Whether to work or retire, these communities deliver on the qualities we most want in a hometown
Call it the Great Reassessment. Nearly two years of pandemic living have given Americans so much time to reconsider what makes a house a home and a zip code a neighborhood worth living in.
What many of us have concluded is that our criteria are changing. Amid months of social distancing, we learned that space matters. According to a University of Vermont survey, 59 percent said the pandemic taught them that nature is integral to their well-being. At the same time, our reliance on technology and the internet has surged, and so broadband access has become even more important to daily life. More generally, trends show we want larger and more flexible homes, calmer environments, a palpable sense of community, but also 21st-century infrastructure.
The Quick List:
Over the years, AARP The Magazine has regularly reported on great places to live on a modest income. But in our first assessment since the pandemic began, we knew we had to amend the criteria. AARP’s Livable Communities team — which provides support to local leaders to help make cities and towns best-suited for people of all ages — and the AARP Public Policy Institute — which publishes the popular Livability Index used by real estate agents and home shoppers nationwide — worked with our editors to come up with 14 objective points of data by which to assess American communities in this new reality. From them, a set of communities emerged. It was full of surprises: a few big cities you might not expect to be retirement-friendly, and smaller towns that are hardly known outside their region.
Of course, numbers don’t reveal the intangibles that make communities special. So we gathered input from AARP’s state offices as well as from regional journalists. Ultimately, this process yielded a handful of communities that represent much of what we all look for in a place to call home: a comparatively low cost of living, great access to nature and recreation, relative ease of getting around, quality health care systems, and a strong sense of community. These are draws even if you aren’t nearing retirement; all of the featured communities have strong job markets or are good candidates for remote work.
“We know that older adults and younger generations want similar things in the places they live,” says Mike Watson, director of AARP Livable Communities.
Consider these a sample of what the good life could be in America, now and far beyond the pandemic.
The Full Breakdown:
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Midwest nice in a high-tech town
Small-town charm hides a cutting-edge secret in Cedar Falls. Every home and business is connected to fiber broadband. These lightning-fast connections are possible because internet service is provided by community-owned Cedar Falls Utilities. The combination of old and new makes the city an attractive place.
Population
40,713
Median housing costs
$1,238 per month
Median housing cost burden
24.2 percent of income spent on housing
Access to exercise
80 percent live near parks and recreational facilities. (Those who live within a half-mile of a park and within a mile of a recreation facility.)
Vibe
Old meets new
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Nature, nature everywhere
The Snake River runs right through downtown Idaho Falls. So this community has built a 14-mile River Walk, featuring a floating bridge, majestic trees and the falls for which the city was named. It connects to the Snake River Landing, 450 acres of riverfront property where shops, restaurants, businesses and parks coexist harmoniously.
Population
64,818
Median housing costs
$1,015 per month
Median housing cost burden
22.9 percent of income spent on housing
Access to exercise
79 percent live near parks and recreational facilities.
Vibe
Mountains and fresh air
Jackson, Tennessee
A diverse place that’s easy to get around
Jackson has abundant parks, greenways and walking trails. And retirees will find plenty of opportunities for golf, fishing and hiking. There are numerous fitness centers, including Lift, an 84,000-square-foot facility with a medical clinic, three indoor pools and a healthy café. Jackson offers free concerts at the Amp, an outdoor amphitheater next to the farmers market. And retirees can see musicals and plays at the performing arts center that locals call The Ned.
Population
68,205
Median housing costs
$1,071 per month
Median housing cost burden
29.5 percent of income spent on housing
Access to exercise
74 percent live near parks and recreational facilities
Vibe
Affordable and accepting
Anderson, South Carolina
Budget southern charm
Anderson has a median house price of under $250,000. But residents don’t have to sacrifice big-city services, such as health care. Officials credit the AnMed Health system, which includes clinics and private practices on one campus.
Population
28,106
Median housing costs
$898 per month
Median housing cost burden
32.3 percent of income spent on housing
Access to exercise
65 percent live near parks and recreational facilities.
Vibe
Lazy days on the lake
Related Links
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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.
