Top 10 Places to Live in the USA

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#888888" TEXT="#080000" background="c8fc8393.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="us_government_recall.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="US Government Recall Information">US Government Recall Information</A></div> <div> <A HREF="pro_editorial.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pro Editorial">Pro Editorial</A></div> <div> <A HREF="con_editorial.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Con Editorial">Con Editorial</A></div> <div> <A HREF="voting4america.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Voting4America">Voting4America</A></div> <div> <A HREF="governments_eavesdropping.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Governments Eavesdropping">Government's Eavesdropping</A></div> <div> <A HREF="arctic_wildlife_refuge.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Arctic National Wildlife Refuge">Arctic National Wildlife Refuge</A></div> <div> <A HREF="nuclear_powers_mining.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="U.S. Nuclear Powers Mining Industry">U.S. Nuclear Power's Mining Industry</A></div> <div> <A HREF="global_warming.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Global Warming">Global Warming</A></div> <div> <A HREF="who_destroyed_america.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who Destroyed America">Who Destroyed America</A></div> <div> <A HREF="first_female_house_speaker.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First Female House Speaker">First Female House Speaker</A></div> <div> <A HREF="patriot_act.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Patriot Act 090607">Patriot Act 09-06-07</A></div> <div> <A HREF="protesters_in_the_us_senate.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Protesters in the US Senate">Protesters in the US Senate</A></div> <div> <A HREF="tax_collector_secrets.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tax Collector Secrets">Tax Collector Secrets</A></div> <div> <A HREF="invset_like_a_republican.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Invest in Oil Like a Republican">How to Invest in Oil Like a Republican</A></div> <div> <A HREF="google_super_power.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Google Super Power">Google Super Power</A></div> <div> <A HREF="google_at_age_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Google at Age 10">Google at Age 10</A></div> <div> <A HREF="google_is_big_brother_spy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Google is Big Brother Spy">Google is Big Brother Spy</A></div> <div> <A HREF="google_antitrust_suit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Google Antitrust Suit">Google Antitrust Suit</A></div> <div> <A HREF="yahoo_ceo_steps_down.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Yahoo CEO Steps Down 061907">Yahoo CEO Steps Down 061907</A></div> <div> <A HREF="lehman_brothers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lehman Brothers">Lehman Brothers</A></div> <div> <A HREF="european_nuclear_research.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="European Organization for Nuclear Resear">European Organization for Nuclear Research</A></div> <div> <A HREF="paradox_valley_toxic_uranium.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Paradox Valley Toxic Uranium Mines">Paradox Valley Toxic Uranium Mines</A></div> <div> <A HREF="_world_trade_center_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" World Trade Center Anniversary 08"> World Trade Center Anniversary 08</A></div> <div> <A HREF="fannie_mae_freddie_mac_crash.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fannie Mae Freddie Mac CRASH">Fannie Mae Freddie Mac CRASH</A></div> <div> <A HREF="unemployment_rate_rises.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.1">Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.1</A></div> <div> <A HREF="hydrogen.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HydrogenTrain">HydrogenTrain</A></div> <div> <A HREF="top_hydrogen_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Top Hydrogen Links">Top Hydrogen Links</A></div> <div> <A HREF="freeway_of_the_future.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Freeway of the Future">Freeway of the Future</A></div> <div> <A HREF="tidal_power_08_25_08.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tidal Power">Tidal Power</A></div> <div> <A HREF="plants_talk_to_each_other.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Plants Talk to Each Other">Plants Talk to Each Other</A></div> <div> <A HREF="stocks_drop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stocks Drop Around The World">Stocks Drop Around The World</A></div> <div> <A HREF="global_demand_for_us_grain.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Global demand for U.S. Grain">Global demand for U.S. Grain</A></div> <div> <A HREF="airlines_cut_flights.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Airlines Cut Flights">Airlines Cut Flights</A></div> <div> <A HREF="airlines_restrict_fuel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Airlines Restrict Fuel">Airlines Restrict Fuel</A></div> <div> <A HREF="interstate_35w_bridge_update.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Interstate 35W Bridge Update">Interstate 35W Bridge Update</A></div> <div> <A HREF="oil_hits_7_week_low.