See how much you'd save by retiring in another state
Nine states have no income tax. Twelve states tax Social Security. Property tax varies by 10x across the country. The State Relocate Selector compares all 50 states against your specific retirement income mix.
What the State Relocate Selector does
- Income tax, Social Security taxation, pension/IRA taxation by state
- Property tax burden modeling — your home value × the state's effective rate
- Sales tax, estate/inheritance tax, and homestead exemption rules
- Climate, cost of living, and healthcare quality scores
- Side-by-side comparison of any 2 states with full tax-and-cost projection
A retiree drawing $60K from IRAs and $35K from Social Security saves about $11,400 per year by relocating from California to Florida — driven primarily by state income tax.
How it works
- Enter your projected retirement income mix: Social Security, pensions, IRA withdrawals, dividends.
- Enter your home value (current state) and target home value (destination).
- The tool projects 30-year state tax burden for every state.
- Pick your top 3 candidates and compare against current state side-by-side.
Why this matters
State of residence is one of the most leveraged retirement decisions you can make — and one of the easiest to change. Unlike portfolio decisions or claim-age decisions, you can pack and move.
The headline savings (state income tax) is just the start. Property tax differences over 30 years can rival a decade of income-tax savings. Estate tax exposure (12 states + DC) can force trust planning that no-tax states avoid entirely.
This is a planning tool, not personalized financial advice. Establishing residency for tax purposes requires meeting state-specific rules (typically 183 days plus other indicia) — consult a tax attorney before changing domicile.
Frequently asked questions
Which states are best for retirement taxes?
The 9 no-income-tax states (FL, TX, TN, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK, NH-on-investment-income-only) plus IL, MS, and PA which exempt most retirement income. The right one for you depends on your income mix and home value.
Does Florida really save that much?
For high-income or high-portfolio retirees moving from CA, NY, NJ, or HI — yes, often six figures over a 30-year retirement. For lower-income retirees from low-tax states, the savings can be small or negative once property tax and homeowners insurance are factored in.
What about retire-then-move scenarios?
Common — work in a high-tax state, retire to a low-tax state. The tool models the tax timing of pre-retirement Roth conversions completed before relocating, vs. waiting until after.
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Ready to run your numbers?
No advisor required. No financial products sold. Just the tool and your data — free.
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