College towns as a place to retire?

[Anonymous]

Charlotte has colleges and universities but does not have that "college town" vibe like Chapel Hill or Charlottesville. Charlottesville is nice but has a commuter airport, Dulles is about 2 hours' drive.

[Anonymous]

It can be challenging to find housing for seniors in college towns that are not expensive houses with yards.

You don't want to rent an apartment in a college town and I'd avoid buying a condo in a college town due to noise issues.

The more economical houses are typically rented for a lot of money to groups of students.

You are left with buying an expensive house with a yard which is not always the best option for a senior.

Several have mentioned activities and sporting events. A senior has to be in pretty good shape to attend sporting events and cultural events in my college town. Parking can require a 1/2 mile walk (or more) for sporting events. Cultural events can require 1/4 mile to a half mile walk after parking.

Handicapped parking can be tough to find--i.e. taken.

Property taxes are really high in my college town as the University owns so much real estate and that property is not taxed.

Traffic is extremely heavy in my college town from September through May due to the number of cars in town.

Crime syndicates target cars in apartment and condo parking lots in college towns. I know three people (including my hair stylist) who have had their vehicles stolen from in front of their apartment or condo building. Their vehicles are never seen again in the US. Most of these vehicles are stolen by crime syndicates and shipped on container ships to South America for resale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can be challenging to find housing for seniors in college towns that are not expensive houses with yards.

You don't want to rent an apartment in a college town and I'd avoid buying a condo in a college town due to noise issues.

The more economical houses are typically rented for a lot of money to groups of students.

You are left with buying an expensive house with a yard which is not always the best option for a senior.

Several have mentioned activities and sporting events. A senior has to be in pretty good shape to attend sporting events and cultural events in my college town. Parking can require a 1/2 mile walk (or more) for sporting events. Cultural events can require 1/4 mile to a half mile walk after parking.

Handicapped parking can be tough to find--i.e. taken.

Property taxes are really high in my college town as the University owns so much real estate and that property is not taxed.

Traffic is extremely heavy in my college town from September through May due to the number of cars in town.

Crime syndicates target cars in apartment and condo parking lots in college towns. I know three people (including my hair stylist) who have had their vehicles stolen from in front of their apartment or condo building. Their vehicles are never seen again in the US. Most of these vehicles are stolen by crime syndicates and shipped on container ships to South America for resale.

Much of this may be specific to where the PP lives. Due to work, we split our time in Northern VA and Cornelius NC just outside Davidson town limits and none of this is true in our experience. Davidson has a tight knit community with very good relations with the college. Granted, the college has fewer than 2000 students so the student presence doesn't overwhelm the Town, and the students are by and large extremely respectful and delightful to have around. The college campus is open to all in the community. We find the area to be quiet, attractive, walkable and very safe w/a reasonable cost of living compared to the DMV. When in town, we often take in college sporting events especially Davidson basketball games. We would seriously consider retiring full time to NC when the time comes.

[Anonymous]

Davidson has fewer than 2,000 students. Not relevant for most people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williamstown Massachusetts sounds lovely.

It’s kind of the back of beyond, though. Definitely not near an airport or good health care. And not a temperate climate, either.

[Anonymous]

Chapel Hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blacksburg, VA (VT)
Eugene, OR (U of Oregon)
Corvallis, OR (Oregon State U.)
Ashland, OR (Southern OR U.)
Walla Walla, WA (Whitman College)
Bellingham, WA (Western WA University)
San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)
Morgantown, WV (WVU)
Huntsville, AL (UA-Huntsville)

All nice, lower-cost college towns to consider. Throwing them out there because no one else might. I grew up in the Pacific NW, hence the PNW options. Bellingham would put you 45 minutes from Vancouver BC. Rains a lot, though. Eugene has taken off over the last decade and might not be as affordable anymore. Everyone I know who lives in Blacksburg absolutely loves it. Have relatives who have gone to all those West Coast schools and loved to towns, too.

