Retiring to Jefferson (Greene, Churdan: real estate market, low crime, buying a home)

[jeffersonborn51]

Both of my parents and their families were from the Jefferson-Churdan Greene county area. I may still have cousins around there that I've had no contact with in my adult life. My father is buried in Jefferson. I plan to retire there in the spring of 2017 or sooner. I have not been to Jefferson in many years. I have done some research and know the real estate market, shopping, and major town events. I spent months in the summers there at my Grandfathers house with two of my aunts and some time with my maternal grandmother in Churdan. I love my memories of Jefferson and I was born there. I know Iowa has changed some in past 50 years, but my hope is to find a friendly small town atmosphere with low crime, a well maintained neighborhood with sidewalks, big trees, and peace. I am very independent and like to keep to myself mostly. I plan to travel some, and also there are many places in Iowa that I want to revisit. I was raised by an Iowa protestant family and have Christian values but I am not a churchgoer. My politics are liberal. Some of the news reports I see are disturbing, meth use, homes burglarized, etc, that's not how I remember Iowa.

Any feedback on crime, local politics, and general feel of the social acceptance of a law abiding west coast liberal just wants to keep to himself buying a home in small town Iowa will be appreciated.