This is where Texas ranks among the best states to retire

Hristina Byrnes, 24/7 Wall St. via The Center Square

Retirement may mark the end of a career, but it’s also the start of a new chapter of adulthood. Ideally, as retirees, people have fewer responsibilities and more opportunities for fulfilling activities.

Most people have an idea of when they will retire. Where to retire, however, may be a more complex decision to make.

Texas ranks as the third-worst state for a physically and socially active retirement.

States that have relatively large 65 and older populations are likely to also have plenty of retirement homes and communities. In Texas, 12.9% of the population is 65 or older, the third-lowest share in the U.S.

Plenty of hours of full sun during the day, nice weather year-round, and plenty of recreational sites such as national parks can help support an active lifestyle. There is an average of 5 hours 6 minutes of peak sunlight a day in Texas, the fifth-highest in the country. The National Parks Service manages a total of 14 parks, historic sites, and monuments in the state.

Volunteering can have a major impact on well-being, especially for older individuals. About 27.5% of Texas residents 65 and older volunteer several times a year. This is the 15th lowest share in the U.S., and compares to 28.0% of older adults nationwide.

To rank the best and worst states for people who want to stay active, both physically and socially, in retirement, 24/7 Tempo used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We created an index of more than 20 measures of retirement-friendliness, representing four categories — environment, health-related factors, social support, and demographics. These are the best and worst states for retirees.