College towns as a place to retire?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of these places are conservative politically (maybe not the students but the natives). My friend is even experiencing that discomfort in Fla.

Perhaps not an issue for OP, but keep it in mind if you are very progressive politically. She is currently listening to Michael Moore's Blue Dots in a Red Sea.

Oh well if you’re that fragile better stay in your DMV bubble then. 🙄

[Anonymous]

OP - I do think the right approach is to take time to visit a few places and then to maybe come back for a good week and research locally things that are of interest to be doing in your retirement. Health care services and the closeness of them are hard to consider when you ae healthy, but just general things like having to deal with a cancer and treatment, a major operation and finding related therapy. If you really are thinking of just one move, then also consider what your needs might be for size of home and transportation 15-20 years out. The countryside estate around where we reside in Central Virginia is lovely until maybe too far to get doctors etc. See if there are services in a reasonable area to meet your future support needs such as smaller villas if your first bigger retirement place becomes too much. Also, CCRCwith assisted living, memory and skilled nursing as well as skilled rehab facilities for a more limited knee or hip replacement as you age. I would also consider weather as the winter can be very long in some places. but then again, a forever summer climate can be draining on the system, too. It is also important to realize that there are positives to being close to at least some family members as you age. There was a saying with my folks "You go to Naples at 65, and you go home at 85!" which proved true as they outlived most of the residents they met in their late 60s.

[Anonymous]

I would also factor in the level of community services and support for the elderly in general, especially if you are planning to age in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gainesville FL

UF alumni here no absolutely no.

For 50,000 students from Sept to May fun trashy times....

Ben Sasse is moving to town also hell no.

A pain in the neck to get to an airport.

Zero culture.

+1. Do you really want to be surrounded by college-age kids? By the time my kids are grown I think I’ll be happy to not be surrounded by that age group.

+1

I know that old people in certain college neighborhoods - even though the college has been there LONG before them - make it their hobby to actually complain about the students. Maybe some of it is true, but honestly 1.) think of what you are getting into when you move there and 2.) Don't expect students to not have college culture at and near their campus - it has always been that way, and it always will be - not matter HOW much the old people complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also factor in the level of community services and support for the elderly in general, especially if you are planning to age in place.

+1

You are not going to give a crap about the elderly people's discounted college classes if you are no where near decent medical care, airport, etc.

Plus, college kids sty out very, very late - and are usually not very quiet about it.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I wouldn't want to live in a community primarily with people over the age of 65. Having been around a university setting most of our adult lives, we see having a younger cohort around as a feature not a drawback and it seems the OP does as well. My husband is nearing retirement age as a university prof and we too would like to retire in a warmer climate college town as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I wouldn't want to live in a community primarily with people over the age of 65. Having been around a university setting most of our adult lives, we see having a younger cohort around as a feature not a drawback and it seems the OP does as well. My husband is nearing retirement age as a university prof and we too would like to retire in a warmer climate college town as well.

I would rather live in a college town - any college town - than a retirement community. Sounds awful. Luckily, my wife feels the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a lower cost of living, access to cultural activities/sporting events, mild climate but with four seasons and access to good medical care and nearby major airport. Any recommendations from someone who has found a good combination of the above?

Not necessarily a college town, but Greenville SC or Bluffton SC are good options for the above requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boulder, CO? Not "low cost of living" but lower than DC

I live 45 minutes from Boulder and have been here for 25 years. We really wanted to retire in Boulder but the cost of housing is prohibitive. But we aren't retiring yet and things change, so we shall see.

Evanston IL is a pretty great town. Close to Chicago which has lots of everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a lower cost of living, access to cultural activities/sporting events, mild climate but with four seasons and access to good medical care and nearby major airport. Any recommendations from someone who has found a good combination of the above?

The major airport is the problem. You need to be near a decent sized city for that and that usually comes with increased COL.

While not a college town, my sister has found that some of the suburbs around Hartford to be more affordable and have access to most of what you seek.

CT has income tax and high property tax. COL is high there. And crappy infrastructure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
While not a college town, my sister has found that some of the suburbs around Hartford to be more affordable and have access to most of what you seek.

Been up to Hartford to watch lacrosse championships and every time I do, I think, “man, what a dump this town is…” which is perhaps why it’s “affordable”.

[Anonymous]

I’m a NoVA native who has lived in Charlotte for the last 15 years. I like it here and consider it very livable. Although we have several universities (UNC Charlotte, Johnson & Wales, Queens, Johnson C. Smith & Davidson), I would not consider it a college town. I agree with another poster that Davidson is lovely & I would be happy to retire there. If you want a politically liberal area, stick to the close-in suburbs & avoid South Charlotte. Some of the best things about the city are the proximity to mountains & beach (Asheville is 2 hour away & Charleston & Hilton Head are about 4) and we have a major airport. We also have access to great medical care. Summer is pretty hot but we have beautiful falls & springs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gainesville FL

UF alumni here no absolutely no.

For 50,000 students from Sept to May fun trashy times....

Ben Sasse is moving to town also hell no.

A pain in the neck to get to an airport.

Zero culture.

+1. Do you really want to be surrounded by college-age kids? By the time my kids are grown I think I’ll be happy to not be surrounded by that age group.

+1

I know that old people in certain college neighborhoods - even though the college has been there LONG before them - make it their hobby to actually complain about the students. Maybe some of it is true, but honestly 1.) think of what you are getting into when you move there and 2.) Don't expect students to not have college culture at and near their campus - it has always been that way, and it always will be - not matter HOW much the old people complain.

Lol, I know the locals in my kid's college town do this! The university has been there for over 150 years, yet to hear these people rant you'd think a 30,000+ student university (complete with med school, law school, etc.) just popped up out of nowhere 3 years ago!

[Anonymous]

A lot of Kendal communities are in college towns, and the intellectual and cultural opportunities are really nice for the active elderly. The problem comes when people's health starts declining and the small college town doesn't have the sorts of advanced medical care they need. CCRCs will provide transportation to cities that are a considerable drive, but it's not as convenient as having your doctors be local.

I would be careful about the lack of protections provided to the elderly by conservative governments; you may think you'll never fall prey to sleazeballs who put you under a guardianship, but you might. Higher taxes are buying you a more ethical government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamsburg, VA

Princeton, NJ

State College, PA

It's hard to come up with three more different places. The only one I'd be excited about is Princeton, if I could afford it.

I wouldn't say State College has a mild climate.