I was going to toss Ashland, OR into the ring. MildER than a lot of other climates, you can get to the snow if you want to ski but you don't live in it. Green for a reason. The college attracts some culture, like lectures, etc, but the real draw is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival that runs spring through fall. Also near great rivers for kayaking, Applegate Valley wine region, hiking, and so forth. Airport, is about 10 miles and is regional so there's that. Lots of Boomer/GenX active retirees. Not cheap, but less than most big metro areas of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamstown Massachusetts sounds lovely.

It’s kind of the back of beyond, though. Definitely not near an airport or good health care. And not a temperate climate, either.

only if you like cross-country skiing & hiking in the cold

absolutely bout the airports. north adams is rather depressing as the"big" town
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/addiction-crisis-pummels-berkshire-county-families/article_55ad0ace-aa18-11ec-a096-53c54309d3f1.html

i'd consider santa barbara & san diego for the uc campuse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamstown Massachusetts sounds lovely.

It’s kind of the back of beyond, though. Definitely not near an airport or good health care. And not a temperate climate, either.

Williamstown is very small. And isolated. Northampton, MA is an awesome town tho and not too far of a drive from the Hartford airport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williamstown Massachusetts sounds lovely.

It’s kind of the back of beyond, though. Definitely not near an airport or good health care. And not a temperate climate, either.

Williamstown is very small. And isolated. Northampton, MA is an awesome town tho and not too far of a drive from the Hartford airport.

Absolutely love the Pioneer Valley and the Northampton/Amherst area having graduated from Smith long ago but my husband says I'd have to move there with my next husband

[Anonymous]

Williamstown is 50 minutes from the Albany airport. But it is certainly not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It can be challenging to find housing for seniors in college towns that are not expensive houses with yards.

You don't want to rent an apartment in a college town and I'd avoid buying a condo in a college town due to noise issues.

The more economical houses are typically rented for a lot of money to groups of students.

You are left with buying an expensive house with a yard which is not always the best option for a senior.

Several have mentioned activities and sporting events. A senior has to be in pretty good shape to attend sporting events and cultural events in my college town. Parking can require a 1/2 mile walk (or more) for sporting events. Cultural events can require 1/4 mile to a half mile walk after parking.

Handicapped parking can be tough to find--i.e. taken.

Property taxes are really high in my college town as the University owns so much real estate and that property is not taxed.

Traffic is extremely heavy in my college town from September through May due to the number of cars in town.

Crime syndicates target cars in apartment and condo parking lots in college towns. I know three people (including my hair stylist) who have had their vehicles stolen from in front of their apartment or condo building. Their vehicles are never seen again in the US. Most of these vehicles are stolen by crime syndicates and shipped on container ships to South America for resale.

Much of this may be specific to where the PP lives. Due to work, we split our time in Northern VA and Cornelius NC just outside Davidson town limits and none of this is true in our experience. Davidson has a tight knit community with very good relations with the college. Granted, the college has fewer than 2000 students so the student presence doesn't overwhelm the Town, and the students are by and large extremely respectful and delightful to have around. The college campus is open to all in the community. We find the area to be quiet, attractive, walkable and very safe w/a reasonable cost of living compared to the DMV. When in town, we often take in college sporting events especially Davidson basketball games. We would seriously consider retiring full time to NC when the time comes.

While neither DC applied to Davidson, we loved the campus and the surrounding town. I'm sure it is beautiful in the spring.

[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.

Same. I’m really gone to be done with kids and teens by then. Sorry. I realize, too, that this feeling would likely be reciprocated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ann Arbor, MI.

brrrrr

With global warming, it will be a non issue.

In fact, Michigan is supposed to fare much better than the rest of the country in the climate crisis. We probably have to let go of a family cottage, but hate to given this projection.

[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.

Same. I’m really gone to be done with kids and teens by then. Sorry. I realize, too, that this feeling would likely be reciprocated.

We have relatives who live in a college town, but in the neighborhood where professionals reside. Students living off campus are in neighborhoods on the exact opposite side of the campus. The town and its amenities cater to both students as well as the residents who make these places run - from admin to faculty to maintenance/facilities. They really enjoy and their ILs retired there to be closer to them as well as to remain in a university setting.