Best places to retire in 2012

Ranked on such factors as climate, cost of living and crime rate, these 13 US cities were judged to be the top choices for your golden years.

By William P. Barrett, Forbes.com

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271Comments
alberto matarrita
Jun 28, 2012 12:10PM
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 The best place to retire is Costa Rica. not to far from  US.

Beach potato
Jun 28, 2012 12:02PM
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I live on the Beach at the Space Coast of Florida...on my Social Security and have money left over each month. wonderful and easy living.
Someone
Jun 28, 2012 12:02PM
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Did you notice most of them had one thing in comman? Crime Rate! I am getting close to retirement and have been planning for it for a while now and I would not retire in any of those places except Ft. Meyers. But hey I hope people take their advice and not crowd up where I want to go. I have been studying this for a long time and will be there before long. I am not saying where I am going. But it has great weather, fairly low cost of living, (not too low as you get too much riff raff) and lots to do without having to drive if you don't want. A golf cart is in my future!

 

mama_rose
Jun 28, 2012 11:49AM
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Knoxville Tennesee ?  I am pretty sure that the 1982 Worlds Fair was Vancouver BC...   hmmmm..
Gridiron2008
Jun 28, 2012 11:34AM
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The best place to retire is where you WANT to retire.  Every place has pros and cons.  Do some research, check your list of wants and then choose a place on this GLOBE.  Do not limit yourself to the U.S.  By the way, some of you need to turn off the right winger hate monger's radio.  They only go laughing to the bank and will have a comfortable retirement. 
Mitchl1221 in South Louisiana
Jun 28, 2012 11:21AM
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You're kidding me.  Alexandria, LA made the list?  What?  WHAT?  There is absolutely NOTHING TO DO IN ALEXANDRIA.  No festivals, no decent shopping, no good Cajun food. I guess if you're retired and want to do nothing but sit on your **** then it would be ok.  I lived in Alexandria briefly as a young adult and you couldn't pay me enough to live there now.  And I'm from LA, too - I live in the heart of Cajun country, 90 miles south in Lafayette. 
ModelAMike
Jun 28, 2012 11:08AM
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Here's the problem with the article.  "we canvassed data to come up with a list"    Figures lie, and liars figure.   The numbers have little to do with reality.    I live in the Reno area, and we recently came up on a list of areas with high alcohol consumption..    Guess what?    It's a gambling/entertainme​nt spot.  Of course there's more alcohol consumed, but not all by it's residents!    We once moved to the Atlanta area, partially because of low "average" house prices; and as others mentioned, those were downtown where you don't want to live.
knjeot s
Jun 28, 2012 11:06AM
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you are kidding???right???

with maobama care, NONE of you will live long past retirement, you will need a govt official to OK healthcare for you, they are NOT going to approve it, better save your money, mexico is now going to turn into a medical mecca for people with money to get medical care, you heard it here first

hope all you idiot white liberals start getting denied healthcare right away, get you outta here, get you in the ground where you belong

Yooperboy
Jun 28, 2012 11:05AM
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I agree with Knoxville.  We just love it here.  The University of Tennessee brings culture and opportunity, and Oak Ridge is just a hoot and holler down the road.  The mountains (on clear days) are right in your face and the people still retain the Southern charm.  Only bad thing is that air quality and allergies can be a problem.  What crime rate?
doggy 624
Jun 28, 2012 10:58AM
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I live in NYC; at least this ARTICLE got ONE thing right! You DEFINITELY can't RETIRE HERE!!..$$$$$$$$$$$$​$......shame
elguapo00
Jun 28, 2012 10:23AM
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AND NONE OF THEM IN CALIFORNIA! IMAGINE THAT!!!!
mazziemae
Jun 28, 2012 10:12AM
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Oh yeah! Most of these places list cons as economy and crime rate. Are they trying to increase the economy by getting retirees to move there? Like I want to be where the crime rate is high and economy is bad when I retire so that I will struggle to make ends meet and be too scared to leave my home! NOT! Whomever put together this list is obviously an idiot or getting kickbacks somehow! Must be a politician wannabee!
Grumpy Dude
Jun 28, 2012 9:59AM
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Well it seems that almost every post agrees, the writer of this article is an idiot... nice try Forbes, you must be selling homes in these cities or insurance? what other reason would you have to publish such a STUPID article??

 

FYI, retire OUTSIDE of the US. life in the real world can be very rewarding, comfortable and inexpensive, the cost is usually much cheaper than here and NO Obama Heath Care controlling every aspect of your life. Best of luck with that one ya all.

ciberchick
Jun 28, 2012 9:58AM
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Not sure why Austin made the list. We are one of the highest cost of living in the Nation. I live here, I know! Retirement $$ sure won't go far here. Rents are skyrocketing and wages are declining. Look elsewhere if you want your retirement funds to last.
katthepessimist
Jun 28, 2012 9:53AM
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It is too bad they did not mention Mesa, AZ from what I gather we have relatively low crime, okay air quality, great healthcare, esp. for Srs., great weather, lots to do here, easy travel to and from CA. to hit beaches, if you want to go there and low cost of living, etc...  We love it...
Bob-39
Jun 28, 2012 9:49AM
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One should not knock Atlanta, unless talking intercity.  The suburbs are very nice and inexpensive.  The climate is equitable.  Spring and Autumn are mild and long. 

 

Oh yes, the comment about sweet to your face and calling Northerners damn Yankees applies to those that bring an aggressive self centered attitude to the south.  Advice to to those moving to the south - adopt a calm and slower paced "southern" attitude and you will lose the "damn Yankee"  designation.

elurrule
Jun 28, 2012 9:47AM
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Speaking for Atlanta, retirees wouldn't want to live in the areas where the bargain houses are located.

 

Just like any large city, the depressed prices in the inner city are not safe places to live nor are they convenient for shopping.  There are great places to live in the surrounding suburbs in Altanta for retirees for lower than the national average, but beware of over-hyped, low prices for homes in Atlanta proper.

HappyRetiree
Jun 28, 2012 9:46AM
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Albuquerque?? Are you kidding, Crime there is rampant. Had a truck stolen, another broken in 4 times, spare tire stolen once. Had had to leave there before I killed someone. Cops don't have a clue, liberal judges free suspects. Land of Enchantment? More like of Land of Entitlement!
Lets C
Jun 28, 2012 9:42AM
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Salt Lake City, they forgot to put bad winter air (smog).
cm1000
Jun 28, 2012 9:32AM
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I thought the same thing. CON: Crime Rate is all over these choices. I just came back from a vacation in Tennessee travelling there and North Carolina as well. Beautiful area! Why was that not mentioned. I think this list is bogus!!! Chuck
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