This month I am featuring the 2015 Money Magazine list of the Best Places to Retire. First, however, you will want to know the criteria they used.
Money Magazine Criteria for the Best Places to Retire
What were the types of things that Money Magazine considered when they compiled their list? First, they considered the four top towns in five different categories.
The categories were: The places where retirees could pursue an active lifestyle in ...
The outdoors
The arts
Waterfront living
Continuing Education
Golf
How did they choose the best communities for each of those interests?
Here are the issues they considered:
Communities with at least 10,000 residents
A variety of services and populations
No more than 95% of residents of one race
At least 20% of residents over the age of 50
Median home prices below the national average
Low taxes
Within 30 miles of a major hospital
Accessible to culture, recreation and green space
Finally, they also interviewed both new and longtime residents to determine if there is a sense of community spirit and vibrancy ... issues that can be hard to measure.
Once they had taken all these factors into consideration, they came up with their lists. Below, I have listed their top picks, along with the median home price.
Where to Enjoy the Great Outdoors after Retirement
St. George, Utah - $195,000
Vail, Arizona - $199,500
Fayetteville, Arkansas - $166,000
Richland, Washington - $205,450
Where to Enjoy the Arts after Retirement
Boise, Idaho - $184,500
Santa Fe, New Mexico - $248,000
Chattanooga, Tennessee - $128,650
Dover, Delaware - $136,000
Best Retirement Areas for Golf Lovers
Prattville, Alabama - $150,415
Clermont, Florida - $190,000
Stillwater, Oklahoma - $136,000
Fishers, Indiana - $228,000
Best College Towns for Retirees
Northfield, Minnesota - $172,500
Asheville, N.C. - $200,000
Lexington, Kentucky - $142,000
Athens, Georgia - $128,000
Best Retirement Towns for Waterfront Living
Bluffton, South Carolina - $230,000
Traverse City, Michigan - $161,250
Cape Coral, Florida - $144,900
Loveland, Colorado - $225,000
Diversity on the Money Magazine List
As you will see, this list includes nineteen different states from most of the regions in the United States. I was disappointed to note that it did not include any communities in California, Oregon, or in the Northeast above Delaware. Those regions all include populated areas where many people would like to retire. With that thought in mind, I would like to mention that this blog also includes articles on other popular retirement areas, including California coastal towns, and the retirement communities around the charming town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In addition, if you already have an that interests you, I assure you that there are retirement communities in nearly every region of the United States.
If you are looking for more ideas about where to retire, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this article to find links to hundreds of additional articles about where to retire in the United States or overseas, health issues, financial considerations, and other retirement concerns.
Source:
"Best Places to Retire 2015," Money Magazine, July 2015.
Other articles that may interest you:
http://onboardinformatics.com/blog/money-magazine-releases-best-places-retire-2014/
http://time.com/money/3914804/best-places-to-retire-2015/
http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/best-places-to-retire
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