There's no rule that says you must head south for retirement. America's Heartland has plenty for retirees to love. Many states in the Midwest offer affordability, beautiful scenery, an abundance of activities and quality health care. In fact, two midwestern states rank among the top four best states for retirement in 2018.

To come up with this list of great places to retire in the Midwest, we first pinpointed one great retirement destination in each of the 50 states, taking into account living costs, safety, median incomes and poverty rates for retirement-age residents, as well as residents' sense of well-being and the availability of recreational and health care facilities. Here are our retirement picks in the 12 midwestern states. Some (if not all) are sure to surprise you.

Naperville, Ill.

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Population: 9.5 million**

Share of population 65+: 11.0%

Cost of Living: 0.4% above the national average*

Average Income for Households 65+: $76,609

Community Score: 59.5**

State's Tax Rating for Retirees: Mixed

Part of the sprawling Chicago metro area, along with nearby Joliet, this suburb lets you take a step back from city living while keeping you close enough to enjoy its benefits whenever you'd like. Naperville (city population: 147,682) offers a pedestrian-friendly downtown loaded with shops and restaurants, as well as the 1.75-mile Riverwalk.

The ride from Naperville to Chicago's Union Station is about an hour, and people 65 and over qualify for reduced fares on the Metra commuter-rail system. Once in the city, you