Tennessee Ranks 3rd for Retiree Tax Friendliness in 2026 Motley Fool Affordability Study
Updated
Updated · WZTV · May 18
Tennessee Ranks 3rd for Retiree Tax Friendliness in 2026 Motley Fool Affordability Study
3 articles · Updated · WZTV · May 18
The Motley Fool’s 2026 analysis placed Tennessee among America’s cheapest states for retirement, giving it the top possible score for overall cost of living.
Tennessee ranked 3rd nationally for retiree tax friendliness, helped by no tax on earned income and lower-than-average costs for housing, utilities, transportation and healthcare.
A separate Seniorly study also ranked Tennessee 3rd most affordable for retirees overall, behind only Pennsylvania and Iowa, reinforcing the state’s low-cost appeal.
The reports also flagged limits to the affordability story: healthcare access and long-term financial stability remain concerns, and poverty rates among older Tennesseans rose in 2023.
Is Tennessee's low cost of living worth its low-ranked healthcare for retirees?
If Tennessee is so affordable for retirees, why is the state's senior poverty rate increasing?