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oil hits 7week low">Oil hits 7-week low</A></div> <div> <A HREF="air_travel_woes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Air Travel Woes">Air Travel Woes</A></div> <div> <A HREF="america_is_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="America is 1">America is #1</A></div> <div> <B>Top 10 Places to Live in the USA</B></div> <div> <A HREF="alaska.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alaska">Alaska</A></div> <div> <A HREF="alaska_canada_rail_link.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alaska Canada Rail Link">Alaska Canada Rail Link</A></div> <div> <A HREF="submit_a_complaint.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Submit a Complaint">Submit a Complaint</A></div> <div> <A HREF="conspiracy_theories.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Conspiracy Theories">Conspiracy Theories</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>News and Music Free Radio Stations RadioZX</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News and Music Free Radio Stations Radio">home</A>                              back to  <A HREF="hot_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hot News Index">Hot News Index</A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Top 10 Places to Live in the USA</B></I></div> <div> Best U.S. places to retire </div> <div> These 10 affordable cities promote healthy, happy golden years</div> <div> Maurna Desmond, Forbes.com Sep 5th, 2008 </div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 1 Columbus, Ohio</B></div> <div> Home to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Midwestern Columbus has a low cost of living and affordable housing--seniors seem to get along just fine. More than a fifth of folks over 65 are employed, and that age group only constitutes 6% of persons living under the poverty level, which indicates that independent living is en vogue in this river city.</div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 2 Dallas, Texas</B></div> <div> Dallas has a robust economy, thanks to the many corporations headquartered in the city’s center. With sunny weather, low taxes and Southern hospitality, this Texas town is a great place to retire</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="adb90180.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="280" ALT="3 Minneapolis, Minn" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0"><B>No. 3 Minneapolis, Minn.</B></div> <div> This twin city has a reputation for big city arts and nightlife, but it can accommodate a retiree’s fixed budget. While the winter may be rough, the cost of living won’t be.</div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 4 Houston, Texas</B></div> <div> Forbes.com’s Best Place to Buy a Home is, not surprisingly, a great place to retire. With tax revenues flowing from the oil and alternative energy industries centered there and a bustling tech scene, retirees won’t need to worry that they are settling into a place on the slide. Throw in affordable housing and sunny weather, and Houston is a great place to begin again.</div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 5 Salt Lake City, Utah</B></div> <div> Utah’s capital is growing fast. With nearly 16 doctors per thousand people--far above the national average--retirees can be reassured by the cluster of medical professionals and facilities nearby. With a median age of 30, retirees may not blend in, but they can be sure that economic growth is ahead.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="ada90180.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="280" ALT="indianapolis-0" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0"><B>No. 6 Indianapolis, Ind.</B></div> <div> This Midwestern city ranked No. 1 for housing affordability relative to income and No. 8 for inflation. With Purdue University providing some youthful vibrancy and Colts fans upping the energy, this is one reasonably priced and lively place to retire.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>No. 7 Denver, Colo.</B></div> <div> A Rocky Mountain retirement will involve outdoor living, a vibrant nightlife and a manageable cost of living. Denver, one of Forbes.com’s Best Cities for Singles, attracts people of all ages making it a good long-term bet for retirees who want to ensure that they are settling somewhere with a bright future.</div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 8 St. Louis, Mo.</B></div> <div> Meet me in St. Louis. Seriously. Greater St. Louis is growing fast and with good reason. Affordable housing and sluggish inflation (just 3.2% in June 2008) make this is a great place to retire.</div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 9 Atlanta, Ga.</B></div> <div> This southern city isn’t just for young singletons and families. In terms of net migration among people over 65, Atlanta ranked No. 3 with droves of older Americans picking this affordable and desirable place to spend their golden years.</div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 10 Nashville, Tenn.</B></div> <div> With a population of 1,486,695, this city came in at No. 9 for affordable housing. It was also one of our <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Best Places for Business</FONT> in 2007. Add in pleasant weather and all the benefits a community derives from a top-notch university like Vanderbilt and you’ve got a fine place to retire.