Latest news with #smallcities
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Small Cities Attracting the Most Retirees
Large cities have a lot to offer, from robust public transportation services to extensive entertainment and cultural offerings. But a new study found that retirees are increasingly choosing to move to small cities instead. Check Out: Read Next: GOBankingRates spoke with experts to explore the reasons behind this trend and whether it's something we'll continue to see in the coming years. Also see the 50 cheapest places to retire across America. A 2025 study by Smart Asset ranked the United States cities that are most popular among retirees age 60 and up. Here are the cities that made the list. Explore More: According to the study, Mesa was the most popular city, with a net gain of 2,044 retirees. Mesa's total population is 511,624. The city also has a significant population of retirees, with 131,562 of its residents being age 60 and up. A total of 2,443 retirees moved to North Las Vegas, while just 1,023 moved out, for a net migration of 1,420 retirees. It's also a smaller city with a population of 284,722. Approximately one-sixth of those residents, or 52,082, are age 60 and up. Paradise came in very closely behind North Las Vegas. Paradise's net retiree migration was 1,416, behind North Las Vegas by only four retirees. Paradise's total population is 177,413, and 37,849 of residents are age 60 and up. Oklahoma City saw a net migration of 1,314 retirees. Of its population of 702,654, 132,318 residents are age 60 and up. Spring Valley's population is 198,326, but nearly a quarter of its residents are age 60 and up. Spring Valley saw a net migration of 1,312 retirees. Small cities are increasingly attracting retirees, and Jeremy Clerc, CEO and co-founder of Assisted Living Magazine, has noticed this trend. Assisted Living Magazine tracks where form submissions originate, and over the past two years, Clerc has noticed a dip in submissions from large metropolitan areas. At the same time, he has seen an increase in submissions from secondary or tertiary cities, defined as cities with populations under 1 million and 500,000, respectively. Clerc suggested several reasons for this change. 'Smaller cities are largely cheaper than big cities when it comes to senior living,' he explained. 'Residents are seeking comfort and low-stress environments in cities where their money can do more.' Clerc also explained that retirees may be attracted to the quality of life and climate in certain small cities. He believed that warmer states generate more interest from seniors looking for retirement living. Retirees also tend to prioritize cities that have a slower pace and lower crime rates. The Smart Asset study also revealed that retirees are moving out of large cities. In fact, 17,084 retirees moved out of New York City, while 3,187 left Los Angeles. San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Denver completed the top five large cities that the most retirees left. According to Sara Carbonell, director of marketing, Amblebrook at Gettysburg at Crown Community Development, retirees may be leaving large cities because they are significantly more expensive compared with rural locations. 'To attract residents, smaller cities and communities like Gettysburg and Amblebrook are motivated to offer an assortment of cultural amenities for people coming from cosmopolitan places like New York City, that are so culturally rich,' she explained. Clerc, whose company is located in New York City, explained that taxes can play a big part in retirees' decisions of where to live as well. 'New York City residents face state and city income taxes, and while Social Security isn't taxed in New York, other retirement income can be,' he said. 'Meanwhile, popular retirement states like Florida, Texas and Nevada have no state income tax on retirement income, which can save a retiree thousands of dollars per year.' Carbonell recommended that retirees consider the cost of living in any city they're thinking of moving to. In particular, it's important to research whether the location taxes retirement funds. 'What does the city offer that you would want to take advantage of and enjoy?' Carbonell said. 'The quality of its art and culture scene is often important, as is its proximity to airports to make travel easy.' Clerc advised that retirees should also consider the quality and proximity of healthcare, including whether there are good hospitals, clinics and specialists nearby. He also explained that since driving gets harder as retirees age, cities that have good public transportation or walkability can be ideal. Retirees should also consider the weather, including what type of weather they prefer and what they're willing to risk. 'Choose a climate that's compatible with your lifestyle and health, and if there is any extreme weather, ensure it's something you can prepare for or counteract,' Clerc recommended. He explained that as retirees flock to certain locations, the infrastructure is also growing to meet the increased demand. In turn, those cities will be even more attractive for future retirees, and it's likely that more retirees will relocate to those areas too. More From GOBankingRates 10 Unreliable SUVs To Stay Away From Buying This article originally appeared on 5 Small Cities Attracting the Most Retirees
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Best Small Cities To Enjoy Amazing Quality of Life
Small cities can often offer all that a big city does—including culture, diversity, activities, shops, and housing choices—but without the higher price tags and quality of life issues such as crime and gridlock traffic that can plague a bigger city. 'Small cities can offer families a slower pace of life and more family-friendly amenities,' says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at 'Many of these towns are near big cities, which can offer ample job opportunities without giving up access to small-town living.' But which one might be right for you and your family to settle down in? The choices can be mind-boggling. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked 859 U.S. cities with populations below 100,000 to come up with a list of the 15 best small cities in the country. The analysis evaluated data for desirability, quality of life, job market, and value, taking into account crime rates, cost of living, net migration, climate, quality of education, cost of housing, and more. Johns Creek, GA, is no stranger to the 'best of' lists. It also recently ranked high on the list of the Top 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live in America compiled by a rankings and reviews site for schools and towns. Local broker Ann Jensen, of Harry Norman Realtors, says that the Fulton County suburb (population 78,937) is cherished for its low crime, strong diversity, proximity to Atlanta (an hour away), small-town feel, plenty of shops, strong jobs market, and abundance of housing choices, from large single-family homes to condos to 55-plus communities. 