By Phil Riske | Managing Editor
Nearly 16 percent of Arizona’s population is 65 years old and up, reports the U.S. Census Bureau. The state has the 10th highest percent of elderly people in the United States.
So, you might figure Arizona would be high on the list of best state in which to grow old. Not the case, says a report by Lisa McGuire of the Healthy Aging Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her study ranked Arizona in the bottom half of the 50 states — 28th.
“In terms of several economic measures, Arizona’s elderly population fares about as well as older Americans in other states, McGuire said, adding the following statistics for Arizona:
- 65 and over poverty rate: 9.4 percent (17th highest);
- 65 and over bachelor attainment: 27.3 percent (16th highest),
- Life expectancy at birth: 79.3 years (15th highest).
McGuire states the typical elderly Arizona home earns $40,195 annually, approximately $1,000 more than the corresponding nationwide average. Similarly, she said, Arizona’s 9.4 percent poverty rate among the elderly is close to the national figure.
It’s long been advised it isn’t prudent to pay more than 30 percent of annual income on rent, but Arizonans 65 and older pay at least that much on housing. That is just slightly below the national average proportion.
Hawaii leads the nation as the best place to grow old because of its geographical location in the center of the Pacific Ocean, which makes moving there cost-prohibitive for most Americans.
McGuire’s study states living in Hawaii is more expensive than living in any other state, which means state residents, including the elderly, tend to have high incomes. The typical home with an elderly head of household earns $58,150 annually, $18,000 more than in Arizona.
The overall population of Mississippi often ranks last in many social and economic measures, and the state’s elderly population also reports some of the nation’s worst outcomes compared to older Americans in other states.
Finally the average life expectancy in Arizona is 79.3, one year shorter than Hawaii, but slight longer than it is nationwide.
