Author: Vishesh Raisinghani

When you picture a typical homebuyer, you probably envision a young adult in their 30s who is ready to put down roots and buy a property for the family they’re beginning to build.

This was certainly true back in 1981. The median age of a homebuyer at the time was 31 years old, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

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But the age of the median buyer has moved higher — a lot higher — over the past four decades. It sits at a whopping 56 years old as of 2024.

To put it another way, the person most likely to buy a home in the current market is much closer to retirement and being an empty-nester than to starting a new family.

Here’s a look at what’s driving this strange dynamic in the housing market and how young families can try to shift the odds in their favor.

Grey housing market

Not only are older Americans more likely to buy homes, but many own some of the largest properties on the market.

According to a January 2024 report by Redfin, 28.2% of three-bedroom-plus homes across the country were owned by empty-nest baby boomers. That’s compared to just 14.2% for millennials with kids.

The report suggests that baby boomers were in their prime earning years during the 1990s economic boom when newly-built homes were remarkably abundant. Home values have since shot up, and Americans who purchased homes more than 20 years ago didn’t have to spend as large of a portion of their income to buy property as they would today.

For younger buyers, this might feel like game over, but it isn’t necessarily. Here’s how you can boost your chances of getting onto the property ladder.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Improving your chances

If you’re in your 30s or 40s, it may feel as though the odds are stacked against you if you’re aiming for homeownership. Although the NAR data shows the median age of first-time buyers was 38 in 2024 (29 in 1981), this cohort only purchased 24% of homes compared to 32% a year earlier.

Nevertheless, with some planning and consistency or creative thinking, you could improve your chances. Start with aggressive saving and budgeting. Cutting back on non-essential spending — even by just $200 a month — can add up to $2,400 a year.

Pair that with steady investing in stocks or low-cost index funds and you can start accumulating funds for a downpayment.

Many young buyers also lean on the “Bank of Mom and Dad” if your parents are able to extend some financial security. About one-third of younger millennials (ages 26-34) who bought a home received assistance with their down payment through a gift or loan from a friend or family member, per a 2025 report by NAR.

You could also consider broadening your geographic search. Consider relocating to more affordable markets. Use first-time buyer programs and state-level assistance. FHA loans can cut required down payments to as little as 3.5%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Buying a home may seem challenging for younger generations, but with the right financial planning it’s still within reach.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

In a recent interview with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay, entrepreneur and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy made a surprising admission: his ex-wife Renee still has “full access” to his bank account.

Portnoy, who is reportedly worth $150 million, said, “I trust her implicitly. If she wanted to take it, she could… to be honest, she was there when we were living at the in-laws house, she was there when we couldn’t afford a hamburger, she was there through the grind. We kind of separated when we started making it, so she doesn’t get to enjoy any of that? To me, that’s not right.”

Though the couple has been separated for years, Portnoy said in a previous interview with ESPN’s Sage Steele that their divorce proceedings stalled when a judge insisted their financial agreement was unfair to Renee. But she didn’t want half, he explained, so they agreed to a private arrangement outside of court. While Portnoy’s story may sound unconventional, it highlights just how messy and expensive divorce can be.

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Divorce can be a costly and drawn-out process

Unless your breakup is as amicable as the Portnoys’, divorce is likely to be both time-consuming and expensive.

A typical case can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on where the couple lives and how intense the conflict is, according to FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters company. The average divorce involves $11,300 in attorney’s fees alone and the total costs can exceed $20,000 if it goes to trial, according to Martindale-Nolo Research.

And those figures only reflect the legal process — not the long-term financial aftermath.

Splitting assets can disrupt your finances

Couples who go through a divorce often underestimate the impact on their finances and post-divorce lives, according experts interviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Dividing up shared assets is typically the most contentious and complicated part of any divorce. Disagreements over real estate, retirement accounts, or illiquid investments can delay proceedings and cause lasting damage to both parties’ financial health.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

But the damage isn’t limited to splitting assets. A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St.Louis found that on average women lose 9% of their income after a divorce while men lose an average of 17%. Though the reasons vary, factors like new living arrangements, tax filing status changes and healthcare coverage often contribute to a loss of income after a divorce.

For couples over 50, the impact is even more dramatic: A study in The Journals of Gerontology found that women experienced a 45% decline in their standard of living after divorce, while men saw a 21% drop.

Why it pays to plan early for divorce

While Portnoy’s situation is unique, his story underscores the importance of open financial communication before and during divorce. If you’re heading toward separation, it’s wise to consult a financial advisor or attorney to help divide assets fairly and minimize long-term fallout.