'You see people of every ethnicity, and everyone gets along just fine,' she tells She also mentions the high-quality hospitals and medical facilities, which have attracted plenty of retirees. Adds Tony Money, a local agent with Re/Max Around Atlanta: 'This is as close to a small-town atmosphere as you'll ever get close to a big city. It's a community.' To the southwest, Texas snags no fewer than four spots in the rankings. 'One of the reasons for the popularity of so many places in Texas is the price for housing,' Jerry O'Reilly of Houston-based Cash Home Buyers Crew tells 'While the cost of living is a bit above the national average, housing prices in these areas average about 20% less than other places with comparable housing.' Median home price: $865,000 With Atlanta less than an hour away, you get closeness to the big city and the high quality of life of the smaller town. Excellent schools (all rated 9 and 10 by top medical facilities, low crime (it ranks No. 1 for the safest city in America), and a robust job market (Johns Creek Technology Park houses many tech companies) make Johns Creek one of the most coveted suburbs in the country. Median home price: $623,340 Home to some of the country's best colleges, including North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Wake Forest University, Apex is in the top 10% for college-readiness and desirability for its low crime rates, according to the rankings. It also comes with a charming, historical downtown. Median home price: $557,500 The secret is out on this Austin suburb, which grew by more than 123% from 2010 to 2020, and an additional 47.8% from 2020 to 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing cities on this list, coming in at No. 3 for net migration, according to U.S. News & World Report. A newer community, the area attracts a lot of tech workers. Median home price: $514,900 This quiet Detroit suburb is known for its outdoorsy lifestyle with its 8.5-mile Paint Creek Trail, yet it's just a stone's throw from Rock City. It also ranked in the top 2% for environmental risk for its low chance of extreme weather events. 'It's a great town to live in,' says Detroit house flipper and resident Hunter Schattler. 'The quality of life is amazing. It has beautiful parks and community events. The education is top-tier even for the public schools. The community is strong and hosts a lot of events throughout the year. It's very safe to raise a family and has a very low crime rate.' Median home price: $479,900 With a high median income of $118,274 here, residents can well afford the median list price, which is far below the national median. Home to several auto suppliers, manufacturers, and health care corporations, this Detroit suburb sits in the top 20% of cities for job market strength. Median home price: $1.879M Sitting between Lake Sammamish, Soaring Eagle Regional Park, and Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park, this outdoorsy suburb is nevertheless close to major tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, contributing to its very high median income of $235,013. Peter Kim, CEO of Odigo Real Estate Club in Seattle, extols the area's low crime rate, top schools, and scenic views. 'One of the biggest reasons why our clients are drawn there is the beautiful topography of the city, which the city works very hard to protect every year from developers,' he tells Median home price: $795,000 Offering a short commute to both Baltimore and Washington, DC, this suburb is No. 11 for overall quality of life thanks to its low crime rate and top-rated health care, according to the rankings. Median home price: $691,750 This city offers commutability to the bustling, job-heavy Dallas-Fort Worth metro, but it also has the scenic shores of Grapevine Lake. Its name comes from the 175 species of wildflowers that bloom inside the 12.5-acre natural 'mound' at its center. Talyn Provo, an agent with Douglas Elliman, grew up in Flower Mound and never left. 'The town's zoning is focused on single-family development with generous-sized private lots,' she tells Median home price: $441,000 The third Texas suburb on the list, Pflugerville offers 56 miles of trail systems, a strong local economy, and a 20-mile distance from downtown Austin. It is also in the top 5% of all cities analyzed for their air quality, according to the rankings. 'Pflugerville is a place for nature lovers,' says O'Reilly. 'The city and surrounding area have tons of parks and walkways, and cheaper housing is a key selling point for this city.' Plenty of new construction means an easier time finding a place to call home and a reasonable $199 per-square-foot median price tag. Median home price: $500,000 Sitting outside of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the area's plentiful industries in manufacturing, wholesale trade, and insurance keep its unemployment rate lower than the national average. It also ranks in the top 5% for quality of life, despite its rather harsh winters. Median home price: $379,900 Known for its robust local jobs market, Ankeny comes in at No. 5 on the list's employment ranking. It also came in at No. 9 for housing affordability. The suburb, which is about an hour from Des Moines, has plenty of outdoor activities, including 40 parks and miles of trails. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in this Midwestern state, with D.R. Horton being a major builder offering up several new communities. Median home price: $499,250 Sitting right next to the state capital of Hartford, this suburb is known for its wide-open spaces, charming historical homes, excellent school system, and vibrant cultural scene, including Celebrate! West Hartford, a two-day festival that draws nearly 40,000 visitors with vendors, food, and live music. 'West Hartford has a very diverse and progressive community and is very safe and family-friendly,' local agent Robert L. Levine, of ERA Hart Sargis-Breen Real Estate, tells 'It's just got a little bit of everything, which is why people from all over the New England region like to come to visit our town.' Median home price: $1.595M This Washington, DC, suburb offers the bustle of a city, including being on the Metro, and has the No. 1 job market in the country, according to the rankings. But it also comes with greener spaces and less hubbub than the political town of DC. Median home price: $439,840 With a low unemployment rate of 2.6%, this suburb of Oklahoma City offers two colleges, a strong job market, and overall affordability. Median home price: $550,000 The fourth Texas suburb on the list, Cedar Park attracts techies who might be priced out of Austin. There are nearly 50 colleges nearby, plenty of sports (Austin Spurs, Texas Stars hockey), and high scores for air quality. 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