</div> <bR> <div> Factors like the cost of living, jobs and access to health services make these cities tops for those in their second acts.</div> <div> A significant number of Americans will soon retire, but many won't be looking so much for a place to settle down as to live it up.</div> <bR> <div> That's what they'll find in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Columbus, Ohio</FONT>. This river city tops our list of most affordable places to retire, thanks to reasonably priced housing relative to income and a 4.5% inflation rate that allows a buck to stretch a little further than other quickly growing areas. With tens of thousands of Ohio State Buckeyes, folks will enjoy the verve and energy that comes with a bustling college town.</div> <bR> <div> Texas<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > also welcomes retirees. </FONT>Dallas<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > and </FONT>Houston<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > ranked second and fourth, respectively. A warm climate and growing economies make both of these spots great places to live up their golden years. Each city can brag about latter-year employment possibilities for the enterprising type; that's because 20% of those 65 and over collect a weekly paycheck.</FONT></div> <div> Minneapolis, Minn.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > ranked third. The South made a strong showing with No. 9 </FONT>Atlanta<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > and No. 10 </FONT>Nashville, Tenn<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Behind The Numbers</B></div> <div> To find the best areas in the U.S. for a sustainable and exciting second act, we ranked the 40 largest Census-defined metropolitan statistical areas and looked at cost of living factors like housing affordability and inflationary pressures. All our data was provided by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics and the U.S. Census.</div> <bR> <div> With a growing number of retirees planning on continuing to work or start a second career, we also factored in the number of persons over 65 who are currently employed.</div> <bR> <div> To get a pulse on what retirees are thinking based on where they flock, we looked at net migration for persons over 65. To get a feel for how they fare in their community, we looked at what percent of people living below the poverty level are in their golden years.</div> <bR> <div> Finally, with retirees living longer and health a top priority, we included the number of doctors per capita, as well as the number of citizens tapping their Medicare benefits per thousand people--an important issue for those 65 and older.</div> <bR> <div> And many there are. The Census this month reported that by 2030, nearly one in five U.S. residents is expected to be 65 and older. By 2050, this silver-haired crowd is expected to increase to 88.5 million, more than doubling the 38.7 million currently. What’s more, the 85 and older population is expected to more than triple, from 5.4 million to 19 million between 2008 and 2050.</div> <bR> <div> Most in this burgeoning demographic will want--and need--to make their dollars stretch as much as possible. This relates to longer life expectancy and shorter savings among baby boomers.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Top Spots</B></div> <div> Cynthia Rickman, a spokesperson for the Columbus Department of Development, says <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Columbus</FONT> attracts retirees because the community is walkable and has a low-cost of living. What's more, empty nesters are migrating in droves from the suburbs to the city’s recently revitalized downtown.</div> <bR> <div> With low taxes and lots of professionals, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Dallas</FONT> has its own gravitational talent pull and tax revenue wellspring.</div> <bR> <div> “It’s the capital of corporate headquarters second to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >New York</FONT>,” says Ed Friedman, an economist at Moody’s. “Texas in general is really strong. It’s the only state that has no trace of an economic slowdown versus anywhere else in the United States.”</div> <bR> <div> Friedman says Dallas’ growth is unique because it doesn’t have a natural feature, like a coast, to explain its growth over the last few decades. Big companies have been relocating there steadily, which has lead to an “agglomeration effect," where other firms want to move to be near large businesses.</div> <bR> <div> Houston’s<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > economy, meanwhile, is rooted in promising industries like energy, health care technology and computer technology, making it a good long-term bet in terms of continued growth and an industrious population.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> It was former U.S President Calvin Coolidge who said, “There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no one independence quite so important, as living within your means.”</div> <bR> <div> Make sure wherever you retire, that sticking to your budget won’t get in the way of living your life the way you want to.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>