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Marlene Burns

8 Years Ago

Fyi: When Retirement Rolls Around.....


Retirees should look to Arizona instead

If you want to retire well, set out for Arizona. According to a new Bankrate survey out Monday, the Grand Canyon state is home to three of the country’s best cities for retirees, ranked by metrics like cost of living, weather, crime rate, health care, taxes, walkability and the well-being of seniors living in the area.

“It’s just a great place for a low-maintenance, outdoor type of lifestyle,” Chris Kahn, a Bankrate analyst, told USA Today. “Your dollar is going to stretch further in Arizona.”


__just posted today on Fortune Online



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David Gordon

8 Years Ago

And they do not tax your social security.

Dave Gordon
http://dgportfolio.net

 

Chuck Staley

8 Years Ago

I prefer to live where there is a water shortage, all the parks are brown and barren, the freeways are the busiest and most crowded in the nation, crime rate is going up, a one million dollar house is a shack you wouldn't live in, private school prices cost as much as most collages, gas is higher than anyplace else in the US, the counties population just surpassed that of New York's - 10 million, and I could go on and on... but:

I LOVE L.A.!

 

Marlene Burns

8 Years Ago

Other states do, David?????

Chuck, lol....I was personally surprised to see Phoenix being number 1 since it's been likened to what LA was years ago.

I moved there, before Tucson, 31 years ago...Our paretns' friends told us NOT to wait until we were ready to retire...so glad we listened to their suggestions!

 

JC Findley

8 Years Ago

I love El Paso myself.

Kind of like Phoenix used to be a long time ago.

 

David Gordon

8 Years Ago

Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. Something to consider if you plan to live elsewhere in retirement.

Dave Gordon
http://dgportfolio.net

 

Marlene Burns

8 Years Ago

David, I had no idea....wow. figured it was controlled by the government since it is issued by them.

Hows the humidity in El Paso?
That was my number 1 when we moved....

 

David King

8 Years Ago

I've considered Prescott, or maybe one of the towns west of Sedona, I've gotta be near some mountains. I've visited Phoenix, sorry but that's one butt ugly city, the only reason I'd consider visiting that area now would be to visit the galleries in Scottsdale. Doesn't matter much right now, I'm quite a ways from retirement.

 

Marlene Burns

8 Years Ago

David,
Tucson is home to Mt. Lemon, the most southern ski location in the US at about 11,000 elevation. We drive u in the summer to cool down..winter travel there is not always possible if we want snow.
Phoenix doesn't really have mountains, though they call them that....they are foothills. What is considered the greater Phoenix area has some drop dead gorgeous locations.....Scottsdale ( north), cave creek, etc....beautiful country, but not cheap.

 

Chuck Staley

8 Years Ago

I have to live near the ocean, or great bodies of water.

Those negative ions are what keep me going.

 

James McCormack

8 Years Ago

I'm in sunny Brazil and have every intention of staying here !

 

Marlene Burns

8 Years Ago

James, to clarify, this article was about the top places to retire in the US. ;)

 

Alfred Ng

8 Years Ago

But it has no snow!

 

Joshua House

8 Years Ago

Plenty of Arizona gets snow. Just not the Phx metro area.

 

Roger Swezey

8 Years Ago

Whenever, I completely give up my "Tideline Salvage" enterprise....Arizona sounds great....And maybe, time to time, Marlene, I can come over at bug you personally.

 

Bradford Martin

8 Years Ago

I suggest retirees take a good look at Merritt Island, Florida. Some of the best housing deals in America are here. This small community near the Space Center was hit with an exodus of people when the NASA Shuttle program closed in the midst of the real estate bust. In addition a luxury yacht builder closed a plant her. Workers loss is your gain and you can own a house with a private dock and minutes to the ocean beach for a lot less then what you can sell your present home for in the north. There is no state income tax here. Yes it is a long hot summer but never gets much above 92 and it is usually in the 70s at sometime in the day or might all year around. The county has good schools and colleges and a concert venue is minutes away. Geat surfing and fishing. A gambling cruise ship too. Orlando Airport is 45 minutes away and all the attractions, stadiums and concert venues are less than an hour away. In fact people from South Florida are discovering it is a better place. See your home in Arizona or Boca and move here.

 

Loree Johnson

8 Years Ago

I'm in Arizona now. Heading north soon to escape the heat. My retirement home has wheels. But I do have to say that the highways I've traveled in Arizona are some of the worst so far of my journey. I guess with the low taxes they can't afford to fix the crumbling roads, lol.

