New Orleans...sad? What an understatement for a formerly GREAT city with such FANTASTIC culture! My Dad lived there for years and years, so I was there alot. What a city!!!! Katrina broke my heart, for sure.
Springfield, Mo., has nothing but positive comments almost. Go check it out (if you haven't) on city-data.com. I think you would love it. I would, too, but their high tax rate on income isn't beneficial for me. Anyway, Brad Pitt is from there...how bad can it be? Ha!
RunningBum, I love major metros because I love the restaurants and cultural things...and, believe it or not, the resale/thrift stores in major cities. It's the thrill of the hunt thing for some of us, I think, digging thru other peoples crap.
Although, I must admit, I am a sucker for the out of doors, too. All is nice.
Say, a GREAT city that is SAFE in Illinois--and over 21% seniors there--and, again, NO CRIME is: Princeton, Illinois. 126 miles W. of Chicago, which takes 2 hours to get into inner-city Chicago realistically. What a great place to retire. Quaint! Safe! Lots of seniors! Very friendly as in brownie carrying to your house when you move in friendly! Take a look at city-data.com and other sites for Princeton. You might like it. Just a suggestion. And the tax rate for income is a flat 3% in Illinois, which is low.