FORBES.COM: Thursday, May 21, 2009
Best Places to Grow Old
By Lauren Sherman
These counties offer retirees comfort and opportunity, but also financial peace of mind.
Behind the Numbers
To determine which U.S. counties are the best places to grow old, we used several data points, three determined by the U.S. Census Bureau: the percentage of those aged 65 and over in counties with a total population of 500,000, median monthly housing costs and median income of those 65 and over in each of these counties. To get a sense of overall economic health, we used the most up-to-date unemployment-rate data for each county, provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, with data provided by New York market research firm Onboard Informatics, we determined the number of hospitals, clinics and elder care facilities per 10,000 people in each county.
While the counties that make our list aren't necessarily the most affordable, they do offer more of what retirees tend to want: easy access to medical care, a healthy local economy and the opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling second act.
5 Best Places to Grow Old
3. Pima County, Ariz.
Total Population: 1,012,018*
Percent of Population 65 and Over: 15.2%*
Median Income of Those 65 and Over: $36,635*
Median Housing Costs Per Month: $972*
Average 2008 Unemployment Rate: 5.1%**
Number of Hospitals, Clinics and Elder Care Facilities Per 10,000 People: 2***
The warm, dry weather of South Central Arizona first attracts retirees, but it's the parks and recreation that keep them busy. From the Coronado National Forest to the Starr Pass bike trails, physical activity is an important element of Pima County's culture. Most of the population surrounds the city of Tucson, where the subprime mortgage crisis has resulted in thousands of suddenly affordable homes.
* Source: U.S. Census Bureau
**Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
*** Source: Onboard Informatics
Full story at: http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/107104/Best-Places-to-Grow-Old?mod=fidelity-livingretirement