Make money work for you!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Budgeting
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

10 Worst States to Live on Just a Social Security Check

December 20, 2022 · Personal Finance
Massachusetts
Photo by Sean Pavone from Shutterstock

4. Massachusetts

  • Cost-of-living index: 135.0
  • Average one-bedroom rent (January 2022): $1,385

Beautiful New England foliage, the Islands, the impossible-to-replicate Boston accent, and elite schools like Harvard are all things that come to mind when you think of Massachusetts. But retirees who live there on just a Social Security check may tell you how difficult it is to stay afloat.

Unfortunately, living there is not inexpensive. Residents of only four states are dealing with higher housing costs than those who call Massachusetts home. Basically, pretty much everything costs more than the national average in the New England state, with not just housing, but healthcare and groceries being especially pricey.

And though the average household income for retirees is high, taxes can significantly reduce those earnings.

Keep reading to discover the top 3 worst states to live on just a Social Security check!

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

52 comments on “10 Worst States to Live on Just a Social Security Check”

  1. Ed Dale says:
    January 7, 2026 at 9:39 am

    I left Taxachusetts 50 years ago. Moved to Alaska!!!! Best thing I ever did. No personal State income tax!!! No State sales tax. Yes it gets cold and dark in winter. But summers are beautiful. Warmth and all the sunlight. It’s home!!!!!! HOME is where you make it. Playing golf at midnight is awesome!!! Each year eligible citizens get a Permanent Fund Dividend check from the State from the oil revenues received from oil revenue taxes. But the best part is the beauty of it all. Hunting, fishing, scenery, the people. It’s just different from the Lower 48!!!!!

    Reply
  2. LINDA STEPHENS says:
    February 3, 2025 at 1:41 am

    That isn’t a picture of Washington. That is Washington, DC. Duh???

    Reply
  3. Betty says:
    February 2, 2025 at 2:33 pm

    You forgot Texas. Even the winter Texans commented on how higher prices are, then at home.

    Reply
  4. Shelly Weger says:
    January 7, 2025 at 2:46 am

    Take me off the Lists!

    Reply
  5. Robert Morris says:
    January 6, 2025 at 9:00 pm

    By the way, Washington D.C. is not in the state of Washington. The Washington Monument shown in the picture is in Washington D.C.

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • Cardboard package with a crossed-out $139 tag peeled back to reveal $69 and $0, beside branching blue and yellow arrows. 5 Tricks for Getting Amazon Prime Free or Cheap
  • A postal worker wearing glasses sits in a breakroom reading a Social Security monthly benefit statement. Your Social Security Check Could Drop $459 a Month by 2032 Unless Lawmakers Step In
  • Stylized calendar archway dated 01 and 15 over a split highway leading toward a sunrise and city skyline. Government Benefit Deadlines Coming Up Right After the New Year
  • Calendar grid with a green federal direct deposit ribbon interrupted by a red pause symbol on a Wednesday date. Surprising Things That Can Pause Your Social Security Deposit
  • Industrial blade marked with a cross cutting retirement benefit sheets that drop into a domestic ledger cart. 9 Reasons the Medicare Premium Announcement Matters More Than the COLA
  • Illustration of a man with a magnifying glass inspecting a phone displaying water and an alert buoy anchored to the seabed. 8 Ways to Check Whether a Payment Message Is Real
  • A balance scale weighs a 3.6% COLA circle against icons of utilities, groceries, and a prescription bottle. 10 Things the 3.6% COLA Will and Won't Cover in Your 2027 Budget
  • Cutaway illustration of a lit house at dusk showing home offices, storage boxes, and a sign reading "$200 / DAY, $6,000 / MO". 8 Ways to Bring In $200 a Day Without Leaving Home
  • Illustration of storefront windows with Early Access and Doorbusters signs on an autumn street beside a calendar. 10 Stores With Early Black Friday Deals Worth Checking
  • Older woman wearing glasses seated on a wooden bench, reading a Medicare & You booklet with a budget notepad on her lap. 9 Medicare Plan Comparisons That Save Money

Newsletter

Get money-saving tips and personal finance advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

Gouache illustration of nine pathways leading from a single house to alternative retirement housing options.

9 Retirement Living Arrangements Beyond the Traditional House

Discover 9 alternative retirement living arrangements—from ADUs and co-housing to RV living and overseas options—to…

Read More →
worrying about money, financial stability

I Stopped Worrying About Money Thanks to These Trustworthy 7 Tips

Simplify your finances using a digital budget and notebook in a bright workspace to eliminate…

Read More →
home-selling mistakes market

Signs the Housing Market Will Crash at The End of 2024

With high mortgage rates and even higher home prices, many homebuyers witnessed their hopes sink…

Read More →
retire early

I Want to Retire Early And Live a Good Life. Here’s How!

Never stray from your plan If you want to retire early, you need to be…

Read More →
expenses to say goodbye to Kamala

7 Expenses to Say Goodbye To if Kamala Harris Wins

Panic buying Financial experts say that stockpiling, buying in bulk, and most importantly, panic buying…

Read More →
pool

Pool Regret Is Real! 7 Reasons Not to Invest in One

A stressed man sits with his head in his hands, overwhelmed by the mounting costs…

Read More →
Work From Home, change 2023

10 New Jobs That Pay You Daily (Anyone Can Do This!)

7. Slice the Pie Slice the Pie is another survey site that offers money for…

Read More →
A mid-century gouache illustration of a relaxed retired man sitting in a lounge chair with a tablet, balancing work and leisure.

12 Stress-Free Jobs for Retirees With High-Salaries

Discover 12 low-stress, high-paying jobs for retirees. Learn how to maximize your income while protecting…

Read More →
A senior man in a garden thoughtfully reviewing financial data on a tablet during sunset.

8 Social Security Changes Retirees Need To Watch Before 2027

Navigate the crucial 2026 Social Security updates, including the new COLA projections, Medicare Part B…

Read More →
The Money Place

Make money work for you!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Trust & Legal

  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Request to Know
  • Request to Delete
  • CA Private Policy

Categories

  • Budgeting
  • Personal Finance
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

© 2026 The Money Place. All rights reserved.