Where to Retire in the U.S.A.
The AARP recommends relocation as a way to save expenses during retirement. Combining relocation with downsizing may save even more. Relocating has become a serious consideration for retirees, and some are comparing taxes, cost of living, climate and available senior activities to find an area, a state or a town most suitable to retirement. Kiplinger, CNN Money, U.S. News and the AARP have already done some groundwork.
Other People Are Reading
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Significance
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The best retirement location for you depends on your activities and needs during retirement. Kiplinger has a survey to help choose one of the retirement locations it believes to be best. If you answer the questions as a retired person who is not choosy about a region of the country, but interested in a low cost of living and housing, the city selected is Springfield, Illinois, with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Rochester, Minnesota second and third choices.
Types
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U.S. News developed "10 Best" lists that consider singles, places with the most retirees, historic towns, places to launch a second career or reinvent your life, mountain towns, places to downsize and the best and worst places to build a nest egg. Singles should head to Pittsfield, Massachusetts or Florence, South Carolina. Sun City, Arizona has the most retirees. St. Augustine, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina are for history buffs. Launch a second career in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and reinvent your life in Georgetown, Texas or Ft. Collins, Colorado. An affordable mountain town is Colorado Springs, Colorado. Arlington, Texas and Des Moines, Iowa are places to downsize. Wyoming, New Hampshire and Alaska ranked high in best places to build a nest egg.
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Health Considerations
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You may select an area by weather or health of the citizens. The AARP developed a list based on clean air and water as well as health and habits of the people. Not many southern towns made the list, even with the warm weather. The report cites obesity and chronic disease in some of the southern towns as an issue. This list places Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the top with Honolulu, Hawaii, Madison, Wisconsin, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Fargo, North Dakota as the healthiest cities.
Identification
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The Top Retirements list includes Sarasota, Florida, Prescott, Arizona, Paris, Tennessee and Austin, Texas at the top after number one Asheville, North Carolina. CNN Money reports Durham, North Carolina as number one in a study for 2010. Hanover, New Hampshire, Lexington, Kentucky, Prescott, Arizona and Bellingham, Washington round out the top five in its report. An AARP study on where to live the simple life lists Tucson, Arizona at the top, with Greenville, South Carolina and Montpelier, Vermont second and third.
Taxes
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Taxes are an issue for most retirees. Property taxes and state income taxes or sales tax can make a difference in the standard of living for seniors. Kiplinger has done studies on the friendliest states for taxation of retirees and ranks Wyoming, Colorado, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan and Alaska at the top.
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