Despite an influx of Americans moving to Texas, the Lone Star State finds itself ranked as the second worst U.S. state for retirement, sparking curiosity as to why this is the case.

Texas, known for its sun-drenched landscapes and bustling cities, has received some less than stellar rankings in recent state surveys.

In a 2025 survey, Texas came in second worst when it comes to being a desirable state for retirement. The survey, which weighted affordability most heavily at about 28 percent, ranked Texas 42nd in this category. This low ranking is likely due to factors such as the cost of living and healthcare quality, which were areas where Texas performed poorly.

In the health care category, Texas fared even worse. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2024), Texas ranked 50th out of all states. This low ranking is attributed to a high rate of care being avoided due to cost and a low number of healthcare providers relative to the population. In the health care category that was weighted at 16 percent, Texas came in last.

Texas also ranked last in the sub-category of natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricane landfalls, and earthquakes. The state also ranked among the worst (45th) when it comes to temperature extremes, either higher or lower.

However, Texas did manage to rank 7th in the local taxes category, according to the Tax Foundation (2025). The state also ranked 33rd in the 'Other' category, which includes factors such as walk score, Community Well-Being Index, air pollution, and water system violations. Texas also ranked 40th in the arts, entertainment, and recreation category.

In a surprising turn, Texas ranked 38th in terms of neighborhood safety, and 49th in terms of the number of adults 65 or older per 100,000 residents.

It's worth noting that Texas ranked first in the 2024 internal migration survey because of general population inflow driven by factors like job opportunities and economic growth. These differing criteria explain the contrasting results between the retirement and internal migration surveys.

Overall, Texas' rankings in these surveys highlight areas where improvement could be made, particularly in health care and retirement amenities. However, the state's strong points in areas such as taxes and certain aspects of safety offer some encouraging signs for the future.

Despite an influx of Americans moving to Texas, the Lone Star State finds itself ranked as the second worst U.S. state for retirement, sparking curiosity as to why this is the case.