Best Retirement CitiesOnce more, baby boomers are changing the rules. This influential population group has changed traditional retirement. While in the past, retirees fled to quiet retirement homes in temperate climates, boomers consider retirement just another phase in their busy lives. Studies estimated seventy percent of people forty-five years old and older are planning to continue working in their "retirement" years. Financial stability is not the only reason, pure enjoyment of work or desire to try something new are reasons that keep these boomers on the job. Amongst those people aged forty to fifty-four, only 4.7 percent, fewer than one out of twenty, will move across county lines each year, and even fewer will move across state lines. Many stay put, with only occasional traveling. The reason for this is that many boomers see their homes as legacies. Some retirees, though, are interested in finding the best cities in which to spend their retirement, cities where they can live, work, and relax all in one. For those who decide to move, sometimes the draw of the familiar is the reason. Many move to be near family. This change from the tendencies of the "silent generation" is because the younger boomers are not rebelling against their family ties, and in fact remain close to their family. Some of the most common settings or retirement-friendly surroundings that baby boomers look for include college towns for a familiar feel; a new locale, one with appealing cultural and recreational activities; purchasing vacation homes with view to being there in the future. A research team viewed ten criteria considering the interests, needs, and tastes of Americans age fifty and older to identify some of the best retirement cities for those of the baby boom generation. Although not all towns stand out in every category, each town ranked high in several and many scored high in nearly all categories. The criteria included:
The following are three of the best retirement cities based on the criteria. Loveland/Fort Collins, ColoradoLoveland/Fort Collins is one of the best retirement cities. The older residential areas, made up of single-family homes under huge trees, and the newer outlying neighborhoods that spring from grasslands are attractive in themselves, but the stunning mountain views and easy access to year-round outdoor fun seal the deal. These neighboring cities are just forty-five minutes from Denver and face the majestic Front Range of the Rockies. Median house price: $198,655 in Loveland and $221,714 in Fort Collins Bellingham, WAThis western find is located on a bay along the Pacific Northwest coast between Seattle and Vancouver. Bellingham is a beautiful locale, with a seaside marina, lush forests, freshwater lakes, Victorian historic districts, and snow-capped Mount Baker to the east. The natural charm of Bellingham makes this one of the best retirement cities. Median House Price: $163,000 Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, North CarolinaThis trifecta of retirement-friendly cities is deemed one of the best, with the dynamic city area anchored by the state-of-the-art biotechnology facilities situated in Research Triangle Park. With more then ten higher-education institutions, and just three hours from seashore and close to mountains, this area calls to the retirement community. Median House Price: $147,000 Other best retirement cities include Sarasota, Florida; Fayetteville, AR; Charleston, SC; Asheville, NC; San Diego, CA; San Antonio, TX; Santa Fe, NM; Gainesville, FL; Iowa City, IA; Portsmouth, NH; Spokane, WA; and Ashland, OR. |