, with low hate crime incidents, good weather and many acres of parkland.
#125 Newark, NJ
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Fun things to do in Newark, NJ include the Newark Museum of Art, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center and there are fun festivals and culinary experiences in the Ironbound neighborhood.
#148 Philadelphia, PA
(Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
Right up I95 from Delaware of course and it’s also fun to visit. However in this survey Philly got low marks on emotional and physical well-being, as the city struggles to control gun violence.
#149 Dover, DE
DOVER, DE – JUNE 20: A general view of atmosphere during day 2 of the Firefly Music Festival on June 20, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival)
Delaware’s capital city, Dover scores highest on “community and environment”.
#150 Baltimore, MD
BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 01: An aerial view of Baltimore City skyline on December 1, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
As we get lower on the happy cities list, we notice these communities struggling in multiple areas. Baltimore challenge in this survey is income and employment issues.