Even in the best cases, divorce takes a toll. “But with early planning and the right support, it’s possible to protect your finances and move forward with greater security.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

From a seller’s perspective, the only way to describe the current housing market in the U.S. is lousy. A typical home sits on the market for 40 days on average it’s sold.

With an estimated 500,000 more sellers than buyers, Redfin reports that home listings are sitting at a five-year high.

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Simply put, this is a buyer’s market. Home sellers need to go the extra mile to get the best price.

Here are the top eight ‘buyer repellants’ to avoid if you’re trying to sell your home in 2025.

Clutter

Buying a home is an emotional process and you don’t want buyers’ first reaction to be one of disgust. A dirty, cluttered home makes it difficult for them to picture themselves in your property, which ultimately makes it difficult to sell.

Consider hiring professionals to clean and organize your space before you put it on the market.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Personal decor

Potential buyers need to visualize their own lives in your space. This isn’t possible when your walls are covered with deeply personal pictures of you and your family.

“The first thing I would do is depersonalize and remove personal photos,” celebrity real estate agent Ryan Serhant advised on an episode of The Rachael Ray Show.

“Your buyer will walk through, they’ll forget to pay attention to the house. They’ll just want to know who lives here. They’re super nosy.”

Unfixed damage

Given how pricey homes are to begin with these days, most buyers are exceptionally sensitive to any additional costs involved with buying your home. A potential buyer is likely to notice everything that needs to be fixed and use it to negotiate a lower price.

This doesn’t mean your home needs expensive renovations. Clever Real Estate recommends that sellers focus on repairs with the highest return on investment, such as garage doors, front doors and minor kitchen remodels or updates.

Dirty carpets or broken floors

Potential buyers can be put off by dirty carpets and broken floors. Fortunately, fixing this is relatively inexpensive. According to Angie’s List, the average cost to repair a carpet is $207. This quick fix can go a long way in your staging process.

Pets

Pet owners might appreciate signs that your home is big and comfortable enough for a pet, but not every prospective buyer fits this description. Some don’t like cats and dogs or have allergies.

Serhant advises putting away your pet’s food bowls and “if you have a 65-pound dog, maybe take the dog for a little walk so your person can come in and not see it without any kind of prejudice or allergies,” he added.

Overpowering scents

It’s tempting to make your home smell welcoming and pleasant, but it’s difficult to know if your potential buyers are sensitive to any odors. The safest option is to aim for a mild or neutral scent that doesn’t distract the viewer.

Excess furniture

Most home listings don’t include the furniture, so minimizing the number of items you leave behind in your listing is probably a good idea. You can work with a professional stager to rearrange or move furniture to make it more appealing for viewers.

Bold paint colors

Just like personal photos, bold and vivid colors are a reflection of your personality and are likely to be distracting for any potential buyer. White is a safer option.

“You want to project like an open canvas,” Serhant says. “You want your buyer to walk through and imagine themselves living there, and you want them to say, ‘Oh, I love these white walls, I could see how my own Star Wars-themed wall would look here.’"

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

You probably know the importance of retiring with a hefty, well-diversified portfolio of assets. But what if you’ve spent some of your money accumulating things that look like ‘assets’ but are actually hidden liabilities.

Here are the top seven tempting, but deceptive money drains that many people trap themselves into before retirement.

1. Brand new cars

If you’re relatively older and financially secure, splurging on your ‘dream car’ can be the ultimate temptation. Why not buy the toys you’ve always wanted and resell them to someone else who’s just as passionate about motors as you?

Well, the typical new car loses roughly 30% of its value within the first two years alone, according to Kelley Blue Book. The depreciation rate slows down after those initial years, which means buying a modestly used car at an affordable price is a better way to secure your financial future.

2. Timeshares

Spending your retirement on the beach in Cabo Verde is undoubtedly attractive for many people. But there’s a difference between buying a vacation home somewhere tropical and buying a timeshare.

Unlike property ownership, timeshare ownership involves steep initial costs, recurring maintenance fees, low resale potential and rigid usage schedules.

On top of that, the secondary market is notoriously poor, and many owners struggle to exit their agreements. Sales tactics can be aggressive, and the contracts themselves are often complex and difficult to navigate.

Consider creating an annual budget for vacation rentals in your retirement plan instead of locking yourself into these bad deals — you can achieve these goals faster by using a travel credit card as well.

3. Luxury collectibles

Yes, there is an active market for luxury collectibles such as vintage cars, designer handbags and luxury watches. But a Rolex probably doesn’t deserve a spot on your retirement portfolio.

Luxury consumers are a fickle bunch and what’s considered valuable today may not be as valuable by the time you retire.

