Best lake towns in the USA (low crime, theater, university)

[Jim Mac]

We're looking into lake towns for a possible retirement move in the future. What are some of the best? I love what I see so far of Lake Powell, AZ. Another possibility is Lake Havasu City, AZ, but it may be too hot.

1) Small town - Pop. 15,000 or less ??

2) Reasonable cost of living, housing prices

3) DO NOT want high humidity

4) Dry climate, with mild winters and little or no snow( Arizona, New Mexico, etc.)

5) We love to fish and kayak

6) Low crime(of course)

THANKS

[knrstz]

I will say this, your criteria really limits you. No humidity means you must go west. Most of the west has little moisture so the lakes come from melting snow in the mountains and sometimes directly in the mountains. So that elimintes your mild winter criteria. I just looked at the map of New Mexico and Arizona and it's slim pickens. Lake mead around the vegas area might fit your criteria. I'm sure you could venture outside the city and find a smaller bedroom community. I don't know what's there but western Texas fits your weather criteria. I just don't know how many lakes are there. Eastern Oklahoma has a lot of really nice lakes. It's not as humid as the southeast but not as dry as the west.

[west336]

^No kidding! You want a small "lake town" in the desert it sounds like. There aren't "lake towns" in deserts. If you can find something in CA, AZ, NV, UT, CO, NM, or West TX in the mountains maybe, then you could be happy.

[Jim Mac]

Originally Posted by west336

^No kidding! You want a small "lake town" in the desert it sounds like. There aren't "lake towns" in deserts.

I listed 2 in my original post. I was wondering if there were any more recommendations. Thanks.

[slowlane3]

Try the NW corner of South Carolina, including the towns of Clemson and Seneca. I have seen Clemson recommended in 3 separate retirement books/ magazines. It has a University, is adjacent to 3 large reservoirs, and is convenient to highway I-85 as well as mountain recreation and fishing, community theater and other cultural offerings. Winter snowfall, taxes, gasoline, and other expenses are all LESS in SC than in adjacent western NC, from what I understand.

Have you looked into Mountain Home, Arkansas (nicknamed "Little Chicago")? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Home,_Arkansas

Parts of eastern Tennessee, northern Alabama, and other areas with lakes/ dams built by the TVA? Smith Mountain Lane near Roanoke VA?

[thePR]

If it weren't for the snow part, South Haven, Michigan would have been nearly perfect for you.

South Haven, Michigan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Jim Mac]

Originally Posted by slowlane3

Try the NW corner of South Carolina, including the towns of Clemson and Seneca. I have seen Clemson recommended in 3 separate retirement books/ magazines. It has a University, is adjacent to 3 large reservoirs, and is convenient to highway I-85 as well as mountain recreation and fishing, community theater and other cultural offerings. Winter snowfall, taxes, gasoline, and other expenses are all LESS in SC than in adjacent western NC, from what I understand.

Have you looked into Mountain Home, Arkansas (nicknamed "Little Chicago")? Mountain Home, Arkansas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parts of eastern Tennessee, northern Alabama, and other areas with lakes/ dams built by the TVA? Smith Mountain Lane near Roanoke VA?

Pretty much all those you mention are high humidity.

[Sunday1]

Originally Posted by Jim Mac

We're looking into lake towns for a possible retirement move in the future. What are some of the best? I love what I see so far of Lake Powell, AZ. Another possibility is Lake Havasu City, AZ, but it may be too hot.

1) Small town - Pop. 15,000 or less ??

2) Reasonable cost of living, housing prices

3) DO NOT want high humidity

4) Dry climate, with mild winters and little or no snow( Arizona, New Mexico, etc.)

5) We love to fish and kayak

6) Low crime(of course)

THANKS

I was excited to open your thread, but the title doesn't really match the post/query. It should read: Best small lake towns with dry climates in the USA. You're looking for a needle in a haystack which is great, but the more specific you are in the headline the better (for everyone). Just a suggestion....best of luck. Sounds like you know exactly what you want and I'm sure you'll find it!~

[Jim Mac]

Originally Posted by thePR

If it weren't for the snow part, South Haven, Michigan would have been nearly perfect for you.

South Haven, Michigan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Actually, the humidity is the biggest problem. There are numerous nice southern towns near lakes, but most of them are high humidity(Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Texas, South Carolina). Lake Powell in AZ. is beautiful and good climate, but I haven't been there yet.

[livecontent]

You are trying to find the small towns of the great lakes region in the southwest. You are not going too many small towns on lakes. There are few lakes. There are reservoirs but many are surrounded by state and federal open space and park lands and few small towns on the shore.

You are looking for a place for retirement but your are neglecting one big issue--healthcare. In the very small towns of less than 15,000 in the southwest, you are not going to find the extensive healthcare you will need. You will have to drive longer distances to major city centers for specialist and the expensive testing medical facilities that only exist in a larger city. Keep in mind that the distances from small towns in the southwest to larger cities is much greater than the denser Great Lakes area.
In addition, as you age, public transportation is a welcomed amenity.

I am intrigued by your desires as I grew up near Buffalo and a small town on a lake with no snow and low humidity seems like a great idea. I would suggest looking at a larger city or town--not as a major city but a little larger that would have the healthcare facilities for retirement.

One area that has many more lakes and reservoirs; has low humidity and no snow is west Texas. It would have the characteristics of New Mexico but more water resources; yet not far enough east in Texas to have the high humidity. I was stationed in the Army at San Angelo, Texas for a summer about 40 years ago. I thought that was a great little city and it has nice weather and extensive reservoirs around the city and is situated on the Concho River. Lake Powell is interesting but it lacks the natural vegetation that makes the natural lakes of the north inviting. In west Texas, you would get more vegetation than the Lake Powell area.

San Angelo*

San Angelo, Texas :: The Place to Come for Good Times


Livecontent