Places for Women To Live on Social Security: Women face unique retirement challenges, particularly financial ones. Research from Prudential Financial shows that women have less than one-third of men’s median retirement savings across all age groups. They are also three times more likely to delay retirement due to caregiving responsibilities. Consequently, women who rely heavily on Social Security receive significantly less, with the Social Security Administration projecting a median monthly benefit of $1,623 for women compared to $2,080 for men.
This discrepancy stems from women’s lower workplace earnings, which lead to reduced Social Security contributions, and the fact that women often leave the workforce to care for families, further lowering their benefits. Given that the average monthly rent in the U.S. was $1,739 as of July 2024, surviving on just Social Security is challenging.
Safety is a critical consideration for all retirees, especially women. Choosing a location with low crime rates, along with access to social activities and healthcare, is essential for a secure and fulfilling retirement.
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Based on an examination of information from the FBI, Sperling’s Best Places, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau, GOBankingRates recently released a study ranking the safest and most reasonably priced places to retire.
Here are ten of the best places for women to live on Social Security, arranged alphabetically, based on that and other studies:
10 Places for Women To Live on Social Security Check
Anacortes, Washington
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.971
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.833
- Annual Cost of Living: $85,882
Dubuque, Iowa
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.853
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.914
- Annual Cost of Living: $61,949
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.930
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.887
- Annual Cost of Living: $64,065
Jonesborough, Tennessee
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.973
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.925
- Annual Cost of Living: $61,730
Keene, New Hampshire
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.945
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.894
- Annual Cost of Living: $67,203
Kettering, Ohio
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.984
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.933
- Annual Cost of Living: $58,228
Pinehurst, North Carolina
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.989
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.983
- Annual Cost of Living: $68,516
Rochester, Minnesota
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.929
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.908
- Annual Cost of Living: $68,735
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
- Violent Crime Rate Score: 0.939
- Property Crime Rate Score: 0.878
- Annual Cost of Living: $64,211
Other Data To Consider
When it comes to the best states for women retirees, various sources provide different answers. An analysis by Insider Monkey ranked these five states as the top choices for female retirees:
- Delaware
- Washington
- Minnesota
- Colorado
- Florida
A separate analysis by Provise Management Group identified these five states as the best for female retirees:
- Hawaii
- New Hampshire
- Tennessee
- Oregon
- Arizona
While these states rank high as retirement destinations for women, they may not be ideal for those relying heavily on Social Security benefits. For example, Hawaii is costly regardless of your location.