Advice / Info on Where to retire in the US

[Joseph]

Ugh, and I applied to a promotion in Denver and got excited about the high walk score and high transit score!

Bumbed out about the outside Denver opinion. Was also considering Colorado Springs area. Might give consideration to RENO and surrounding area. Quick flight to Vegas, close enough to Bay Area ( where we live now). Wife would stay in Bay Area. There is a lot of things to do. I don’t dislike it but it has issues that bother me. Flooding, living on a fault line and fires give me much trepidation. Crime and political environment doesn’t make me warm and fuzzy inside. Cost is ridiculous and getting worse. My goal is sell our house, pay off mortgage and buy next house somewhere else with cash. No major disasters and that should be very achievable.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Bumbed out about the outside Denver opinion. Was also considering Colorado Springs area. Might give consideration to RENO and surrounding area. Quick flight to Vegas, close enough to Bay Area ( where we live now). Wife would stay in Bay Area. There is a lot of things to do. I don’t dislike it but it has issues that bother me. Flooding, living on a fault line and fires give me much trepidation. Crime and political environment doesn’t make me warm and fuzzy inside. Cost is ridiculous and getting worse. My goal is sell our house, pay off mortgage and buy next house somewhere else with cash. No major disasters and that should be very achievable.

One of my sons lived in Reno for a year. He liked it except for the wildfire smoke coming over from California. There is enough of a change of season there to get snow and temps down into the 30's, even the 20's. This would not scare me, since I'm from Minnesota and would like a bit of change of seasons, just not the annual average of 48 inches of snow, however.

 

[Diogenes]

In choosing a place that is "perfect" it helps a lot if you do not need low cost of living (or at least if cost of living is low on your priorities.)

The near perfect weather and natural beauty of our Island comes at a fairly steep price. Our biggest compromise (therefore) is to live in a relatively small condo rather than in a SFH (though we could have the SFH if we changed our spending priorities.) YMMV

Indeed, the more pleasant places are going to be more popular, driving-up prices. But "cost of living" needs to be parsed, into market costs - principally housing - and regulatory costs - principally taxes. In some states or locales, the taxes are fairly low, but housing costs are high. An example might be Seattle or Miami. In others, both are high (LA, NYC). And in still others, taxes are fairly high (for higher income earners) while housing costs are low. This is true in much of the Midwest, and maybe in Oregon (outside of Portland).

For a "fat" FIRE person with a large taxable portfolio and hence large taxable dividend distributions, the tax-cost can overwhelm the rest of COL. For a more "lean" FIRE person, it's the other way around.

 

[Koolau]

What size is your condo? I'm assuming they've appreciated quite a bit since you purchased?

About 1100SF 2/2. Stunning-view-covered-lanai (can see all the way to the Cook Islands - not really )

Yeah, nearly doubled in value since 2010. That's really not as rapid a rise in price as many other parts of the country, but we're bumping up against "affordability" in the Islands. Most kamaʻāina can not afford multi-million dollar condos so they can only go up so fast - more or less in line with local wages. Now, 10 and 20 million dollar SFHs abound for the "rich" but most condos are well under a million.

 

[teej1985]

About 1100SF 2/2. Stunning-view-covered-lanai (can see all the way to the Cook Islands - not really )

Yeah, nearly doubled in value since 2010. That's really not as rapid a rise in price as many other parts of the country, but we're bumping up against "affordability" in the Islands. Most kamaʻāina can not afford multi-million dollar condos so they can only go up so fast - more or less in line with local wages. Now, 10 and 20 million dollar SFHs abound for the "rich" but most condos are well under a million.

Doubling since 2010 is really not bad at all. Which city are you in?

 

[Soooretired]

Ashville and surroundings - Highlands, Cashiers, Brevard - is very interesting. It looks stunningly beautiful.
I have lots of questions, here are some of them:
- how humid is it in summertime?
- can you recommend any gated communities close to Ashville, Highlands, Cashiers? I found The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and it looks great. Spectacular, maybe a little bit on the expensive. Any opinions/recommendations?
- is there at least some diversity in the area? Or would people look at you suspiciously if you have a foreign accent ?
- how is healthcare? We are good healthwise, but at 60 years, we will need access to healthcare eventually.
- I checked the airport (AVL) and while not great, Atlanta and Charlotte are not too far away.
- How about Boone?

Mexpet, I support your Asheville area idea. I have lived “over the hill” in Greenville area for 25 years. Brevard, etc areas have beautiful scenery, hiking, etc. can’t vouch for healthcare there but Atlanta, Greenville and Charlotte are reasonably close (Charlotte and Atlanta both offer international flights). Don’t consider Greenville, too many things to do here and never makes the top retirement places lists…..