Diamonds, for instance, were a popular collectible, but have since seen prices decline by 26% in just the last two years, according to The Guardian.

With that in mind, avoid the glamorous “assets” and focus on safe but boring investments like corporate bonds or dividend stocks.

4. Buying a mansion or home upgrades

It’s nearly irresistible to think of your primary residence as the bedrock of your retirement. Collectively, Canadians are sitting on an estimated $4.7 trillion in home equity, which is the largest pool of private wealth in the country, according to Clay Financial.

However, it’s possible to go overboard with this investment. Buying a house that is far beyond your budget or too big for your needs can make it tougher to pay off the mortgage or maintain the property when you’re on a fixed income. It’s also a good idea to avoid excessive and frequent renovations to try and add value to the property.

Instead, focus on minimizing costs and debt, and consider downsizing to tap into some of that built-up equity to make your retirement more flexible and comfortable.

5. Lottery tickets or speculative investments

Buying lottery tickets or pouring money into unproven and speculative investments is rarely a good idea, regardless of your age. But the risks are magnified when you’re older and approaching the end of your career.

Instead of indulging in wishful thinking that a meme-worthy cryptocurrency or random penny stock is going to make you rich overnight, consider the safer path to retirement. Focus on blue chip dividend stocks, bonds or gold.

6. Multiple or excessive mortgages

Rental income from a robust portfolio of real estate is a great way to enhance your passive income in retirement. But if you’re at the end of your career and rely on a fixed income, you should recognize the fact that your capacity for risk is much lower.

With this in mind, consider lowering or paying off all the mortgages on your rental properties. If you can’t, sell a few units to pay off the loans on others in your portfolio.

As a retired landlord, you can’t afford a sudden housing market crash or interest rate volatility.

7. Whole life insurance

Despite what the insurance salesman has probably told you, whole life insurance isn’t an ideal retirement vehicle.

These plans can be five to ten times more expensive than term life insurance, according to PolicyMe, and you have limited control over how the capital is invested.

Instead, focus on relatively simple financial instruments that offer steady cash flow and greater control.

Sources

1. Kelley Blue Book: Car Depreciation Calculator

2. The Guardian: Diamonds lose their sparkle as prices come crashing down, by James Tapper (Jan 25, 2025)

3. Clay Financial: 7 Ways To Access Your Home Equity in Canada (Apr 18, 2024)

4. PolicyMe: Term Vs Whole Life Insurance: What’s Better? (Nov 9, 2023)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

On paper, Jackson’s debt-free status and $200,000 annual salary might look like an easy ticket to financial freedom.

But in reality, the 25-year-old heavy-duty mechanic from Canada admits he’s often staring at a bank account that doesn’t reflect his hard work or financial progress.

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“I get my paychecks and I pay my bills with it and then I don’t look at my account all that much,” he said on a recent episode of The Ramsey Show. “I just kind of know there’s always a good chunk of change in there and it usually fluctuates between $15,000 and 25,000.

“But it’s not really going ahead from there because I’m kind of just living, you know?”

Jackson’s situation isn’t unusual, but celebrity finance personality Dave Ramsey believes his “healthy disgust” with his lack of progress at such a young age certainly is. Here’s why many high-income people struggle to accumulate meaningful wealth.

Biggest mistake rich people make

Jackson’s difficulty holding onto his high income isn’t unique. Roughly 36% of Americans earning more than $200,000 a year say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to a 2024 study by PYMNTs.

Among those in this income bracket, 22.8% cited family expenses as the top reason they can’t save money. Another 17% pointed to poor saving and financial habits as the main reason they live paycheck to paycheck.

Lifestyle creep and untamed budgets appear to drive many people to spend as much — or even more — than they earn. According to Ramsey, the biggest mistake high earners make is a lack of intentionality with their money.

Jackson, however, is determined to avoid that mistake.

“I feel like I make too much money to not have some sort of a plan and I don’t want to feel like a fool who squanders a fortune,” he tells Ramsey, who responds with a compliment: “Just asking the question puts you in the top 5%, dude.”

Ramsey’s advice? Start with a robust budget.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Give every dollar a job

According to Ramsey, the only way to be intentional with your money is to set up a spending plan before the income arrives.

“We’re going to write it down — before the month begins — where every dollar is going to go,” he told Jackson. “Give every dollar an assignment. Contract with yourself. If you have a spouse, do it with your spouse.”

A tight monthly budget should help Jackson earmark cash for necessary expenses, discretionary spending, taxes and emergencies — and ideally leave extra for savings and investments. Working with a financial planner would also be ideal.

