Best States To Retire
The AARP compiles an annual list of the best states to retire, and here are the 2018 results of the top 10 states:
The reasons why these states were selected varies from the best places for health care to states with a high quality of life for seniors. Some states, namely South Dakota, were selected because they had the largest percentage of seniors who were still employed. This might sound odd for some seniors. But realistically, the ability to find jobs as seniors is attractive for active seniors who want to contribute while adding to their retirement fund.
A couple of states on this list are expectedFlorida and Arizonaas these have long been hot spots for retirement communities for active seniors. And while Wyoming looks like the odd state out, this state was actually Number 2 on this list in 2017. Colorado was the Number 2 state for 2018 in terms of providing the best healthcare services for seniors. The rest of the states offer the most retirement-friendly amenities and services in the nation.
Things To Do In Virginia Beach
Join your neighbors at the annual NAS Oceana Air Show. Discover great restaurants and family-friendly activities along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Go hiking at the historic First Landing State Park. Spend a day with the stingrays at Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Grab some seafood at Watermans . And be sure to visit Cape Henry Lighthouse!
Looking to relocate to one of these veteran-friendly cities? Extra Space Storage has convenient self storage locations across the U.S. Find a storage unit near you today!
Home price values from Zillow Research. Crime rates from AreaVibes.com. Population data from U.S. Census Bureau. Unemployment rates, military and veteran populations, military installations, and VA health facilities for large cities and medium cities from Military Times. State income and military tax information from Military Benefits.
Best Places For Military Retirement
When you have served in the US military or you are a spouse of a veteran, you are part of a distinct community. Whether or not you lived on base or were stationed overseas, chances are you congregated, lived, or worked alongside other members of the military. If you or your spouse were a distinguished service member, then you may have the opportunity to live in a designated military retirement community. But what if you did not move up in the ranks but still want to live among other veterans as a senior?
You are in luck. Military.com has released a listing of the top 10 best places for military retirees, which includes:
Reasons why these cities were selected range from offering an affordable cost of living and local base amenities to having Veterans Administration healthcare services nearby. Several of the cities are recommended because they have a large number of defense contract awards. What this indicates is that these cities offer more military skill jobs that can benefit military retirees interested in continuing their employment. These skills are very specific and often require high levels of security checks that military service members can provide. Another reason why these cities were noted is based on a low sales tax or no state tax for military retirement pay.
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Best Military Bases For Retirees
by Joe Wallace
What are the best military bases for retirees? Much depends on your priorities. Do you seek easy access to VA facilities, on-base amenities such as BX/PX and Navy Exchanges? Or do you want to live near federal jobs and civil service career options in a close-knit military community? Check out the bases and locales below for inspiration:
Things To Do In Alexandria
Theres always something new to explore in Old Town, which is home to nearly 200 unique restaurants, shops, and museums. Grab a bite to eat at Gadsbys Taverna favorite spot of patrons like George Washington and John Adamsand explore the attached museum. Take a water taxi or a sightseeing cruise along the waterfront. Hike or bike the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail, which stretches into Arlington. And, of course, being so close to Washington, DC means all that our nations capital has to offer is only a Metro station away!
- Military Bases Near Colorado Springs: Peterson AFB, Fort Carson, Schriever AFB
Why do 53,575 retired military call Colorado Springs their home? Because Colorado Springs is one of the best places for military retirement! Home to one of the highest veteran populations in the U.S., the area offers breathtaking views of the mountains, low unemployment rates, and close proximity to Peterson Air Force Base and other military installations. Though Colorado in general comes with a slightly elevated cost of living, the tuition assistance, property tax exemption, and state-specific tax breaks for pensions make living in the Rocky Mountain State affordable for retired military.
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Top 7 Places To Buy A Home After Military Retirement
If youre like most people, you may have mixed feelings about putting your military career behind you. But retiring from the military doesnt have to be the end. Instead, try to look at it as the beginning of something new. Military retirement is the chance to start a whole new chapter of your life. You can start a new career, pursue a hobby, go back to school, or simply spend time with your family.
Not to mention, there are several states that offer benefits that cater to retired military. Here are the top five places for retired military to purchase a home in the U.S.
Best Small Towns To Retire In For Your Forever Home
Ah, retirement. When you can make your own decisions, choose where you live and for how long, and can finally buy that nice furniture. But how do you choose where to live? Some want to return to their hometown, some want to live in a big city, and still others want a nice hometown feel. For the latter crowd, we have this list of the best small-town feel places to retire.
