The rankings certainly don't conform to other methods of choosing "the best" place to live during retirement, insofar as some states that do very well on other "top 10" lists don't fare so well based on the five elements of well-being that serve as criteria for the Gallup-Healthways study. (Incidentally, although the report has 2015 in its title, it includes data from the first quarter of 2016 and is the most recent one issued on the topic.)

The five elements of well-being used to arrive at the rankings are as follows:

1. purpose (liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals)

2. social (having supportive relationships and love in your life)

3. financial (managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security)

4. community "liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community)

5. physical health (having good health and enough energy to get things done daily)

The top 10 states didn't do quite as well with physical well-being as they did with financial, but six of them finished in the top 10 in that category—something that will also be important to those worrying about how they'll cover medical expenses during retirement, particularly since it's estimated that average health care costs in retirement can run $250,000.

The study also reveals some interesting contrasts between older adults and their younger counterparts as they age.

For instance, the older people are, the greater sense of well-being they report, with people 75 and older reporting higher well-being than those aged 65–74, who in turn report greater happiness than those aged 55–64.

Related: Save for assisted living or live on a cruise ship?

In addition, older Americans apparently eat healthier and make other lifestyle choices that are healthier than their younger counterparts, such as not smoking—thus eliminating the threats to health that tobacco presents

They're also less prone to obesity and depression—although the age group exhibiting the highest rates among all age categories is that from ages 55–64.

Surprisingly, older people are also less worried about money than younger folks, with just 29 percent of older Americans admitting to worrying about money in the last seven days compared with 40 percent of younger people.

Here's a look at the 10 states that finished highest on the well-being list.

10. South Dakota

For folks focused on warmer winters during retirement, this state's high placement on the list will doubtless come as a surprise—but South Dakota owes its appeal, obviously, to other factors.

The state finished fourth in community well-being, seventh in financial—a good thing for seniors who haven't managed to save a huge amount to see them through retirement—although it only managed 21^st for physical well-being.

Surprisingly, it edged out Florida in overall placement; the sunshine state only took 11^th place, despite its popularity with older folks.

9. Iowa

For seniors just not getting as far as they'd like in retirement savings, Iowa should be tempting, finishing as it did in second place for financial well-being.

It also placed fifth for community and sixth for purpose—and landed one rung below South Dakota for physical well-being, at 22^nd place.

8. Wisconsin

With a fifth-place financial well-being ranking and a seventh-place physical well-being ranking, and finishing in the top 20 in all but community (it placed 23^rd), Wisconsin has a lot to offer seniors, too, particularly the budget-conscious.

7. Minnesota

Minnesota finished third for financial well-being, and added to that a sixth-place finish for physical well-being—something that will help those worrying about medical expenses in retirement.

Community well-being for Minnesotans came in at 12—a pretty respectable ranking, if not at the very top.

6. Alaska

With a fourth-place ranking financially and a ninth-place ranking for social well-being, Alaska might be more of a lure than you'd expect—although be prepared to spend on health expenses; the state only managed a 38^th place for physical well-being.

It did pretty well in community well-being, though, at 16, and even better in purpose, at 12.

5. Colorado

Okay, so Colorado's pricey; it finished out of the top 10 for financial well-being, at 14.

Social well-being was on the low side, too, at 26^th place, but it finished in second place for physical well-being. Probably all those outdoor sports.

4. North Dakota

If you're looking for the best state for financial well-being, stop here. You've found it.

North Dakota also finished in third place for community well-being and 11^th for purpose, but when it came to physical well-being, it only managed a 25.

3. New Hampshire

Folks in New Hampshire apparently lack purpose, coming in at a distant 40—but in other respects the state did pretty well.

Third place for physical well-being, fourth for social well-being and eighth place for financial well-being means retirees who don't want to spend their golden years still saving for retirement might want to give the Granite State a shot.

2. Arizona

Those in search of sunshine and warmer winters would apparently do better in Arizona than in Florida, since the Grand Canyon State did pretty well overall—first place in social well-being, fourth place in purpose, fifth place in physical well-being, 10^th place in financial and 18^th in community well-being.

1. Hawaii

Surprisingly enough, Hawaii finished in first place despite its reputation for being expensive (and the cares and woes that can bring to seniors trying to cover their bills out of whatever they've saved for retirement).

In fact, the Aloha State apparently won't make seniors say aloha to all their money; it finished a very respectable sixth in financial well-being.

And seniors are happy here; no denying it, with first-place rankings in purpose, community and physical well-being, and an 11^th-place ranking in social well-being. Paradise indeed!