Retirees are increasingly flocking to cooler climates and smaller towns than
sunny, southern havens in states like Florida or Arizona that generally are
popular retirement hot-spots. Baby boomers are looking elsewhere, from Maine to
Washington.
"Boomers and retirees these days are considering a much wider range of
destinations for retirement, often choosing states that don't commonly come to
mind, such as Maine and Montana," says Mary Lu Abbott, editor of Where to Retire
magazine. "Yes, the Sun Belt remains popular, but many people prefer a
four-season climate and enjoy the changing of seasons. They seek towns that are
safe and have active, appealing downtowns and good hospitals nearby, and
increasingly they're looking for places with a lower cost of living and lower
overall tax rate."
As they retire, baby boomers are increasingly looking at places that are
familiar to them, such as where they’ve once vacationed or spent time at as a
child, David Savageau, author of "Retirement Places Rated," told the Associated
Press. They’re looking for places that are walkable and have volunteer
opportunities and college courses, he adds.
Florida and golf communities are "the old view of retirement," Savageau says.
"And it's kind of dying out, the desert Southwest and South Florida. That was
for our parents; for us it might be somewhere closer to home, a college town, a
ski resort or a historical area that gets some kind of tourism in season."
Source: "Cooler
Climates, Small Towns Become Popular Retirement Destinations for Baby
Boomers," Associated Press (Sept. 16, 2012)
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