Unfortunately, only 27% of Americans use professional help for investment advice and services, according to a 2024 YouGov survey.

Most aren’t doing this work independently either. Just two in five Americans said they have a monthly budget or closely monitor their spending, according to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

In other words, a robust, professional budget is rare, which helps explain why living paycheck to paycheck is so common. You can avoid the same pitfalls by hiring a professional or setting up a solid budget of your own.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

When the Washington Redskins signed then-rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III for his first contract in 2012, the deal’s estimated $21.1 million price tag was all over the headlines. What didn’t make the headlines was how much Griffin actually got to take home at the time.

In a recent interview with former MMA fighter Demetrious Johnson the Mighty podcast, the former athlete revealed that the deal was structured to give him $14 million upfront as a signing bonus with the rest later, but he only saw $6.9 million appear in his bank account.

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"I called my agent immediately,” Griffin recalls. “I’m distraught! ‘Oh my god, they took all the money out. Where is the $14 million?’ And he’s like, ‘Rob, it’s taxes.’”

Griffin admits the experience stung, but it ultimately highlighted a harsh truth: many pro athletes end up broke simply because they were never taught the financial basics. It’s a lesson that resonates far beyond the sports world.

Lack of financial literacy

Rookie athletes with rare talent in their sport are often entrusted with multimillion dollar contracts, but many are woefully unprepared for this windfall. Griffin admits he wasn’t ready to manage his immense fortune when he was first signed.

“I wasn’t financially literate when I first got into the NFL,” he told Johnson. “I never had that kind of money.”

This is why Griffin — who was just 22 years old at the time — was unaware that marginal tax rates for multimillionaires can be as high as 50% in some states, according to SmartAsset.

However, a lack of essential financial skills isn’t restricted to those who earn big payouts and have complicated tax situations. On average, U.S. adults could only answer 49% of 28 personal finance questions correctly, according to the 2025 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index.

This rate of financial literacy has remained more or less the same over the past eight years, according to the report.

The report also found how detrimental this lack of financial skills could be. Adults with low financial literacy were twice as likely to be constrained by debt, three times more likely to be financially vulnerable and five times more likely to not have at least one month of emergency savings.

Simply put, learning new financial skills could help you mitigate many of the economic risks most people face. However, there is another, potentially easier way to boost your personal financial security: hiring a professional.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Working with a professional

If you don’t have the time or inclination to learn about money, you could simply hire a professional to manage your situation for you.

Experienced accountants, tax advisors, investment advisors or financial planners can help you create a better path to any of your financial goals and place guardrails on your budget to make sure you’re not vulnerable.

Unfortunately, only 27% of U.S. adults work with financial advisors, according to a 2024 survey by YouGov. Those who may need this assistance the most are also the least likely to work with professionals.

Only 9% of adults who did not finish high school work with financial advisors, while 45% of those with postgraduate degrees do.

Hiring a professional can be expensive, but the costs are often offset by the added tax savings, improved investment outcomes and better money management that an experienced advisor can offer.

This could be one of the reasons why the NFL Players Association launched its Financial Advisors Program to help connect professional athletes with a prescreened list of financial professionals.

The platform helps protect young rookies from financial mistakes Griffin and his peers can be at risk of making.

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• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

In a digital post dripping with outrage, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the claims made by Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, alleging widespread fraud within the Social Security system.

"Our own government just blindly sends checks to anyone and everyone whether citizen, non-citizen, dead or alive,” Greene said in a recent post on X, formerly Twitter. "We must end this malpractice and outright waste, fraud, and abuse. This is the mission of DOGE."

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To be fair, the Congresswoman has a reputation for making baseless allegations and promoting conspiracy theories. In previous tweets, she has claimed that 9/11 was an inside job, Jewish people control a space laser that causes wildfires and that the Sandy Hook massacre was staged.

Her latest assertion — that cracking down on “widespread” fraud can save the Social Security Administration (SSA) $1 trillion — has also been debunked.

Here’s a closer look at why experts argue that while addressing waste and fraud is necessary, it’s not a silver bullet for the nation’s safety net.

Misleading claims

The claim that the Social Security Administration “blindly” sends out checks is misleading.

Non-citizens or foreign-born workers with legal permits pay into the system at the same rate as citizens but collect fewer benefits on average, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Meanwhile, undocumented workers contributed an estimated $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes — typically through borrowed or fraudulent Social Security numbers. These individuals are not eligible to receive benefits.

While the agency isn’t immune to fraud and improper payments, the overall impact is minimal.

