(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

How many of us regularly see social media posts and advertorials touting something along the lines of the top hidden gems to retire to in West Virginia? They’re everywhere. And most seem to be aimed at luring non-West Virginians to a few select locations after their retirement.

But what if you already live here? What is the retirement landscape like, then?

Well, according to WalletHub’s “2026’s Best and Worst States to Retire,” the Mountain State is fourth worst in the nation.

There is one almost-bright spot. Our state ranks 18th for affordability and fifth for adjusted cost of living. We are tied with Alabama for third for annual cost of in-home services. But on those cost measures it is important to know we ARE in the company of states such as Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. In other words, some costs are lower because we don’t have a lot of money to begin with.

Perhaps that’s why our rank for percentage of the workforce aged 60 and older is 50th.

Meanwhile, the study places West Virginia 41st for quality of life and 50th for health care. We are 50th for museums per capita, 47th for theaters per capita, third for the percentage of the population aged 65 and older … but 49th for life expectancy.

As is often the case with studies such as these, it seems as though at least in the case of museums and theaters, the authors simply don’t have a good grasp on what many retirees might be looking to do with their free time here.

Otherwise, it is worth paying attention to, in our aging state, when we market ourselves as a wonderful place to retire and simply cannot offer the quality of life, supports and health care outcomes other states can.

Between the state House of Delegates and state Senate there have been 21 bills introduced so far this session having something to do with retirement. Most of it is naturally geared toward public employees — particularly law enforcement and teachers. These involve matters such as allowing the use of accrued leave as credit toward retirement, for example.

What awaits these folks (and those NOT in the public sector) once they do retire? Is it worth staying, or should they head to greener pastures?

It is another in a long line of indicators that must remind lawmakers: The goal is to improve quality of life and uplift all West Virginians — no matter what stage of life or their careers they have reached.