Good place to retire? (property tax, live, retirement)

[CO_Rider]

Originally Posted by Bettyjane8

We are thinking of moving to New Ulm, MN. We read it was one of the 8 safest towns in the U.S.A. Is it as good as they say and also, are there alot of somali refugee's there? I know they relocated alot of them to Minnesota, but wasn't sure if New Ulm got any of them? Thank you for any info?

I don't know where you are at now but if you are looking for wonderful retirement spot then check out Fruita, CO.
Village at Country Creek, a Western CO Retirement Community
We moved from MN to CO 22 years ago.
Fruita is listed as the safest city in CO.

[mn shutterbug]

Originally Posted by CO_Rider

I don't know where you are at now but if you are looking for wonderful retirement spot then check out Fruita, CO.
Village at Country Creek, a Western CO Retirement Community
We moved from MN to CO 22 years ago.
Fruita is listed as the safest city in CO.

But, how safe is CO?

[Apple Tree]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

New Ulm is almost 100% Somali. Ulm is the Somali word for homeland.

It's is not often I laugh at a smart alec City Data post, but this was good.

[Apple Tree]

Originally Posted by Kamsack

I have been to Mankato and surrounding areas.... not specifically to New Ulm.... but that is a heavy farming area. I have no opinion on that area...it seems ok but kind of blah.

If I would retire in MN....I would choose the Park Rapids MN area. Some nice quaint shops downtown and in nearby Walker and Brainerd. Nice area for the quiet life. Winters are cold and snowy but that is to be expected.... but lots of pine trees, etc in that area so not very windy.

I agree. New Ulm is OK.... if you want quiet and predictable, which is perhaps OK. For my money, I would look at the following towns instead:

- Alexandria
- Park Rapids
- Red Wing
- Perham
- Pelican Rapids
- Osakis

Each gives you access to water, which, even if you only look at it, is a big reason to choose Minnesota. Some of my most relaxing afternoons are sitting on a bench looking at water.

A cool town to retire to would be Grand Marais, but you would have to be up for an adventure. Based on your question about safety, you might want to stick a little closer to civilization.

[bler144]

Is the OP's draw to New Ulm just that it was on an "8 safest" list? No offense, but most of those lists are crap, and even if they had statistical meaning, there's likely no meaningful difference between the #8 safest and the #8,000 safest.

You didn't really talk about budget, or access to services/medical, etc., but for someone looking to retire there (who seemingly isn't from MN) I'd tend to recommend something closer to either the TC or Rochester as an actual hub.

Red Wing is a pretty nice town, or one of the other towns in that outer belt like Cannon Falls/Northfield/New Prague.

[slamont61]

Originally Posted by Apple Tree

It's is not often I laugh at a smart alec City Data post, but this was good.

And even Somali can't be 100% Somali.

Don't be late for the Somali Pot Luck.

[krug]

look to Kiplinger's list of retirement in the 50 states. Minnesota is one of the top 10 least friendly tax states in existence. Probably to cover the cost of all those "immigrants". IMO

[191185]

Originally Posted by Bettyjane8

We are thinking of moving to New Ulm, MN. We read it was one of the 8 safest towns in the U.S.A. Is it as good as they say and also, are there alot of somali refugee's there? I know they relocated alot of them to Minnesota, but wasn't sure if New Ulm got any of them? Thank you for any info?

To answer your question, the Somali refuges are all on government assistance, so they all live in Minneapolis, specifically the section 8 building

If you google " minneapolis somali building" it pops right up. Heres the link:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/...01_634x413.jpg

Stay away from the major citys where all the free housing, bus lines, amd EBT cards are, and you wil be good.

[mgregg3]

Winona, MN was just identified on the new top 10 safest towns list. It's a nice mid-size town along the river.

[mn shutterbug]

Originally Posted by mgregg3

Winona, MN was just identified on the new top 10 safest towns list. It's a nice mid-size town along the river.

Winona area is a beautiful place along the Mississippi. I do love the bluff country but Winona is pretty spendy when it comes to real estate. La Crosse, WI, which isn't all that far south of there and also along the Mississippi, would be much more affordable. I had considered La Crosse for retirement some day but switched my plans to northern MN due to the numerous lakes. The La Crosse area is pretty lacking in that dept.