Are college towns a good place to retire if your 50+ (friendly, community)
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Are college towns a good place to "retire" if your around 50+ years old in terms of getting
a small job, health care, meeting people your own age etc.. If so which towns around the
midwest would someone recommend.
I don't know about college towns in general, because some might be charming small hamlets that seem appealing, but lack the jobs and medical community that you'd want. But I think some larger college towns would fit the bill quite nicely. Take a look at Columbia, Missouri.
I think they can be, as they tend to have lower unemployment rates and there are things to do in a scaled down package. So, I think for those that want some things to do, but at a slower pace, college towns could or should be considered.
I think it depends on the type of college towns. Many college towns have virtually nothing aside from the campus and amenities geared towards college students. However, there are some college towns that I think would be great places for retirees, such as Madison, Ann Arbor, Berkeley, Boulder, or Chapel Hill.
If the town satisfies all your other requirements, a university in the area is a plus. A good library, access to some less expensive entertainment, etc. And some universities are associated with med schools and excellent hospitals.
FYI, once off campus Berkeley seems to mostly have older and sometimes retired people, who bought their houses back when the price was reasonable.
Of course, if you are easily irritated by young people a college town is something to avoid.
Certainly, college/university towns/cities offer a lot of potential stimulation for the mind/body. Entertainment. Sports. Learning opportunities. But I'm thinking that if finding a job is a priority than you'd be competing with the younger college-aged persons looking for part-time work as well. Some of these places have fantastic medical facilities, especially so when there are teaching facilities associated. I'm familiar with many of the college towns in Iowa. I also lived in Tucson, where the U of A is. And I live in a college/university town ... now. Chicago.
University of Iowa: Excellent medical facilities/teaching hospital, and continuing to build and expand on campus and into the community. Cute downtown. Is also well known for its Writer's Workshop.
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beyond the midwest...(my choices, since I don't go east of Missouri River in summer heat);
Las Cruces, NM is a fine place for a small city wth college. As is
Ft Collins, Boulder, Carbondale, Durango, CO.
Logan and Cedar City, UT.
Moscow, ID.
Flagstaff, AZ,
San Luis Obispo, and Chico, CA
Lincoln, NE gets pretty high marks, but NE is not senior TAX friendly.
I also enjoyed a week in South Bend, IN (Notre Dame). I 'guest housed' with retired ND staff who really enjoy their volunteer work and association with U. I got a great, private, 4 hr tour!
There are many benefits to College town, BUT PT jobs can be in tough to get, and pay less. Great idea to TEACH or provide services to the U.
It can be really good if the there is a major med school at the uni.
And this is often the case. I've lived in both Burlington, VT and Madison, WI, both of which have large medical centers with state medical schools close by...
They can be great places to live, and possibly even better to retire to..
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