 

Heather Applegate

8 Years Ago

My dad is moving my 90 year old grandmother up to NH from NJ just so he doesn't get nailed by the inheritance tax.
NJ is the worst state to retire in, and he's only moved back to take care of her, keeping his residency in NH the whole time.

New Hampshire, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington are my top places to live in general nevermind just after retirement.

 

David King

8 Years Ago

Marlene, I've never been to Tuscon, I've heard it's a nicer area than Phoenix. I did mention Sedona, (or near Sedona anyway) that area is so different I would never have thought to call it part of the greater Phoenix area! lol Actually, I'll probably end up staying in Utah. Cedar City is a possibility. They still have cold winters there but Saint George is a short drive away and is typically 20-30 dg warmer. Cedar City is at the foot of some nice mountains and is a 1-2 hour drive from quite a few beautiful national parks. Cedar City itself is a relatively quiet city (except on the main drag) yet has everything you'd need.

 

Janice Drew

8 Years Ago

Not for me, Marlene, but you know that. :)

I feel as passionate as Chuck does about where I live. I LOVE the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Four seasons, ocean, mountains, some of the best colleges and hospitals in the U.S., culture, nearly 400 years of history all within a short distance, and home to many exciting sports teams.

No scorpions or snakes in my yard or house. (knock on wood).

For the most part, the heat and humidity aren't with us for too long. It's not dry and desert-like (knocking on wood, again) as we come up to summer.

Wherever people are happiest is the place they should live and retire.

Heather, NH doesn't have sales tax, but those people get killed on property tax. My house is worth more than my daughter's yet she is hit double in tax. I would rather pay sales tax. At least, I can control my purchases.





 

Edward Fielding

8 Years Ago

Bradford what about all of those break ins you were telling us about?

No income tax or sales tax here in NH. Just high real estate taxes to make up for it. You have to pay somewhere. No escaping the tax man if you want things like good roads, police, fire, clean water, school, prisons, bridges etc.

Here in NH we try to live off off our neighbors to the south like Janice with tolls and state controlled liquor stores.

 

Toby McGuire

8 Years Ago

Arizona is gorgeous but the heat there makes you feel like you're being baked in an oven.

Sedona is easily one of the most breathtaking cities I have seen so far.

Janice I am passionate about Mass too but I will definitely leave eventually because I hate cold weather. I want comfortable temps year round - I LOVE being outside and a negative wind chill just isn't for me :). I could never see another snowflake again and be fine.

Personally I'd love to wind up in Southern California (Long Beach, Santa Monica, San Diego) or San Francisco area. Similar to Boston in easy access to city and nature.

 

Greg Jackson

8 Years Ago

My bruef history: Born in Kentucky. My dad was military, so I attended the 1st grade in New Orleans. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade in Japan. 5th, 6th, and first semester of 7th grade in Virginia. Finally moved back to Kentucky and completed the 7th grade (took two schools). Went on to go all the way from 8th through 12th grade in Kentucky.

Joined military at 17 after high school and lived all over, and finally came home and "retired" here 21 years later in 1992. Taught high school and "retired" a second time 3 years ago. I'm not moving anywhere else. :)

 

Janice Drew

8 Years Ago

Edward, liquor is definitely cheaper up there. Hubby figures he saves $5 a case of beer. NH is a lovely, picturesque state. It's a photographer's paradise all year round.

Toby, you are near Tufts. For four years, we traveled back and forth to pick up our son when he was a student. After graduation, he chose to live there for a few years and commute by T into Boston for work. I can still recall those triple deckers.

If you can afford it, do an 8-month, 4-month split and live down South during the winter months here. You'll have the best of both worlds.

 

Marlene Burns

8 Years Ago

I'm in Tucson and see lots of snow in the winter and can touch it with a 40 minute drive up the mountain.
That's close enough for me!
Sedona is not part of the greater phx area

 

Heather Applegate

8 Years Ago

Janice - yeah, property tax is high, but no sales or income tax. Or liquor tax for that matter :)

I myself have no interest in owning a house that isn't on wheels!

 

Lol, Chuck! I love L.A., too. Enjoyed my time in SoCal, including San Diego, Long Beach, the valley & Hollywood, but will probably never live there again, just visit. Also, lived for a spell in Fresno during my school days.

