What is the best city to retire in?

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:14:16 -0500

I have heard Texas or Wyoming are the best states?
What do you think?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 9:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:17:13 -0500

1SG Private RallyPoint Member That depends on what you are looking for when you retire?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 9:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:33:30 -0500

I already own a place in Florida and shall be returning there. I also have a few contacts there

Texas is not a bad choice as homes are reasonable and I believe the Job market is decent.

I know a couple people in Wyoming but do not know enough about that state.

Of course there are a bunch of places that are nice to retire in and still get a decent job. It is all where you would like to be.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Feb 22 at 2015 10:45 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:45:11 -0500

There is no simple answer to that question, as it is a purely personal decision based on your individual circumstances and likes. What one person thinks is a great retirement location, another might hate.

The best bet is to thoroughly research the locations you are thinking about and, if at all possible, visit them. Look at employment stats, tax situations, demographics, medical facilities, and everything that may be important to you.

Get the opinion of people who live in that area. RallyPoint is a good place to seek info from retirees about specific areas. Don't be shy about asking.

I have lived in a great many places and have looked at a lot more in preparation for retirement. Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and several others are on my list (but not necessarily on my wife's list). There are good and bad points about each. None is perfect. I'd be glad to share any info I have.

Good luck in your quest to find the perfect place.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 1:08 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 01:08:05 -0500

I've seen some articles in the past year in the American Legion/VFW publications about this.

Depends on what you want/need. Some need to stay close to VA care/hospitals. Some want to be close to military bases for the commissary, PX, class 6, space A terminal, and other services.

Climate, cultural arts, transportation, state income tax, average home price, cost of living, entertainment, higher education, job market and a host of others things come in to play also.

San Antonio seems to always fair well in these with 3 military bases (Air Force and Army), Brooke Army Medical Center, VA Hospital, no state income tax, low cost of living and home prices, cultural arts, entertainment, and warm climate.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 1:24 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 01:24:06 -0500

1SG, obviously your wants and needs may differ from mine or the next person's, but another place to put on your research list - Colorado Springs, CO. I've recently PCSed here to Fort Carson and I am already convinced it's where I want to retire to. There's a great local economy and job market, especially for jobs related to the defense industry, so that's a plus for most military retirees. The housing market is a little on the expensive side, compared to some other areas of the US, but it's not terrible, and there's tons of new homes constantly being built. It's a relatively large metropolitan area, and close to two other fair sized cities as well. It's centrally located in the Midwest, offering reasonable driving distances to the West Coast and the CentraL/South Central US. You're close to five military installations, for retiree benefits and job opportunities (Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever AFB, Cheyenne Mountain AFS/NORAD, and the USAF Academy). The city itself, and the area, frequently rank in the top 100, if not top 10 or #1, in lists rating best places to live or put down roots. There's tons of outdoor activities in the area, from hunting to hiking to cycling to camping, tons of mountains, great weather year-round, virtually no pests (Insects or small animals)....

I'm not sure about VA facilities in the area, but I'd be surprised if there's not one in CO Springs or Denver.

Plus, the CO Springs area has probably a 40-60% population of DOD personnel, retirees, veterans, and families, so there's going to be lots of like-minded people and people you can share experiences with - as well as the additional ease of getting a job when you're a veteran dealing with another veteran.

It's definitely a city/area worth looking into.