Best Cities for Retired Couple? (Lewiston, Moscow: live, to move, area)

[LRobbins]

Have you thought about Austin, Texas? Cheap and very nice place to live. Also check out The Woodlands, its a suburb of Houston.

[Keim]

Originally Posted by boiseguy

northern idaho gets much more snow than southern, essentially if you want the least amount of snow you're looking at the southwest corner of the state. Emmett might actually be a good recommendation..
it's near boise, like near enough to dart into town for a doctors appointment, but in it's own valley so the sprawl of the city kind of keeps out and doesn't effect it. Moscow gets a lot of snow..Lewiston is a good suggestion, but the problem with them is they are 2-3 hours from Spokane where major medical services are...

Lewiston is just over 2 hours from Spokane. Moscow really doesn't get a LOT of snow. 6 inches or less on the ground. Usually more like 2 or 3 inches. The last two winters would be exceptions to this.

[boiseguy]

Originally Posted by Keim

Lewiston is just over 2 hours from Spokane. Moscow really doesn't get a LOT of snow. 6 inches or less on the ground. Usually more like 2 or 3 inches. The last two winters would be exceptions to this.

2 hours is a long way if you need to see a particular specialist on a regular basis. And saying moscow doesn't get much snow is relative.. for North Idaho standards.. perhaps it's not as much, but its MUCH more than sw idaho..
we're lucky if we get 3 inches to stick on the ground past noon.
I was born in moscow.. and I know weather patterns are a little different now, but back in the late 70's early 80's moscow would get storms that dumped 2-3 feet of snow.. it's not THAT out of the ordinary for the palouse to get clobbered... just sayin

based on what the OP is looking for.. if they're looking in idaho.. Emmett really is a good option to look at.

[Keim]

I've heard about those days. Lived in the area since 1994 and can remember 3 winters where we got dumped on like that. Nowadays even the snow Moscow does get melts quickly. We only went sledding once this year-and it was poor sledding that day. Weather has changed. Could change back, I suppose. I'd like that! Won't deny that southern Idaho gets less.

As to medical, it really does depend on what you need. 2 hour drive to see a specialist weekly would stink. Quarterly? Not a problem. And the local hospitals are quite good. They can handle most run of the mill medical issues. A lot of the specialists out of Spokane even come down periodically and run clinics out of them, obviating the need for that two hour drive.

[jesseemystery]

Idaho City is a little old ghost resort town just up in the mountains above Boise. The place is cute and quaint and it doesn't cost much to buy or live in the town. Taxes are really low, low. I think the population in the town "proper" is around 500 people. The people are really friendly - to the point that they will take you in and fold their wings around you. Every time I go I am amazed. Even though their is snow in the winter, it doesn't matter because you can take your snowmobile into the center of the town and get whatever you need. Their is a VA Hospital at the bottom of the mountain in Boise, but they have a big medical clinic in the town. There is also terrific mountain trails that start just a few blocks off Main Street that is groomed by the Forest Service. It would be a wonderful place to retire.

[mdickey]

I think you would find Boise, Idaho to be a wonderful place to retire. Nice people, clean air, 4 seasons, culture, mountains, low crime rate, etc...

I have lived in Idaho over 40 years! I am a Real Estate Agent and would love to show you Idaho! I live the Boise but also have a home in McCall about 100 miles north of Boise. Most refer to McCall as a "little Lake Tahoe".

I welcome you to ask any questions here or feel free to call me at 208-409-4414. You can go online to [URL="http://www.idahorealrealestate.com"]www.idahorealrealestate.com[/URL] to view properties for sale.

I am happy to help!

Maureen Dickey
Atova Real Estate
208-409-4414
[EMAIL="mdickey@idahorealestate.com"]mdickey@idahorealestate.com[/EMAIL]

[jwest09]

Idaho is nice, but a little to bit too cold and windy for a lot of retirement folks. So they pull their 5th. wheel, trailer, or drive a RV down to Arizona to escape the Idaho winter.
I would say the best place to retire all year, would have to be around the St. George area of Utah.

[binkie99]

Sorry I haven't gotten back to everyone before now. Things have been really hectic here the last couple of weeks.

L. Robbins - Thanks for the suggestion. Texas is pretty humid and hot, I understand. I don't do well in the humidty. Also, property taxes in Texas seem awfully high.

BoiseGuy - Thanks! Emmett looks pretty inviting and right now it is at the top of the list.

Jesseemystery - Thanks! Idaho City sounds like a great place to visit. Not sure about living in the mountains though. Will put it on the list to look at.

Mdickey - May look you up when we're in your area.

jwest09 - We looked at Arizona but the intense heat in the summer is a little much for us.

Again, thanks so much everyone. I'm really looking forward to visiting Idaho!

[Sam Whiskey]

I wonder what the wind is like in Emmett. We too will be retiring soon and looking to go back to Idaho. Was stationed in Mt Home back in the day (late 1960s) but the wind and heat would definitely cramp my style. Currently live in North Pole, AK but want to escape the deep freeze (40-60 below zero).

[DESERTRYDER]

Sam we are in Emmett and find the wind a non issue.
When It does get breezy it just means more stars at night