Best Places to Retire 2008: Healthiest Places Edition

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The most important thing in picking a place to retire is to develop a list of the things that are important to both partners and evaluate prospective retirement places againsts these criteria. It is vital for happiness that both partners agree on these criteria and on how places stack up against them. As you get older it gets harder to pickup and move again if you make an error in judgment. It is also expensive to relocate. Most people retire in their current area or at most move to where one of their children lives. However, even your current area should be evaluated against the criteria and also any place that one of your kids lives. Total taxes (state, city, coutny income taxes; sales tax; property taxes, and personal property taxes), weather, natural disasters, ethnicity,
quality healthcare, water availability, crime, education opportunities, work opportunities, sports teams, congestion, cultural opportunites (plays, concerts, lectures, museums), outdoor activities, etc. A place that has 25 golf courses may please the husband, but leave the wife feeling isolated. Most importantly, if one of you should die, is this place where the other one would want to continue living. If the answer from both partners is yes, then it is probably a really good choice.
However, spending time during different seasons in the new location before moving is a good idea. Also, moving where a child is living is risky today because of the high mobility of people pursuing their careers.

W. D. Smith of TX 10:31PM March 17, 2009

For a winter time retreat, I spend 3 months a year in Green Valley, AZ. There are many programs, shows, casinos, and more geared toward the senior set. And, shopping and churches are very convenient. Temperatures range from 60's to 80's during Jan., Feb. and March. We enjoy sunny skies most every day, with a beautiful view of the Santa Rita mountains to our east. Evenings and nights are cool, but much warmer than the northern states. Green Valley is 20 minutes south of Tucson.

Janet Sharkey of AZ 2:49PM March 13, 2009

My suggestion for best places to retire:
Princess Anne Maryland
On the Eastern Shore of Maryland, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean, near the wild ponies and pristine natural beach of Assateague and the Chesapeake Bay, a true delight for sailing enthusiasts and all boaters. Surrounded by 4 navigable rivers running along picturesque small towns.
Princess Anne Maryland is a place you can find some of the best historic homes at rock- bottom prices (80-250K), including Colonial, Federal, Italianate and Victorian era beauties. It's an up and coming town with a newly renovated historic downtown with trendy shops and cafes, and lots of urbane folks from DC, Philadelphia and Baltimore moving in and restoring the homes in the historic district. Lots of assistance and grants from the historical trust and local societies for historic renovations. Near the beaches of Ocean City and Assateague (a pristine natural beach full of wild ponies) and the sailing capital Chesapeake Bay-- mild winters, low taxes, relaxed way of life.
Nearby Salisbury offers plenty of box store shopping, cinemas and top rated medical facilities, 15 minutes away but the small town atmosphere of Princess Anne is not affected.

E. Alexander of MD 3:52PM February 28, 2009

Myrtle Beach in the past was a nice place,but the gangs have been moving in the last few years.A guy I went to school with had just got his Concealed Weapons Permit when he was approached by a gangmemebr trying to rob him with a pistol. He pulled his pistol first and shot the gangbanger. Although he was shot he was only wounded. Three people showed up as witnesses. Within a month all 3 witnesses were found dead. I would do a lot more research before I considered retiring to Myrtle Beach. My wife and I are getting ready to leave South Carolina the day we retire. The state is too deadbeat when it comes to programs for seniors. The politicians like Sen. Lindsey Graham try to keep it poor and always vote against programs for seniors.

Dave Wayne of SC 11:52AM February 19, 2009

If you have time and want to see a part of Florida
that is still in its pristine state, then plan a
trip to Palm Coast, FL. We live on a barrier island
just East of town and we have a mile long beach that
is basically deserted -- a no driving beach with
beautiful coquina stone. Hammock Beach resort houses
a beautiful, affordable spa, swimming pools, bicycles,
etc. We have bike paths to everything. St. Augustine
is only 17 miles north -- oldest city in the U.S.
with cobblestone streets, pedestrian shopping mall,
and the historical landmarks including an old fort
and footbridge. No income taxes for state residents
makes this an ideal place. Active people, continuing
education, community colleges and sunny,warm weather.

Laura Jacobs of FL 8:02AM February 16, 2009

We moved from Houston after living there 22 years to beautiful, Asheville, NC. It is paradise here. We don't even have mosqitoes much less an abundance of bugs, snakes, heat and people like we did in Texas. We plan never to leave this area. We do travel extensively to Europe and stateside but we always ask ourselves as we pack our bags, "Where could we go better than this?" The beauty and serenity of this glorious place never ceases to awe and inspire us. We are more involved in theatre, symphony, university, hiking clubs, golf that we have ever been in anyother place we have lived. This is heaven and we are ever so grateful to be here!

Vickie Lemonds of NC 7:15PM January 28, 2009

If you want a good place to retire, you might take a look at the Villages, Florida. This is a town with about 60,000 people, and more golf courses than anywhere I have ever been. It's advertised as Disney for adults, and it really lives up to it's name of the Friendliest home town in Florida. The weather is good all year round, but I prefer it in the summer when it's a little less busy, and a lot hotter. It's a golf cart community and you can get everywhere on the golf cart paths and recreation trails, including shops restaurants and pools. Take a look.

Mary of FL 6:12PM January 28, 2009

Not really. Property taxes are 9 thousand on a 1600 sq ft house. The local stores are Bi-lingual ... that means Spanish and Polish ... no English spoken. Traffic jams, and rude people. I'm reading these articles to learn where to go when I get the heck out of here.

Richie Brown of NY 3:01PM January 26, 2009

I recently retired and we live in the Shenandoah Valley outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Housing cost, peoperty taxes, university life, retirement community living and access to healthcare, and to places like Washington, D.C. and northern Virgiia is excellent.

Paul Hoyt of VA 6:32PM January 13, 2009

If you have time this winter, check out this oceanside
Paradise...close to St. Augustine (just south approx.
17 miles), but still a beautiful, quiet area with
great walking beach.
Ocean Hammock is a gated community with bike/walking
paths everywhere. We also have a huge social club
with swimming pools, full spa, restaurants & fitness
classes. One of the least expensive areas in Florida
with great infrastructure. Reasonable shopping and
restaurants.
Check out the great housing prices (mansions offered
that have all been built within the last 7 or 8 yrs)
look at Realtor.com

Laura Jacobs of 8:03AM January 09, 2009