A Guide for All Retirees. YOUR MONEY has compiled
a list of the top 12 places to retire in America for the next
wave of retirees. Our guide is useful whether you're entering
retirement right now or if it's farther out on the horizon. For
example, if you fall into the latter group, our locale picks
may spark your speculation about potential good property
buys for the future.
How did we compile our list? We took the Del Webb survey
results to Savageau and asked him to screen his Retirement
Places Rated database for the following criteria: job growth,
health-care services, public-services expenditures (such as
transportation and public libraries), below-average cost of living,
and outdoor recreation. Then we handpicked locations from
among the top choices for geographic diversification.
Most of our choices are college towns, as these spots often
offer the lifestyle pluses of culture, community, and a low
cost of living. Also, most offer easy access to an urban hub.
By the way, as it turns out, what boomers want isn't that out
of synch with the concerns of retirees in earlier generations:
places that offer a life.
Athens, Ga. Only an hour and a half from Atlanta, Athens
offers big-town sophistication in a small-town setting. Home
of the University of Georgia, Athens is low on our list when it
comes to outdoor amenities. There are no close beaches or
mountains. Although you can see some low-rise mountains,
you have to drive an hour or so to visit them.
However, Athens more than makes up for this in big-city pluses,
including the performing arts and good restaurants. In fact, you'll
find the three A's of college towns here--arts, academics, 58
and athletics--in a low-cost-of-living setting. You'll also find the
pine woods--think Ray Charles' Georgia. And Athens' high
elevation keeps you free from gnats and other critters.
· Population: 45,734. Surrounding county: 92,500.
· Nearest major city: Atlanta.
· Average house price: $115,000. Housing in upper
10th percentile: $194,000.
· Forecasted employment growth to year 2005: 7.9%.
· Percent of surrounding area in surface water and
protected recreation land: 1%.
· Taxes: Georgia taxes personal income according to
your tax bracket but fully exempts Social Security and
up to $12,000 of public and private pension benefits for
those 62 and older.
Also Listed:
- Durango, Colorado
- Fort Collins-Loveland, Colorado
- Oxford, Mississippi
- Park City, Utah
- Southern Pines-Pinehurst, North Carolina
- Traverse City, Michigan
- Whidbey Island, Washington State
- Maryville, Tennessee
- Middle Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Gainesville, Florida
- Iowa City, Iowa
