Bankrate's calculations don't adjust for another debate: whether the 70 percent to 80 percent replacement estimate works for those with high incomes, but falls far short for people who make considerably less money (and thus are likely to save considerably less as well). What they have done is taken the median annual household income for those who are 65 and older and divided it by the median annual household income for those in their later working years, between ages 45 and 64.

Read: 6 countries cheap enough to live off Social Security

The data came from the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent American Community Survey, and the national average — and the individual states' data — indicate that Americans as a whole are falling considerably short of that recommended replacement ratio; the national average itself is only 60.27 percent. That doesn't inspire confidence that the workers in this country are prepared to get through retirement without some help.

But some of the results are surprising, and give much food for thought. First of all, just three states managed to come close to that 70 percent to 80 percent replacement rate. And second, just because a state's replacement rate is somewhat respectable, if pay is low to begin with, it could mean that seniors will have a tough time anyway because they're starting with a smaller pool of money.

Earlier we took a look at the 10 worst states in the country for retirees, where they'll need the most money to get by in retirement. In this slideshow we look at the 10 best states, where seniors could possibly have fewer money worries.

10. Mississippi

Mississippi has a low median annual income for its workers ages 45 to 64 of just $45,347. So it's not so terribly hard to replace 66.72 percent of that, for a median annual income for seniors of $30,254. But when you think of it, getting by on a little more than $30,000 annually can be a challenge.

9. District of Columbia

Okay, so it's not a state. But it still made the top 10, since the replacement rate for seniors is 66.95 percent of the median annual income for workers ages 45–64 of $71,558 — amounting to a respectable median income of $47,906 for retirees.

8. Arizona

Arizona workers aged 45 to 64 bring in a median annual income of $59,103. For seniors to replace the state's average of 68.01 percent of that, they need a median annual income of $40,195.

7. Nevada

A median annual income for workers aged 45 to 64 of $59,351 means that seniors just have to bring in $40,482 to meet the state's median annual income for seniors of 68.21 percent of that. As long as they stay out of the casinos, they should be okay.

6. Florida

Workers here aged 45 to 64 earn a median income of $55,546, so retirees who can muster up a median annual income of $38,425 are living on 69.18 percent of that. At least they're not paying any state income tax on it.

5. New Mexico

The median annual income in New Mexico for people ages 45 to 64 is $53,062 — and the state's retirees are doing relatively well, in that they're living on 69.24 percent of that, or a median annual income of $36,740.

4. Arkansas

The median income here for workers ages 45 to 64 is low — just $47,426 — so it's not as hard as it might otherwise appear to replace the 69.39 percent of it — such a relatively high percentage — that seniors are living on. But if you think about it, that means they're getting by on just $32,897. That's not much money, so retirement incomes should last longer.

3. South Carolina

Already on many people's top retirement destinations list, South Carolina offers this enticement: retirement dollars could go farther. Workers between the ages of 45 to 64 bring home a median income of $52,289, and seniors are living on 70.18 percent, of that coming up with a median annual income of $36,694.

2. Alaska

While it may not seem like the ideal retirement destination, Alaskan retirees are getting by on 71.12 percent of their median annual working income. Those between the ages of 45 to 64 bring home a median income of $81,990, while seniors pay their bills with a median of $58,311.

1. Hawaii

Although Hawaii regularly gets touted as a state that's not good for retirees because of its high cost of living and high taxes, it made the top of Bankrate's list for income replacement — and it tops other "best of" lists, too, for women and for the quality of its long-term care and senior support. So maybe the trick is to move to Hawaii early on and just settle in.

Hawaii took first place among the states, since its residents manage to replace 72.59 percent of their working income in retirement. The median household income for workers in the 45 to 64 age group is $80,106, and the median household income for seniors 65 and older who are living the island life is $58,150. Not bad for a trade winds paradise.