A new ranking of the best places in the U.S. for retirees has placed Arizona cities in three of the top four spots, based on their crime rates, weather, taxes and a number of other factors.
According to ABC15 Arizona, the ranking, conducted by Bankrate.com, looked at 196 cities across the country and evaluated them in seven liability categories. Mesa, Prescott and Tucson came in in first, third and fourth places, respectively. Arlington, VA, came in second place.
Chris Kahn, a spokesman for Bankrate, said these Arizona cities possess a wealth of outdoor activities for seniors to enjoy, including golf courses, parks and cultural attractions. These recreational opportunities play a vital role in quality of life for retired individuals.
“If you look at surveys from people of retirement age in Prescott and Mesa, you can see that they really enjoy living their lives there,” Kahn said. “And it serves as a really good recommendation for people who want to retire.”
Arizona is also a fairly affordable state for retirees, with the three Arizona cities that made the rankings all performing well in the cost of living category. That’s because Arizona has some of the lowest tax rates in the country. In 2011, for example, the average Arizona resident had a total tax burden of 8.9%, well below the national average of 9.8%.
Across the world, the number of people reaching retirement age is continuing to rise drastically. By 2025, experts predict that the population of individuals aged 60 and older will rise to 1.2 billion; by 2050, this population will reach 2 billion. With the number of seniors on the rise everywhere, Arizona’s climate, cost of living and quality of life would mean nothing without its long-term health care services — which are, as expected, among the best in the U.S.
In fact, AZCentral.com reports that Arizona spends significantly less per capita on Medicaid long-term care than the national median expenditures, even as the state’s 65-and-older population has steadily risen. The Arizona Long Term Care System offers nearly unparalleled care for retirees, offering a high quality of life and level of care to seniors who live here with their pets.
Considering all the attractive qualities that Arizona’s cities and towns have to offer, it’s hardly surprising that seniors are moving here from all across the country.