Social Security Across the U.S.: Household Share and Average Income by State

Nearly 42% of West Virginia households receive Social Security—the highest in the U.S.—highlighting regional reliance on retirement income across all states.

Retirees in West Virginia rely on Social Security more than those in any other state.

A recent analysis by GOBankingRates examined how heavily American retirees depend on Social Security by looking at the percentage of households in each state that receive Social Security income. States were ranked based on the share

California leads the nation with the highest number of households—3,779,490—that rely on Social Security income. In total, 11 U.S. states each have more than 1 million households receiving Social Security benefits. These states, ranked by the number of recipient households, are: California, Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey.

In the 10 states where reliance on Social Security is greatest, over 35% of households depend on these benefits. West Virginia tops the list, with 41.2% of households relying on Social Security. The other states in this group are Maine (37.3%), Hawaii (37.2%), Florida (36.7%), Vermont (36.3%), Delaware (36%), New Mexico (35.8%), Mississippi (35.5%), Alabama (35.2%), and South Carolina (35.1%).

West Virginia not only has the highest dependency rate but is also recognized as one of the most affordable states to retire, according to Social Security studies. Notably, it is among the nine states that do not tax Social Security income.

How Much Americans Rely on Social Security in Every State