Ashland [southern OR] has been my home for 35 years & counting. Folks who've traveled the world say this is 'the place' to be...and it's a VERY cool, artsy, progressive, beautiful, university town, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. But, even so, I'm ready for a change! Sometimes, you just have to shake things up or you might find yourself living in the same place...forever.

Agree with David & Toby re Sedona's beauty. One of my sisters plans to retire there. Never felt 'the call' to move toward the desert, its landscape[s] or heat, no matter the amenities. Visited there plenty, but need to be by the water, as in an ocean or large body of, at least within driving distance. Don't like being land-locked, which rules out a lot of places we once considered, like moving closer to John's family in Boulder, CO, where he also lived for some years, or near [some] of mine in Palm Springs, CA & Richmond, VA. Nice places to visit, but wouldn't want to live there.

We loved spending time in the San Juan Islands [Washington state] and seriously thought of moving to Port Townsend [easy access to the islands] or Orcas Island itself. Pretty pricey, though...and isolated. Enjoyed all the ferry rides back 'n forth to Victoria [Vancouver Island] & Seattle, as well as sailing.

Born in New Orleans and having lived in parts of the South, SoCal & OR with prolonged stays around the country north to south, we're still on the hunt for a place to relocate & eventually retire. Ashland has LOT going for it & we do own a lovely home, but we're shopping around.

Like Toby & Janice, Massachusetts has always been on 'my' radar, but hubby won't go because of the winters & summer humidity, even though we enjoy the four seasons. His hometown of Chicago is not on the list, nor is mine. Maine was also once a contender. but where we'll end up, nobody knows!

Great thread! Really enjoying everyone's comments, suggestions, input. The topic is always open for discussion around here. Currently, the BIG plan is making a cross-country road trip this October [my birthday month] and checking out the newest options.

I do romanticize about living in the Florida Keys or the south of France one day, but that will remain a dream...and on our list of places to visit AFTER we retire!

 

Bob Slitzan

8 Years Ago

I am retired and have been to Arizona many years ago, as I remember the beaches and the deep sea fishing were not too good. Plus, I don't want ANY snow. I think I'll keep my home in Key West, Florida.

Edit: It is a beautiful state, I loved Jerome, I wonder if the restaurant in the old bordello is still there.

 

Jim Hughes

8 Years Ago

Ridiculous. Come here to Minneapolis and invest in a quality snowblower - it's a great winter hobby. Enjoy driving in conditions that resemble the dark side of Neptune. Laugh as you imagine Google's automated cars careening through stoplights on frozen slush, or rolling up into people's yards after failing to locate the curb under 3 feet of snow.

 

Bill Tomsa

8 Years Ago

Alfred Ng
"But it has no snow!"

We lived in Phoenix (Ahwatukee) for 12 years and one June before we left for Maine, Flagstaff had a 6 inch snow fall. Yeah they do get snow in AZ.

As for heat mentioned by someone else.....what heat?

Just experienced one of the worst winters ever in Maine...........hmmmmmm.

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

 

Roy Erickson

8 Years Ago

I live in Florida - but then I'm a native born. I've lived all over the place with 27 years of military service. IF, that's a huge if, California weren't California - I'd love to live out in the desert there. AZ - I've lived there - not much point in talking about the pit in the center called Phoenix - Between Sedona/Flagstaff and the river - sounds good. I've even thought of Utah - but thank you - I drove through snow in April - so I'll pass that one by. There is the thought, occasionally of NM - but probably not. My dear brother thinks I should move to Texas.

Much to my regret sometimes - I'm a Florida boy - what with all the sweltering heat and humidity - a summer home (right after I win the lottery) in the mountains of TN are a possibility. But I gave up shoveling snow right after I saw it the first time when I was 18 - over 50 years ago.

 

Robert Woodward

8 Years Ago

I was raised in the Phoenix area and, although it's been many years, it was starting to sprawl then and is now a monster sprawl now. Traffic, pollution, water shortages, and the summer heat are more than I could stand now. Prescott would be a much preferable retirement location for me if I chose to return to AZ. We are instead looking at New Mexico, specifically Taos, as a retirement spot. Although the winters are cold, the snow is minimal and the beauty of the area combined with the cultural diversity are enough to entice us from CA.

We had looked at Ashland, Bend, & Portland in Oregon but found too many issues with each. Port Townsend was top of our list before we looked at Taos.

 

JC Findley

8 Years Ago

Humidity in El Paso is pretty much zero, it is a very similar weather to AZ

 

This discussion is closed.