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Upon retirement, one of the first considerations is where to live. While some may opt to stay in the home in which they've lived for a majority of their lives, others may need to move to a new locale that offers senior-friendly qualities and a lower cost of living. There are several cities around the country that provide seniors with an inexpensive place in which to retire with elder friendly initiatives to keep the senior population engaged in the community.
The hub of state government in Florida and just miles from stunning beaches, Tallahassee also offers retirees a low cost of living, making it one of the more attractive options for this population. It boasts affordable housing--with most mid-range homes selling in the mid-100,000s and rental housing prices around $800, on average. Moreover, Florida's capital city also enjoys a large senior population, an active senior center and a slew of elder-ready initiatives, as well as several large planned retirement communities with on-site activities and access to healthcare. Moreover, there is no state income tax in Florida.
Located just outside of Phoenix, CNN Money named Surprise of the best places to retire in 2009. Part of this distinction has to do with the fact that it is extremely affordable--with average home prices around $150,000. As of 2010, state income tax is around 41/2 percent. Moreover, this is an active retirement community, with many retired residents living in Sun City Grand, which is akin to a resort-style community for older residents. There are also plenty of recreational resources in town, including an aquatics center and a large park.
Locals can watch baseball at Surprise Stadium (the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers both do spring training here), cool off at the town's 10,500-square-foot aquatics center, and check out ancient petroglyphs at a nearby 30,000-acre park. Nearly 20 percent of residents live in Sun City Grand, a resort-like retirement community that offers reams of activities--tennis, golf, wine tasting, and more. (The original Sun City is a few miles down the road.)
Though the weather might get hot, El Paso is a community rich in culture and heritage and cheap in living costs. According to the Ideal-places-to-retire.com website, the average price of a home in El Paso is around $120,000. The cost of living is low as is the crime rate. There are more than 18 museums in El Paso alone, offering seniors plenty of opportunities to soak in Texas culture, which consists of a great deal of Latin American and Native American culture.