There are a few challenges when considering your retirement location. And, even though some military families have been dreaming about this day since first receiving orders, the choice can be intimidating. When you factor in the average age of a military retiree and compare it to the civilian retiree, youre going to get different retirement living options. And, of course, weve seen a bunch of different places, making the choice difficult.
But, were here to help partly because were starting our retirement dream sheet too and weve selected cities that show off their energy, creativity, and things to do. Just minus the stifling atmosphere of a clogged, over-trafficked metropolis. So if you are retiring from the military and looking for a cozy spot, we have compiled a list of the best small-town feel places to retire, with towns that also include a great cost of living, fewer people, and awesome amenities.
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What State Has The Best Benefits For Veterans
The term best is a lot like beauty: Its definition is in the eye of the beholder. Furthermore, benefits can mean several things, beyond health care and access to medical services.Colorado is a classic example. Home to numerous military bases ,the Centennial State offers a number of tax benefits for qualifying disabled veterans who own real estate. Although Colorado does tax military pay, as much as $24,000 per year may be excluded pending approval, MilitaryBenefits.info reported.New York also has a plethora of benefits that make it among the best places for military retirement. According to the New York State Department of Health, New York has six VA medical centers more than any other state and over two dozen community-based outpatient clinics. Wyoming, California, Texas and Montana round out the top five in VA health facilities on a per number of veterans basis, based on a report from WalletHub.
Your Last Duty Station
Odds are, youre already living near a military installation now, which means there are likely government jobs and a civilian population that likes having veterans around.
Weve decided to settle in Fayetteville, N.C., as my husband was accepted into the Physicians Assistant Program at Methodist University, said Ashlee Cleveland, whose husband left the Army after serving last at Fort Bragg, N.C. It is nice to work with a school who appreciates veterans. That, and I love my job so Fayetteville was an easy choice for us!
After Heather Sargents husband was medically retired from the Marine Corps, her family decided to stay in Carteret County, N.C. between Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point because they had so many good friend and connections there. We didnt move back to Connecticut because we wanted to make sure he was close to veteran support systems that would know what he was dealing with and there was no way we could afford to move back North on his disability pension, she said.
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Best Places To Retire In California In 2022
- 8 minute read
With the myriad of cities in California, finding the most suitable city after retirement can be a confusing task.
With the nice weather, friendly and diverse community, and nice beaches, the different cities in California are basic hotspots for seniors searching for suitable spots for relaxed and smooth living. California is known for its stunning ocean views, forests, and mountains which attracts not just tourists but retirees looking to settle down.
The various cities in California are top choices for retirees due to basic features like outstanding health care facilities, a strong economy, and diverse job opportunities which are open for retired personnel. The beautiful climate and sunny weather allow the residents of the state to indulge mostly in outdoor activities.
Are you curious about finding out the best places to retire in California? This article will focus on reviewing the benefits of retiring in California and the top best cities in California to retire in to help you have the best retirement experience.
Best Places To Retire For Military Members:
Having said all that, let us start looking at some of the best places to retire for Military members. Two of the best states to retire happen to be Texas and Oklahoma. Some of the best cities to retire in Texas include: Austin/Round Rock, Bryan/College Station, Waco, and San Angelo.
In Oklahoma, you can discover what attracts military retirees to Oklahoma City. Nearby you could give Wichita Kansas a try as one of the best large military cities to retire.
If you prefer to live in the Northeast region of the United States, you can check out Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pittsburgh, Madison, Syracuse, and Dayton as some of the best places for military retirement.
To round out this brief listing, you could also check out two metropolitan areas including New Orleans/Metairie/Kenner and Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater.
This is not an exhaustive listing by any means. It just serves as a starting point to consider your military retirement options. You ultimately have to decide what is most important to you.
More resources to help with military retirement:
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Tinker Afb: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
Oklahoma may not be on your list of dream retirement locations, but the extremely low cost of living is only one of several reasons to keep this city on your list. Oklahomaâs capitol offers the University of Oklahoma, along with a variety of food and entertainment options. The median home price in the Oklahoma City area is $257,000, and the overall cost of living is lower in the state, too.
Oklahoma boasts a low unemployment rate, and a high number of veteran-owned businesses. There are several military installations in the area, and a nearby VA medical center, so retiring to Oklahoma City gives you easy access to your military benefits. However, be aware that Oklahoma is a state that does tax military pensions.
