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Hot Springs tops list of best retirement values in the U.S.
Hot Springs Arkansas tops a list of top retirement locations compiled by geographer Warren Bland.
The author wanted to highlight cities with a low cost of living, where residents don't sacrifice quality of life or access to culture and recreation. Bland is a geography professor at the University of California, Northridge.
Hot Springs' popularity as a spa resort and its low cost of living makes it of particular interest for retirees, said Bland. The central Arkansas location is espe- cially attractive to people with family in the Midwest, he said.
Bland's criteria for his rankings: Landscape, climate, quality of life, cost of living, transportation, retail services, health care, community services, cultural activities, recreational activities, work/volunteer activities and crime.
"Hot Springs is an even better bargain in terms of housing costs," he said. Houses from 1,600 to 2,100 square feet average $135,000 to $225,000, according to statistics from Coldwell Banker Alliance Realty in Hot Springs.
Hot Springs and Hot Springs Village were one of 60 communities Bland visited before featured in his 2005 book, Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada.
For his book, the professor focused on categories which may not be available inside a retirement community. "I understand Hot Springs Village is a very nice place -- my emphasis in Retire in Style is on cities and towns offering many amenities and services and not just to retirees," he said.
Hot Springs Village Area Chamber of Commerce president Steve Rogers commented that Bland would be impressed with the Village’s golf courses and recreational opportunities.
Bland wrote that while Florida and Arizona have lured retirees for many years, increased access to information about other parts of the country, and the world via the internet has helped retirees expand their options.
"People are more sophisticated, more aware that you don't have to live in a hot, humid or hot, dry place to enjoy your retirement," he said.
Here's the list
Bland's top retirement values:
1.Hot Springs. AR
2.Winston-Salem, N.C.
3.Fayetteville, Ark.
4.Bowling Green, Ky.
5.Lawrence, Kan.
6.Columbia, Mo.
7.Pittsburgh, Pa.
8.Gainesville, Fla.
9.San Antonio, Texas.
10.Colorado Springs, Colo.