 

[Soooretired]

Mexpet,
Asheville has lower humidity but still present up the hill from Greenville. Western NC was favored by the wealthy South Carolinians in the 1800s for that reason. The Cliffs communities were built about 20 to 25 years ago with great fanfare but: check distances to grocery, shopping and drug stores. Lots of diversity and that is a good thing! Happy hunting!

 

[Teacher Terry]

One of my sons lived in Reno for a year. He liked it except for the wildfire smoke coming over from California. There is enough of a change of season there to get snow and temps down into the 30's, even the 20's. This would not scare me, since I'm from Minnesota and would like a bit of change of seasons, just not the annual average of 48 inches of snow, however.

Some years the smoke from the fires is bad and some years we don’t get much at all. In regard to snow it depends what elevation you live at. I live right in town and I rarely wear my winter coat because it’s sunny every day which usually melts any snow by noon. When we lived in the north valleys it was higher so we got a lot more snow. In 27 years we have had 5 real winters.

I have lived in 5 states but this is the first time I have lived somewhere where the elevation is different in different parts of town and it really affects the weather you experience.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Bumbed out about the outside Denver opinion. Was also considering Colorado Springs area. Might give consideration to RENO and surrounding area. Quick flight to Vegas, close enough to Bay Area ( where we live now). Wife would stay in Bay Area. There is a lot of things to do. I don’t dislike it but it has issues that bother me. Flooding, living on a fault line and fires give me much trepidation. Crime and political environment doesn’t make me warm and fuzzy inside. Cost is ridiculous and getting worse. My goal is sell our house, pay off mortgage and buy next house somewhere else with cash. No major disasters and that should be very achievable.

Colorado Springs is a nice area. My oldest son used to live there. Houses have really increased in Reno because of people moving from California. I read that our prices are now higher than Sacramento although if you are coming from the Bay Area you will be able to buy a nice home and have money left if you’re selling there.

 

[tutan]

Colorado Springs is a nice area. My oldest son used to live there. Houses have really increased in Reno because of people moving from California. I read that our prices are now higher than Sacramento although if you are coming from the Bay Area you will be able to buy a nice home and have money left if you’re selling there.

No more buffets in casinos except for Atlantis. They charge $56 for Friday- Sunday. Ouch!

 

[Teacher Terry]

No more buffets in casinos except for Atlantis. They charge $56 for Friday- Sunday. Ouch!

Our prices for everything are some of the highest in the country. Atlantis used to have great reasonable lunch buffets.

 

[Janet H]

Sequim, Port Angeles are nice places to live. But what about healthcare access? Both seems pretty far away from Seattle.

Sequim has adequate coverage for routine care BUT when something serious comes up a trip will be needed. I had a personal experience with this a few years back when DH broke several ribs (flail chest) and the local hospital was not up to the task (after sitting in the waiting room for hours).

Something else to consider is daylight. When I moved from the east coast to the PNW I was really surprised by the short days in winter. Dark by 4:30 in the winter has its drawbacks. A fair number of retirees in Sequim spend some portion of the winter in sunnier climates. Several friends take extended trips in January for this reason.

Sequim stats:

 

[Lstansbury]

Choosing the best town to retire in, relies so much on one's individual preferences! I would imagine that many would eliminate New Orleans due to their aversion to heat, humidity, and occasional hurricanes. Frank and I love, love, LOVE living here, though! It's inexpensive, very European in many ways, with great food, history, art, music, and architecture, amazing people, and festivals and more going on to keep one from getting bored. If you could get bored living in New Orleans, my guess is that you would get bored anywhere.

Except...
Crime

 

[sgood]

Sequim, Port Angeles are nice places to live. But what about healthcare access? Both seems pretty far away from Seattle.

Some people choose to buy medevac insurance if they have heart problems for instance. One issue for me, there is no emergency care veterinarian. I'm still pondering that one.

 

[Koolau]

Doubling since 2010 is really not bad at all. Which city are you in?

We're in the city and county of Honolulu. And it' not really doubled - more like an increase of 2/3 now that I calculate it out.

 

[teej1985]

We're in the city and county of Honolulu. And it' not really doubled - more like an increase of 2/3 now that I calculate it out.

Oh interesting. I figured you were on the other side where it is so much cheaper but also less populated. Are you on leased land or fortunate enough to own your land?

 

[Koolau]

Oh interesting. I figured you were on the other side where it is so much cheaper but also less populated. Are you on leased land or fortunate enough to own your land?

Actually, the side of the Island is less of an issue than such things as proximity to beach (and ocean view.) We tried to buy a similar sized condo in Kaneohe and it was quite a bit more expensive than what we ended up with on the leeward side. It was right over Kaneohe bay - still one of the most stunning views on the Island IMO.

Our condo building is all "fees simple" - we own our share of the land rather than lease.

 

[Alex The Great]

Do I remember correctly that very recently almost entire Hawaian island got burned?

 

[anothercog]

Do I remember correctly that very recently almost entire Hawaian island got burned?

