Where you live doesn’t directly determine the size of your Social Security check.
But some states have noticeably higher average retirement benefits than others.
The Social Security Administration’s latest state-by-state figures show a difference of hundreds of dollars a month between some states.
Why?
Social Security retirement benefits are largely based on a worker’s earnings history and the age at which benefits are claimed. So states with different wages, work histories and retiree populations can wind up with very different averages.
According to the latest SSA data on retired-worker benefits awarded in 2025, these 10 states had the highest average monthly awards.
1. New Hampshire — $2,459.01 per month
New Hampshire comes out on top, with newly awarded retired workers receiving an average of about $2,459 per month.
That’s roughly $29,500 a year before any applicable deductions or taxes.
2. Connecticut — $2,451.92 per month
Connecticut isn’t far behind.
The average monthly benefit among retired workers receiving new awards in 2025 was approximately $2,452, or about $29,423 over 12 months.
3. Maryland — $2,416.64 per month
Maryland takes the third spot, with an average newly awarded retirement benefit of approximately $2,417 per month.
That works out to almost $29,000 per year.
4. New Jersey — $2,404.51 per month
New Jersey retirees receiving new awards averaged approximately $2,405 per month.
That’s about $28,854 annually.
5. Delaware — $2,379.19 per month
Delaware rounds out the top five.
Its newly awarded retired workers received an average monthly benefit of approximately $2,379, equivalent to about $28,550 per year.
6. Massachusetts — $2,349.77 per month
In Massachusetts, the average new retired-worker benefit was approximately $2,350 per month.
Over 12 months, that’s about $28,197.
7. Minnesota — $2,335.56 per month
Minnesota comes next, with newly awarded retired workers averaging approximately $2,336 per month.
That’s about $28,027 annually.
8. Washington — $2,315.64 per month
Washington’s average was approximately $2,316 per month, putting it among the highest states in the country.
That translates to roughly $27,788 per year.
9. Virginia — $2,293.04 per month
Virginia retirees receiving new awards averaged approximately $2,293 per month.
That’s about $27,516 over the course of a year.
10. Rhode Island — $2,282.77 per month
Rounding out the top 10 is Rhode Island, where the average newly awarded retired-worker benefit was approximately $2,283 per month.
That’s about $27,393 annually.
The latest figures come directly from the Social Security Administration’s Annual Statistical Supplement.
Does Moving to One of These States Increase Your Social Security?
No.
This is the important part.
You don’t receive a larger Social Security retirement benefit simply because you move to New Hampshire, Connecticut or Maryland.
Your retirement benefit is calculated using your earnings record and other factors, including when you claim benefits.
The state averages instead reflect differences among the people receiving benefits in each state.
For example, a state with a larger proportion of retirees who had higher lifetime earnings may wind up with a higher average Social Security benefit.
So don’t pack your bags for New Hampshire just to get a bigger check.
How Does That Compare With the Rest of the Country?
Across all areas included in the SSA’s latest table, the average monthly benefit for retired-worker awards during 2025 was $2,129.43.
That makes the difference fairly substantial.
A newly awarded retired worker in New Hampshire averaged about $330 more per month than the overall figure.
That’s nearly $4,000 over a full year.
Again, that difference isn’t caused by living in New Hampshire. It reflects differences in the beneficiaries receiving awards there.
Your Social Security Check Isn’t the Only Number That Matters
There’s another side to this story that’s especially important if you’re deciding where to retire.
A bigger Social Security check doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have more money left at the end of the month.
Housing, property taxes, insurance, utilities, groceries and healthcare costs can vary enormously depending on where you live.
A $2,400 monthly benefit in an expensive area could potentially provide less spending power than a $2,000 benefit in an area with substantially lower living expenses.
That’s why retirement planning isn’t just about asking:
“How big will my Social Security check be?”
It’s also worth asking:
“How far will that check go where I live?”
And for retirees trying to stretch a fixed monthly income, the second question may be just as important as the first.
