Fayetteville #5 on "Best Places for City-Loving Retirees" (Ozark: health, house)

[boulder]

From Sperlings Best Places - Over the past 20 years, I've noted the growth of a new type of retiree: one who starts this new stage of life earlier and hits the ground running. Often, these folks have so much going on, they don't “retire” so much as change their pace, sometimes opting for a “change of space” as well.

This change of space tends to lead people in one of two directions. One group of new retirees wants to be surrounded by rugged beauty and live close to nature. After a lifetime spent commuting three hours a day to and from their three-bedroom house on a 50x100 foot lot in the suburbs, they want a view of the ocean or forest, and no neighbors for miles.

The other group of retirees isn't ready to give up the comforts, amenities, and attractions of a city or town. To them, heaven consists of shops, concerts, bookstores, restaurants, sports events, and the perfect bagel place.

And so I've come up with a list of the best places for each type of retiree to head to after hanging up the briefcase.


Best Places for the Outdoorsy Retiree

These are great places to start fresh and actually do all those things you only dreamt about while stuck behind a desk. Some places are somewhat isolated in the middle of rugged country, while some are more civilized.

No. 1: Boulder, CO
Population: 91,500
Population change (since 2000): 4.6%
Average home price: $480,000
A "clean and green" city, Boulder is famous for its outdoor lifestyle, which earned it the nickname the "Gore-Tex Vortex." Boulder's landscape and climate provide world-class skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. The University of Colorado offers plenty of interesting diversions, like Division 1 sporting events, the widely respected Museum of Natural History, and the Conference of World Affairs, a symposium that attracts prominent speakers in exploring timely topics and issues. Boulder also offers a strong public transit system.

No. 2: Burlington, VT
Population: 38,300
Population change (since 2000): -1.4%
Average home price: $339,000
Burlington is, of course, a great place for skiing and snow-related activities. But as the largest city in Vermont, Burlington offers much more. It's home to four colleges, most notably the University of Vermont. Known as artsy and progressive, Burlington has the South End Art Hop, an eclectic local music scene, several microbreweries, and is the birthplace of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

No. 3: Northern California Coast
Population: 25,435
Population change (since 2000): -2.7%
Average home price: $351,000
Check out Eureka or Mendocino, and everywhere in between. The Northern California Coast is affordable (by California standards) and is only gaining in popularity. It's great for cycling, hiking, surfing, diving, kayaking, and practically any other outdoor activity. With its beautiful tree-lined rocky coastlines, the Northern California coast is one of the nation's most visually stunning areas. Redwoods National Forest and Point Reyes National Seashore are nearby, and great golf courses and wineries pepper the coast. And if you feel like a day on the town, San Francisco is within driving distance.

No. 4: Blacksburg, VA
Population: 39,200
Population change (since 2000): -1%
Average home price: $325,000
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blacksburg is still healing from recent events at Virginia Tech, but it remains a superb town for retirees looking to escape the bustle and stress of a major metro area. It offers pleasant scenery, relative isolation, and mild weather nearly year-round. A surprising number of high-tech companies call the city home, and the Hahn Horticulture Garden, located on the Virginia Tech campus, is a favorite attraction.

No. 5: Missoula, MT
Population: 64,000
Population change (since 2000): 12.3%
Average home price: $291,000
Missoula is an outdoor lover's paradise, boasting excellent fly-fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and skiing. Three rivers run through this scenic city, home to the University of Montana. Numerous wildlife reserves, national forests, and parks complement the city's colorful cultural events, which include the International Wildlife Film Festival, a major draw for more than 30 years.

Runners-up: If the top 5 don't suit your fancy, take a look at: Basalt/Carbondale, CO; Hood River, OR; Park City, UT; Santa Fe, NM; and the Texas Hill Country (which includes numerous small towns such as Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Marble Falls, and Mason).


Best Places for City-Loving Retirees

If you'd rather stay urban and enjoy a larger city with more amenities, these are the places for you. Many of these cities are also college towns, which typically means they have a solid economy and lots of interesting things to do. There are always public lectures and speakers, college sports, and performing arts events.

No. 1: Northampton, MA
Population: 28,600
Population change (since 2000): -1.3%
Average home price: $315,000
Located in central Massachusetts, Northampton is just a two-hour drive from Boston. Local colleges include Smith and UMass Amherst. On the banks of the Connecticut River, the Northampton area is full of classic New England villages, with rich history and early American architecture. Look Park offers recreational opportunities, and a strong music and arts scene make this town a great location for retirees.

No. 2: Charleston, SC
Population: 108,000
Population change (since 2000): 11.6%
Average home price: $387,000
A historic downtown and old-South atmosphere add to the charm of the town, founded in 1670. Located on the Atlantic coast, it's one of the country's larger shipping ports. can be hot and sticky in the summer, but it has mild winters. Its location makes it ideal for coastal and ocean- related activities, and it holds an annual maritime festival. also boasts minor league baseball, hockey, soccer, a professional indoor football team, and professional golf tournaments at nearby Kiawah Island.

No. 3: Bellingham, WA
Population: 75,000
Population change (since 2000): 11.8%
Average home price: $375,000
Bellingham is located near the Canadian border — 90 miles north of Seattle — at the front door to the spectacular San Juan Islands. Outdoor activities are ample, thanks to nearby Mt. Baker and the Pacific Ocean, which serve as the start and end points of the annual seven- leg Ski to Sea race. The climate is rainy and cloudy, but the temperatures are mild. Bellingham's cultural attractions are plentiful — a vibrant and diverse music scene, along with several museums, local theatre companies, and independent cinemas. The University of Western Washington and several other colleges are located here.

No. 4: Ashland, OR
Population: 20,800
Population change (since 2000): 7.0%
Average home price: $520,000
Ashland is located in southern Oregon, nearly 300 miles from Portland and 350 miles north of San Francisco. It's home to Southern Oregon University and the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival and is characterized by a vibrant arts scene and a laid-back vibe. The weather is hot and dry compared to most of Oregon. Nearby Mount Ashland offers skiing, and Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Caves National Monument are close by as well.

No. 5: Fayetteville, AR
Population: 68,700
Population change (since 2000): 18.4%
Average home price: $252,000
Once overlooked, the Ozarks are now getting serious attention. Fayetteville is affordable and has a strong economy, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the area. It's proud of its main public library, which moved to a multi-million dollar facility in 2004. Near the University of Arkansas campus, the Walton Arts center hosts plays and concerts on Dickson Street, an area noted for its shops and restaurants.

Runners-up: Also worthy of consideration: Charlottesville, VA; Gainesville, FL; Madison, WI; Oxford, MS; and Portsmouth, NH.

Methodology - The team at Sperling's BestPlaces looked for places with the following criteria: solid economy, relatively affordable cost of living, interesting things to do, and reasonably low crime. For the “Active” cities, we focused less on health-care resources and amenities such as major airports and transportation. To choose the “Laid-back” cities, we looked for larger cities and small metros that had interesting recreation, arts and cultural resources within its boundaries.