We use two kinds of data: directly published facts (federal tax thresholds, CMS star ratings, Medicare premiums) and synthesis scores we calculate from combined inputs (retirement friendliness, tax friendliness, trust score). Every score has a defined weighting so the same input always produces the same output.
Nursing Home Trust Score (0-100)
Our Trust Score for each of 14,700 nursing homes is calculated from CMS Nursing Home Compare data using this weighted formula:
overallCmsRating × 12 (0-60 pts)
+ staffingRating × 4 (0-20 pts)
+ qualityRating × 4 (0-20 pts)
− redFlagPenalty (0-30 pts)
+ bonuses (0-10 pts)
clamp to 1-100
Red flag penalties:
- • Each recent fine: −3
- • Each payment denial: −5
- • Abuse icon on facility: −15
- • Inspection overdue: −10
- • Staff turnover > 50%: −5
- • RN hours < 0.5 per resident per day: −5
Bonuses:
- • Non-profit ownership: +5
- • No deficiencies in last inspection cycle: +5
- • Resident or family council present: +3
Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare — updated monthly. Data reflects the most recent three-year inspection cycle.
Senior Tax Friendliness Score (0-100)
Each state's Senior Tax Friendliness Score is calculated from five weighted factors that most affect retirees' actual tax burden:
| No state income tax OR full retirement income exemption | +35 |
| Social Security fully exempt from state tax | +15 |
| Property tax freeze or major exemption for age 65+ | +15 |
| Meaningful pension income exclusion | +10 |
| No state estate or inheritance tax | +10 |
| Sales tax below 5% (state-level) | +5 |
| Baseline (all states start here) | +50 |
| Estate tax present | −10 |
| SS fully or partially taxed | −10 to −20 |
Highest possible score is capped at 95 (no state is a perfect 100 because there's always some sales tax, some property tax, or some tradeoff). Lowest is capped at 40.
Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. for federal amounts, individual state Departments of Revenue, National Conference of State Legislatures. Updated annually in January after new IRS Rev. Proc. is published.
Data last updated: July 21, 2026 · Next refresh due: January 31, 2027
Retirement Friendliness Score (0-100)
Each state's Retirement Friendliness Score combines five factors, chosen because they most affect quality of life for retirees:
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Senior tax friendliness (from tax module) | 30% |
| Cost of living (inverted — lower is better) | 20% |
| Healthcare access & quality | 20% |
| Safety / crime | 15% |
| Climate suitability for older adults | 15% |
Each factor is normalized to a 0-100 scale, then combined by the weights above. Extreme climates (very cold, very hot) score lower than moderate; healthcare access reflects specialist availability and hospital quality; safety uses FBI crime index data adjusted for population density.
Sources: US Census Bureau (home values, 65+ population), Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (cost of living), HRSA (healthcare access), FBI Uniform Crime Reports (safety).
Data last updated: July 21, 2026 · Next refresh due: January 31, 2027
Medicare State Data
Medicare data at the state level shows aggregates across all Medicare Advantage plans in that state:
- • Average star rating: weighted average of CMS star ratings across all MA plans in the state
- • Average monthly premium: weighted average across all MA plans (excludes $0-premium plans from average unless most plans are $0)
- • Advantage penetration: % of Medicare-eligible residents enrolled in MA (vs. Original Medicare)
- • Top insurers: ranked by state market share
- • Affordability rating: subjective 4-tier rating (excellent/good/fair/poor) combining premium, plan variety, and $0-premium availability
- • Network quality rating: subjective 4-tier rating combining number of in-network hospitals, specialist availability, and star ratings
We do not receive commissions from Medicare plans, brokers, or insurers. Every plan gets equal representation regardless of what they'd pay us. This is different from most Medicare comparison sites.
Sources: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Files (state PUFs), CMS Star Ratings, Kaiser Family Foundation state briefs. Updated annually in October at start of Open Enrollment.
Data last updated: July 21, 2026 · Next refresh due: October 15, 2026
Fraud & Scam Data
Each scam type includes:
- • Estimated loss per victim: median loss reported by the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network for that scam type in the most recent 12 months
- • Trend direction: "increasing / stable / decreasing" based on year-over-year report volume changes at FTC Consumer Sentinel and IC3
- • Reporting URLs and phone numbers: official federal and state resources; verified against agency websites at time of publish
Sources: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network (annual and quarterly reports), FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), AARP Fraud Watch Network, SSA Office of Inspector General. Refreshed quarterly since scam trends move faster than tax rules.
Data last updated: July 21, 2026 · Next refresh due: January 15, 2027
What This Site Is Not
- • We are not tax professionals. Consult a CPA for your specific tax situation.
- • We are not Medicare brokers or agents. Consult SHIP counselors (free) or a licensed broker before enrolling.
- • We are not medical professionals. Facility ratings are informational, not clinical guidance.
- • We do not accept payment from facilities, insurers, or brokers to influence rankings.
- • Data is approximate and calibrated to public sources. Always verify specific plans, tax situations, and facility conditions before making decisions.
Errors & Feedback
If you find an error in our data — a wrong facility rating, an outdated tax rule, a missing Medicare plan — please let us know. We aim to publish corrections within 72 hours of verification.
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