Kiplinger's lists of ten cities in various categories (pensions, weather, moving)

[Escort Rider]

Yes, I know, many of you hate these lists, but here are two lists with a twist, namely that they are not judged to be best or worst or cheapest for retirement per se, just plain cheapest metro areas and most expensive metro areas based on the cost of living index. The U.S. average cost of living is 100, which I believe is the average for metro areas. I have attached the actual cost of living index numbers.

CHEAPEST
1. Brownsville, TX 80
2. Pueblo, CO 84.1
3. Ft. Hood, TX 84.8
4. Fort Smith, AR 85
5. Sherman, TX 86
6. Springfield, IL 86
7. Waco, TX 86
8. Fayetville, AR 87
9. Austin, TX 87
10. Springfiled, MO 87

MOST EXPENSIVE (and look at that number for NYC compared to the other numbers!)
1. New York City 218
2. Honolulu, HI 171
3. San Francisco, CA 164
4. San Jose, CA 150
5. Stamford, Conn. 147
6. Washington, D.C. 141
7. Fairbanks, AK 138
8. Boston, MA 138
9. Los Angeles, CA 134
10. San Diego, CA 131

Looks like Texas is the place to go for cheap (at least if you want a metro area) and California for expensive, but the range of scores among the expensive cities took me by surprise. I didn't even include Kiplinger's most affordable list for retirees, but you can find it at www.kiplinger.com then click on "Retirement" at the top.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Escort Rider

Yes, I know, many of you hate these lists, ... I didn't even include Kiplinger's most affordable list for retirees, but you can find it at www.kiplinger.com then click on "Retirement" at the top.

A much more digestible list (probably even better with HS internet rather than Pay-By-the-Dial-up) left wing conspiracy, "no HS internet to rural areas, cuz their vote isn't big enough to count."

Of course like all lists, this one is not too comprehensive or accurate.

[Caladium]

Pueblo, CO surprises me. Why is that city so inexpensive?

[Curmudgeon]

Well, we're about equidistant from Springfield, MO and Fayetteville, AR and according to C-D, our COL Index is 77.5. Since we have almost three times the median household income, we'll take it. It could be worse! It would have been about 1.5 from whence we came and we like it much better where we are in all respects.

[goldengrain]

We have made our retirement decision. We used to subscribe to Kiplingers and much enjoyed it. At the time I remember (I think it was the April issue) a huge, multipage, retirement places grid which took a big city in the state and listed the typical home price and property taxes there. There were other pertinent entries on the grid, as well, as I remember.

I think there was also some info about which sources of retirement income were taxed and which were not. I remember thinking that people who retired in New York State had a great deal, I think they had extraordinarily low property taxes or maybe a total freeze or maybe the high educational component forgiven - after one lived there for perhaps 10 years. And, NY had a STAR program which is hard, as an outsider, to get info on, but it is worth the digging because it turns out to be very comprehensive in the finances of seniors.

I am surprised at how many states forgive pensions (which most people are no longer receiving) but not 401k distributions and other income from investments.

Another thing that people would appreciate is what social services (like rides to food stores and doctors) are available. A small tax difference, but with such service, may be preferable since most of us, if we live long enough, will not be driving.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Pueblo, CO surprises me. Why is that city so inexpensive?

Pueblo suffers from an image problem because of the perceived and measured high crime rate. Cities Where Violent Crime Is Soaring - 24/7 Wall St.

In addition this city has a large Hispanic population and this with the perceived crime, makes it less desirous to many people who are moving to Colorado who want only to live in a "white" only area. Also, incomes are lower for many because of a less educated work force. Therefore housing cost are lower. It has a history of being an industrial steel town and consequently was not thought as a good place to live by Coloradans who live in the more populous areas of the Front Range.

My personal perspective is that I think the crime issue is overstated. I enjoy the Hispanic culture, greatly, and the deep roots that exist in this area. The city is known for many festivals that champion its food and culture. It has also a significant Italian cultural influence from immigrants who came to work in the steel mills. Ah, the Mexican and Italian Food in this city is outstanding and less expensive.

