Top Ten Values for “Big City” Retirement

Top Ten Values for “Big City” Retirement

Big cities provide the ideal environment for those wanting a stimulating and active retirement. So if the idea of spending your “golden years” golfing and fishing leaves you cold, don’t rule out the vast offerings of “big city” life. While New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston, are certainly “pricey”, many attractive big cities are exceptions to this general rule. They offer retirees an opportunity to lower their cost of living while continuing to enjoy the amenities and excitement of a large city. Warren Bland, PhD has just compiled his list of “Top Ten Values for Big-City Retirement”. They are ranked from 1 to 10 based on their cost of living. All scored well on the 12 criteria utilized to evaluate places in his book “Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places across the USA and Canada”.

The top ten value cities, rank-ordered from lower to higher cost of living are:

1. San Antonio, TX
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Austin, TX
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Tucson, AZ
6. Denver, CO
7. Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
8. Las Vegas, NV
9. Chicago, IL
10. Portland, OR

Dr. Bland’s model uses 12 criteria most important to retirees. They are landscape, climate, quality of life, cost of living, transportation, retail services, health care, community services, cultural activities, recreational activities, work/volunteer activities, and crime.

Bland is a well-known expert in his field. An award-winning geographer and university professor, he has been quoted in AARP Magazine, the NY Times, the LA Times, Consumer’s Digest, US News and World Report and many other leading media sources. Bland is no stranger to “big city” living. He and his wife split their time between Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Bland’s book, “Retire in Style, 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada” is available through all major booksellers, Amazon.com and through the publisher’s web site at www.nextdecade.com