Where you ultimately choose to retire doesn't always come down to dollars and cents. Indeed, the top reason people move in retirement is to be closer to family, according to a survey by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, a research firm focused on the aging population. Or, rather than move, maybe you just want to stay put in retirement in a place that's comfortable and familiar. For whatever reason, you may wind up retiring in a place where the living costs can be relatively high.

But it can be worth it. We pinpointed one great retirement destination in each state, taking into account safety, median incomes and poverty rates for retirement-age residents, locals' sense of well-being, and the availability of recreational and health care facilities, as well as living expenses. While the cost of living in each of these 16 retirement spots exceeds the national average by 10% or more, each offers plenty of attractive advantages for retirees to offset the higher price tag. It's worth noting, too, that most people in these expensive areas can afford the living costs, given their typically higher-than-average household incomes. Take a look to see if any of these pricey places to retire are worth fitting into your own budget.

Pittsfield, Mass.

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Population: 128,563

Share of population 65+: 20.9%

Cost of Living: 10% above the national average

Average Income for Households 65+: $56,465

Community Score: n/a

State's Tax Rating for Retirees: Not Tax Friendly

New England is notoriously expensive, but Pittsfield offers a small pocket of relative affordability--more reasonably priced than Boston, where living costs are 48.2% above the U.S. average. Housing is notably affordable: The median home value in the city located in the western part of the state is $170,900, compared with $341,000 for all of Massachusetts and $423,300 for Boston proper.

Leaf peeping in the fall may be enough to draw you to the Berkshires. But you have plenty to enjoy all year round, including excellent