Among Tennessee's 95 counties, the best places to stretch Social Security benefits are predominantly in East Tennessee:
1. Cumberland County, annual Social Security yearly benefits of $20,440 and cost of living 0.5 percent below the statewide average.
2. Loudon County, average Social Security yearly benefits of $20,468 and cost of living 1.6 percent above statewide average.
3. Franklin County, average Social Security yearly benefits of $18,738 and cost of living 3.5 percent below the statewide average.
4. Meigs County, average Social Security yearly benefits of $18,719 and cost of living 3.5 percent below the statewide average.
5. Coffee County, average Social Security yearly benefits of $18,300 and cost of living 3.8 percent below the statewide average.
6. Bradley County, average Social Security yearly benefits of $18,720 and cost of living 0.5 percent below the statewide average.
Source: The online financial service SmartAsset looked at the average Social Security income for each county, calculated the taxes a typical retiree would pay on that income and estimated how far that net income would go in every county to cover the basic necessities.