I think you're thinking of Lahaina which is a town in Maui that is no more.

 

[swakyaby]

Nevada City, CA. Nevada City, CA | Official Website

But I admit to being partial to California.

Me too

 

[old medic]

Ashville and surroundings - Highlands, Cashiers, Brevard - is very interesting. It looks stunningly beautiful.
I have lots of questions, here are some of them:
- how humid is it in summertime?
- can you recommend any gated communities close to Ashville, Highlands, Cashiers? I found The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and it looks great. Spectacular, maybe a little bit on the expensive. Any opinions/recommendations?
- is there at least some diversity in the area? Or would people look at you suspiciously if you have a foreign accent ?
- how is healthcare? We are good healthwise, but at 60 years, we will need access to healthcare eventually.
- I checked the airport (AVL) and while not great, Atlanta and Charlotte are not too far away.
- How about Boone?

Sorry I missed this. The summer can get oppressive at times, Asheville itself is almost a bowl, higher up is not as bad, but then you get the winter stuff to offset it.
Tons of gated communities around. Theres a big mix of folks around so doubt that would be an issue.
Mission hospital in Asheville was top notch, still a good full service hospital, but new management a few years back created a bunch of issues.
Greenville and Spartanburg both have great hospitals systems too. All 3 are level 1 trauma centers, heart /stroke centers, cancer treatment and helicopter's.
Theres another international airport Greenville Spartanburg.
Greenville SC war rated in the top 10 cities to move to in 2024...

 

[Pluperfect]

• Property crime is off the hook bad, everywhere in the Denver area. 700 cars were stolen out of the airport parking in 2023.

As an update--there was a crime ring operating in Denver, and focusing on the Denver airport.

This story has a copy of the indictment, and an explanation of why the Denver airport, in particular, was where they were operating. A DEA agent is quoted as saying, "This network targeted vehicles here in the Denver metro area which were desired by Mexico-based drug trafficking organizations, which could best be modified to support ballistic armor as well as be mounted with high caliber munitions and firearms."

denver7.com/news/local-news/these-werent-simply-individuals-looking-to-steal-a-car-for-a-joy-ride-17-indicted-in-denver-car-theft-ring

Although if you ask me, if the cartels have so much money, it seems to me they could just buy their vehicles. But maybe that's too suspicious. Or if your business is crime, paying for a car doesn't even occur to you if stealing one is an option.

Anyway, I've spent a significant amount of time in Denver over the last 20 years and don't find it particularly worse than anywhere else. Well, except the ugly air. That's always dispiriting.

 

[GoodLife59]

I retired 2 years ago after 30 years with MegaCorp. Spent most of the last 2 years in Central America and Europe. Our 4 kids are in the US, so my wife and I are ready to move to the US as well, planning to move within the next 12 months. We are financially well off (see my posts from 8 years ago, if interested), so cost of living is not a major consideration.
I am looking for advice on where in the US to retire.
We are considering South Florida, but also a mountain town.
We are both 60 years, into hiking, traveling , restaurants, working out and healthy so far. My ideal retirement city/town would be something like an Austrian Alpine town not too far from a larger city, just to have easy airport access. Lots of restaurants. While we are well off, Aspen prices are too high for us.
What would be good options? Colorado, North Carolina, the Pacific North West, the North East, lake Tahoe? My kids are in Boston, New York, and Chicago, but they will most likely be moving around anyway. I checked online but mostly found articles on affordable mountain towns.
I am very familiar with Miami, and we both like it also. I know it is very different from the above locations. One thing that worries me about South Florida is the climate. Increasing hurricane activity means more flooding, and the whole area might just become uncomfortable to live.
Also any ideas on retirement communities? They seem nice but mostly for folks even older than we are?
So, please let me know your thoughts

If you’re into all 4-seasons with relatively short winters you may want to look at eastern PA. The rural areas of Bucks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties are cool. Close to Philly and NYC. Reasonable drive to upstate NY and New England. No state taxes on Social Security and pension income. Good luck with your search.

 

[skyking1]

Some people choose to buy medevac insurance if they have heart problems for instance. One issue for me, there is no emergency care veterinarian. I'm still pondering that one.

there is an ER in Poulsbo and another in Silverdale, about an hour away

 

[1RichCrook]

Lake Tahoe is beautiful but too touristy IMO. Gardnerville, NV (and adjacent Minden),a half hour drive over a hill from South Lake Tahoe, is about 1,500 feet lower at 4,700 feet elevation so winter is milder there. I’ve been there a few times when we couldn’t find suitable lodging at Lake Tahoe. Gardnerville is a pretty little rural town. It’s also under 1 hour from the Reno airport. As for hiking, Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, CA are even better than Lake Tahoe as they are jumping-off points to the high Sierra. But unfortunately they are also too far from regular commercial flights.

Shhhhhh!