Things To Consider When Moving
When looking at finding a new home after retiring from the military, it is crucial to consider your needs. Depending on your rank and years of service, you may be eligible for a pension from $20,000 and upwards.
Though higher ranking members will earn significantly more, consider the yearly amount before making any decisions. $20,000 a year will go much further and allow for a higher quality of life in the countryside when compared to living costs in a highly populated city.
Before making any big decisions, such as buying a house, consider the following:
- What is your cost of living, including car insurance and other expenses?
- What quality of life are you looking for?
- What are the taxes like in the specific area?
- Is climate important?
- Will you need to travel?
If you are moving to a new city, consider starting with a trial run. This can include booking a short-term rental and spending a couple of months in the area before committing to a lease or mortgage. Make a list of what you are looking for and what is important, and thoroughly assess the area.
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Best Counties To Retire To In North Carolina
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike when asked what are the three most essential considerations about a property will nearly always reply location, location, location.
While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and perhaps raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 years or older decide on where they want to live out their golden years, they consider very specific factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to retire in North Carolina using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, healthcare, recreation and weather. Read more about Niches methodology here.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in North Carolina.
1 / 25AbeEzekowitz // Wikimedia Commons
Niche grades: good for retirees , cost of living , weather , outdoor activities Top places to live: Sylva , Forest Hills , Webster Township
2 / 25G Keith Hall // Wikimedia Commons
Grand Forks Afb: Grand Forks North Dakota
You may be surprised to learn that Grand Forks public schools are some of the best in the nation. Families who settle here after retiring from the military can be confident that their children will have great educational opportunities. They can even attend the University of North Dakota in town.
The Grand Forks area has a healthy low unemployment rate of 3.1% and a cost of living nearly 6% below the national average. Military retirees and their families will have access to several VA medical clinics. Grand Forks is located a stone’s throw away from the Minnesota border, with easy access to plenty of family-friendly outdoor activities.
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Where Do Most Retired Military Live
When you think of the states that have the most senior citizens, Florida most likely comes to mind. And youd be right. According to the most recent statistics available from the Census Bureau, 20.5% of the Sunshine States residents are over the age of 65, USA Today reported.But not when it comes to the military veteran population on a per capita basis. Florida comes in 20th overall, with 8.6% of its residents being veterans.You may be surprised to learn that Alaska has the highest per capita veteran population. Indeed, nearly 12% of the Last Frontier State is made up of military retirees.Other states with a high per capita rate of veterans include Virginia , Montana and Wyoming .Its great to live in a location where people have similar life experiences. If this is important to you, any of these states are worthy candidates for best places for military to retire in.
Things To Do In San Antonio
Spend the day at famous attractions like The Alamo or The San Antonio River Walk. Explore the trails at Denman State Park. Immerse yourself in modern art at McNay Art Museum or nature at San Antonio Botanical Garden. Take advantage of the military discount at Six Flags for a fun day out with the family. Head over to Little Woodrows for a drink and turtle racing . Or head over to Los Barrios for an authentic Mexican mealand remember to ask for extra chimichurri!
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Fort Hood Austin Texas
Fort Hood is an hour north of the live music capital of Texas and possibly the world, Austin, Texas. Some prefer the Austin metro area to San Antonio, but an explosion of growth has made the city harder to navigate and some may choose to live on the outskirts or in a half-way point between Austin and Fort Hood.
Fort Hood is a go-to destination for those who need a VA medical center. Autin itself is a major source of jobs and has a growing economy including a thriving media and tech sector. There are many opportunities for military retirees to start second careers in an upwardly mobile city.
Best 5 Florida Military Bases To Retire Near
With its warm climate, lower cost of living and no state income or inheritance taxes, many Americans decide when its time to retire to move to Florida. The third most populous state in the U. S., Florida has the highest percentage of people over age 65. For military retirees, a popular option is to relocate near a military base in Florida to fully enjoy the retirement benefits they acquired from their service. These retirement benefits allow them discounted prices at exchanges, commissaries, recreational facilities such as golf courses, and allow them access to medical and pharmacy services at on-base facilities as well as numerous Veterans Administration health centers and clinics located throughout the state. Because of the large number of military retirees in Florida, a comradeship is also easy to be formed for newly relocated residents, with many veterans clubs and organizations located close to the bases. Personal finance website WalletHub agrees, ranking Florida the best overall state for military retirees to live at in 2018.
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