During a press conference on March 18, Lee Dudek, the agency’s acting commissioner, estimated that annual losses due to direct deposit fraud at roughly $100 million. That represents just 0.00625% of the $1.6 trillion the government distributes annually in Social Security benefits, according to the Brookings Institute.

That figure is nowhere close to Greene’s claims of $1 trillion per year on X. Her claim would amount to 62.5% of the SSA’s total projected payouts for 2025.

Nevertheless, the Congresswoman continues to insist that tighter identity verification procedures could help reduce fraud.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Stringent ID requirements

The SSA confirmed updated ID policies were implemented by April 14. Under the new rules, more people will need to visit a Social Security office in person to make changes to their direct deposit information.

Critics argue that these changes come at a time when the agency is still reeling from mass layoffs and office closures by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency. In February, the SSA announced a 12% reduction in its workforce and a reduction in field offices from 10 to 4, according to AARP.

“The customer service situation at Social Security has really declined in the past month or so,” Bill Sweeney, senior vice president of government affairs at AARP, told CNBC. He noted that the average wait time for the SSA’s 800 number rose from 11 minutes in November to 21.2 minutes.

This could be a good time to log in to your SSA account and double-check your details to ensure the agency has the correct information. If not, contact SSA to make any necessary corrections or updates and to avoid delays in receiving your benefits.

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• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

One of the great perks of reaching your golden years is the newfound freedom to live wherever you choose.

With the kids out of the house and work no longer tying you down, retirement opens the door to relocating to a place that better suits your lifestyle. So, why not consider moving to a state where seniors report the highest levels of happiness?

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Caring.com, a leading online resource for senior care information and support, has just unveiled its latest Senior Happiness Index, a comprehensive look at where older Americans are thriving.

To compile the index, experts evaluated a range of things that boost quality of life in retirement.

These included each state’s overall happiness score, cost of living, average life expectancy, access to health care, physical and mental health status of residents over age 60, and the availability of senior centers and support services.

The result is a state-by-state breakdown highlighting where older Americans enjoy the greatest well-being.

Whether you’re thinking about where to retire or simply curious about how your state stacks up, here’s a closer look at the five states that topped the rankings.

1. Utah

Utah tops the list as a retirement haven for older adults. According to Caring.com, the state with a score of 7.69 out of 10 on the Senior Happiness Index.

This score is based primarily on the state’s supportive environment for people in this age cohort. Seniors are more healthy, less isolated and more likely to be engaged in community volunteer work here, which makes retirement much more satisfying.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Unfortunately, these advantages come at a cost. According to ElderLife Financial, senior care in Utah tends to cost more than the national average, with a typical assisted living facility costing $4,150 per month, as of 2024.

Nevertheless, if you’re wealthier or more financially secure than the average retiree, this might be an ideal state to retire in

2. Idaho

Idaho is second on Caring.com’s index, scoring 7.38 out of 10. Again, this is based on the density of seniors in the state and the access to senior services and support resources.

Fortunately, Idaho is also considered a tax-friendly state for older Americans, according to SmartAsset, which means you can expect no taxes on your Social Security benefits and relatively lower sales and property taxes, saving you money.

3. Connecticut

Connecticut ranks third on the Senior Happiness Index, scoring 7.01 out of 10. The state has the third-highest life expectancy and is in the top 10 for overall health. So if you’re trying to live long and stay fit in retirement, this could be an ideal destination.

Unfortunately, according to SmartAsset, the state is a relatively unfriendly tax jurisdiction for seniors. This means you may have little to no tax benefits for retirement income and could be exposed to relatively high property and inheritance taxes.

The cost of living is noticeably higher here. According to Senior Living, a typical retiree can expect to spend $4,661 to live independently in Connecticut, 52% higher than the national average, according to Senior Living.

4. Delaware

Delaware ties with Connecticut with a score of 7.01 out of 10, and ranks ninth for health outcomes. It is in the top five states with the lowest ratio of older adults living alone, which means you’re less vulnerable to social isolation here.

Delaware is also tax-friendly to seniors, according to SmartAsset. The average monthly cost of living independently here is $3,862, which Senior Living reports is just 26% above the national average. Overall, Delaware could be an excellent choice for your golden years.

5. Nebraska

Home to billionaire Warren Buffett — one of the most famous recent retirees in America — Nebraska ranks fifth on Caring.com’s Senior Happiness Index.

Fortunately, if you’re looking to join the Oracle of Omaha and retire in the Cornhusker state, it won’t cost you much.

The average monthly cost of living for an independent senior is just $1,917, 37% lower than the national average, according to Senior Living.

If saving money in retirement is a top priority, Nebraska should be on your list for relocation.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.