Dreaming of a Middle-Class Retirement in the South? Here’s What You Need To Save
It’s a win-win for the middle class to consider retiring in the South. These states offer great weather, plenty of recreational activities and a relatively low cost of living for your retirement years. Even a modest savings goes a long way in funding 20 years of retirement.
According to a recent GOBankingRates study, those retiring without Social Security benefits in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia need anywhere from $270,000 to $338,000 saved up for a comfortable 20-year retirement lifestyle.
See More: GOBankingRates Original Research Center
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See how much members of the middle-class need in savings to retire with and without Social Security benefits in the South.
Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Middle-class income range: $41,351 to $124,054
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $364,868
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $827,027
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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Middle-class income range: $39,182 to $117,546
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $321,482
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $783,640
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DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
Middle-class income range: $47,807 to $143,422
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $493,988
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $956,147
ferrantraite / iStock.com
Middle-class income range: $49,776 to $149,328
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $533,362
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $995,520
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Middle-class income range: $41,611 to $124,834
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $370,068
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $832,227
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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Middle-class income range: $40,015 to $120,046
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $338,148
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $800,307
DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com
Middle-class income range: $36,610 to $109,830
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $270,042
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $732,200
J. Michael Jones / iStock.com
Middle-class income range: $46,603 to $139,808
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $469,895
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $932,053
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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Middle-class income range: $42,402 to $127,206
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $385,882
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $848,040
traveler1116 / Getty Images
Middle-class income range: $44,545 to $133,636
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $428,748
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $890,907
mavdesign / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Middle-class income range: $44,731 to $134,194
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $432,468
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $894,627
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RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock.com
Middle-class income range: $50,861 to $152,584
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $555,068
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,017,227
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Middle-class income range: $60,649 to $181,948
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $750,828
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $1,212,987
WilliamSherman / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Middle-class income range: $38,611 to $115,834
Amount needed for 20-year retirement with Social Security: $310,068
Amount needed for 20-year retirement without Social Security: $772,227
View more original studies and surveys at the GOBankingRates original research center.
Methodology: Data was sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index, Federal Reserve Economic Research. Middle-class income is defined by Pew Research Center as two-thirds to double the national median income. The minimum income needed to be middle class was calculated and the savings needed to retire was calculated. The average income for one person was sourced from the Social Security Administration for December 2024, and the retirement savings needed after Social Security benefits was calculated. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Jan. 24, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dreaming of a Middle-Class Retirement in the South? Here’s What You Need To Save