Pueblo has moved beyond its early steel town image and has a variety of many businesses, new developments, expanding healthcare and a growing State University. I think it is a great small city to live. It is the main city of the southern front range of Colorado. It has many attractive old buildings that exist near the redeveloping City Core. Pueblo, CO - Official Website

It also has some unique characteristics that make it appealing. It sits at where the Arkansas River comes down from the Rockies. This area, in the foothills and close by, is considered the "Banana Belt" of Colorado as it has milder weather and warmer temperatures because of the location.

Consequently, it is viewed by some as a good retirement area for people who want to stay in Colorado and have warmer weather and a less expensive place to live, in a smaller city with good services.

Livecontent

[Caladium]

Hmmmmm, I may have to add Pueblo to my list of cities to consider. I remember staying with a friend for a week many years ago (1977) and it seemed like a cute town back then. Of course I wasn't looking at it from the perspective of maybe living there someday.

How are the hospitals, and does it have a problem with ice in the winter? Where would retirees want to live if they were interested in Pueblo? Does the airport fly to many major cities, or do you have to drive to Denver to fly to places like San Francisco and NYC?

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Hmmmmm, I may have to add Pueblo to my list of cities to consider. I remember staying with a friend for a week many years ago (1977) and it seemed like a cute town back then. Of course I wasn't looking at it from the perspective of maybe living there someday.

How are the hospitals, and does it have a problem with ice in the winter? Where would retirees want to live if they were interested in Pueblo? Does the airport fly to many major cities, or do you have to drive to Denver to fly to places like San Francisco and NYC?

I do not live in Pueblo. I have been there many times for pleasure and for business over the 33 years I have lived in Colorado. I am originally from NY.

I got here and the "natives" would say that Pueblo is a stinking steel town. It made me laugh when I drove there and there was this small clean steel mill in a nice looking town These people have no idea of the huge steel miles, that go on for miles and miles, on the east coast with decay all around.

Kaiser Permanente is the biggest provider of healthcare on Colorado. A few years ago they expanded down to Pueblo and started building clinics and I understand the Hospitals have been expanded for the senior population.

I know nothing about the airport but I would assume that transfers would be made at Colorado Springs or Denver for major routes.

Pueblo would seek to get all the more extensive services, shopping or any other needs from Colorado Springs and not so much from Denver. Colorado Springs is really another nice city for retiring.

I grew up, mostly, near Buffalo and worked in NYC. The winters in Colorado are comparatively mild with mostly sunny days, on the near Front Range, which has protection of the mountains from more severe weather. However, winter storms do happen, occasionally, with heavy snow but melt quickly with the dry air and sun. As I said before, Pueblo has a little milder and warmer weather because of the anomaly of the location. Keep in mind the area is semi-arid with little precipitation and I think Pueblo is even drier and more desert arid than where I live near Denver.

Pueblo would be a very nice place to retire. The only issue that would concern me would be Public Transportation. In examining the system, it does have adequate service in the center core of the city, with daytime service, but not so much in other places. Pueblo does provide more pickup van services for seniors and the disabled. That is no different than many other smaller cities. Extensive Public Transit is mostly provided in larger metro areas that have the population and need to support such a service. That is why I will stay in the Denver area for the outstanding public transit.

The Denver area is also a very good place to live for retirees. It is all the services being the capital of a smaller populated State, and the only regional city covering a multi-State sparsely populated area. For my needs, it has the extensive VA services.

I do not view Denver as some Giant metro area but it feels to me more like a collection of smaller cities and neighborhoods that are grouped together, so the area is not really overbearing. Denver is not as dense and stressful as NYC. I move up here from Dallas/Ft. Worth and Denver is much smaller and less intense than those Texas cities. Living in the suburbs of Arvada, to me, is like living in a smaller town.

Livecontent