Hot Springs
tops list of
best retirement
values in the
U.S.
Hot Springs tops
a list of top
retirement
locations
compiled by
geographer
Warren Bland.
Fayetteville ,
Ark. , is third
on Bland's list
of the top 10
value cities for
retirees in
2007, just
behind
Winston-Salem
, N.C.
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 ,
but not
Hot Springs
Village ,
was one of 60
communities
Bland visited
before it was
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,
but my emphasis
in
Retire
in Style
is on
cities and towns
offering many
amenities and
services to
retirees, rather
than on
retirement
communities,
as such," he
said.
Hot Springs
Village Area
Chamber of
Commerce
president
Steve Rogers
feels if Bland
visits the
Village, he'll
be impressed
with its golf
courses and
recreational
opportunities.
Many
Californians
have visited the
Village and
bought lots,
Rogers said.
What Bland wrote
about Hot
Springs is true,
but Rogers hopes
he'll come to
the Village next
time.
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.
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.
