About the Top Retirement Locations
Gainesville, Florida; Clarksville, Tennessee; Tyler, Texas. What do all of these places have in common? They are prime locations for retirees. Every major news magazine--from AARP to U.S. News and World Report to Kiplinger--publish lists of the "best places to retire." Unsurprisingly, many of the locations on those lists have similar elements that help make them the best.
Other People Are Reading
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Geography
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Warmer seems to be better. Many of the top locations to which people choose to retire are sunny and humid, and the majority of them happen to be clustered around lakes and rivers. The milder temperatures are easier on aging bones, and the proximity to water masses means that amenities like water sports will not be far away.
Features
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Most people who retire are not looking to stop doing anything, but are actually hoping to reinvent their lives. For this reason, the top retirement destinations offer self-enriching activities that entail access to the performing arts, literacy councils, charity groups and museums.
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Size
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Size is a factor, but not to the point that retirees are willing to cross a border. Only 4.7 to 7 percent of retiring folks consider moving to another space, and most stay within the same state. Reasons for this "staying planted" resignation probably have to do with the desire for close proximity to their children and grandchildren. But those who do leave look for somewhat smaller areas with populations between 40,000 and 160,000 people.
Considerations
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The "boomer" segment of society is looking to change the concept of their retirement by continuing to work. Seventy percent of people born between 1946 and 1964 (the aging hipsters) hope to stay active and perform a midlife "job swap," so they are looking for college towns and places that have learning centers and smaller businesses. Some common jobs for retirees are opening a bed-and-breakfast, working in a mom-and-pop store, serving an arts organization and finding employment in a bookstore.
Potential
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To the aforementioned Tyler, Gainesville and Clarksville, we can add another particularly hot spot: Gardnerville, Nevada. This community is nestled below the Sierra Nevada mountains, yet still close to popular Lake Tahoe. On the other hand, snowbird retirees and die-hard winter lovers are flocking to Alpena, Michigan, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, thanks to their low housing costs and the promise of big-town living with a small-town feel. Lower expenses and fair-to-low taxes are also factors that will continue to play a role as retirees choose where to move.
Benefits
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Sun, fun and getting the most for your money--these are most popular considerations for retirees. For this reason, planned retirement communities have experienced growth thanks to their convenient, self-contained amenities, which allow residents to make friends within a small area that boasts easy, efficient transportation. These important basics mean that seniors can have a higher quality of life and access to good health care while living in a place where they can remain active and maybe even find their true calling. It's a new way to retire--an "active retirement."
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