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~  Study Cites Climate, Cost of Living/Taxes, Health Care as Key Factors ~

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A revealing new analysis of trends and preferences indicates that tens of millions of Baby Boomers searching for the ideal place to retire should look to Southern college towns for the best combination of climate, cost of living, health care and other top priorities, according to a report from The Washington Economics Group (WEG). And in the scientific comparisons of 20 prospective ideal “Boomer” retirement communities, Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee, ranks number one in the country.

The WEG report, “Best Choice for Retiring Boomers: Head South - An Analysis of Selected U.S. Cities,” builds on the first major survey in 10 years of retirement relocation preferences, which was recently conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. The survey found that fully one-third of Baby Boomers would consider moving to another state to find the desirable conditions they most value. Chief among those conditions identified by “Boomers” in the poll are a mid-sized town that offers a pleasant warm climate with a mild hint of winter, a low cost of living and favorable tax rate, and a top quality health care system, among other key priorities.

“Through the Mason-Dixon Poll, we’re learning exactly what Baby Boomers are looking for as they near retirement and where they can find it,” said nationally renowned economist Dr. Tony Villamil, Founder and Principal Advisor with The Washington Economics Group. “The Mason-Dixon survey provided an intriguing snapshot of what matters to this important group of 78 million Americans. We thought it would be beneficial to take the analysis a step further and ask the key question of which cities come closest to offering Baby Boomers what they’re looking for.”

The answer, at least in large part, appears to be Southern college towns. The top-ranked community in the WEG analysis is Tallahassee, Fla., capital of the Sunshine State and home to two state universities. Tallahassee’s winning assets also include quality affordable housing, the nation’s top-rated Medicare program in its Capital Health Plan, an ideal array of outdoor activities and the highest percentage of other key attributes that Boomers identified as priorities. Three of the next five cities are also homes to ‘Deep South’ universities: Athens, Ga. (3); Tuscaloosa, Ala. (4); and Oxford, Miss. (6).

However, the WEG analysis of potential retirement destinations does not point exclusively to the South: Tied at Number 9 on its list of favorable retirement destinations is Pittsburgh, Pa., due to a lower-than-average cost of living and its highly regarded health care system.

The remaining cities in the top 10 are all located in the South. In order, the top 10 cities are: Tallahassee, Fla.; Memphis, Tenn.; Athens, Ga.,; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Atlanta, Ga.; Oxford, Miss, and Charleston, S.C. (tied); Louisville, Ky.; and Richmond, Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa. (tied).

After the Mason-Dixon survey was released on February 1^st by the Consumer Federation of the Southeast, WEG identified 20 cities for its deeper drill-down analysis based on the overall criteria identified by Baby Boomers. In addition to climate, economic and health care considerations, other factors included a community’s size, supportive senior services, arts and cultural opportunities, proximity to a beach and robust higher education opportunities for life-long learning. The 20 cities evaluated by WEG have an already high number of retirees or are classified as typically popular destinations for retirees; have populations consistent with or close to the size favored in the Mason-Dixon poll; or feature more than one factor favored by those surveyed.

“Finding the right mix can be tricky for retirees – because they want to live in a community that is big enough but not too big, warm and cool enough but not too warm or too cold, and with the amenities and resources of a big city but not the annoying traffic and congestion,” said WEG’s Villamil. “College towns in Southern states, with their dynamic communities and temperate climates, appear to offer the best mix of these many factors.”

The Mason-Dixon poll results pointed to five main factors Baby Boomers consider most important for retirement: climate, cost of housing, quality of health care services, local taxes and recreational options. WEG developed a scoring system that rated these factors among selected communities and then weighted the results to reflect the priorities indicated by Boomers in the survey. WEG noted that even within the five broad categories, certain factors weighed more heavily than others with Boomers who are considering relocation during their retirement. For example, moderate climate and affordable housing mattered more than recreational options.

In analyzing the Mason-Dixon results, WEG experts observed several important trends. When asked about their top priorities, for example, more than half the Baby Boomers preferred a city with a climate described as “warm with cool months,” and more than 70 percent preferred a medium-sized city or small town. More than one in five said the most vital or second-most important factor is proximity to ocean and beach-related recreational activities.

The following table shows the top 10 cities in the WEG analysis, along with the percentage of total possible points each community earned in the weighted scoring system:

In all, WEG assessed the retirement potential of 20 cities in the eastern third of the United States. The analysis identified important attributes to many of the locations outside the Southeast, but found that on balance, climate and cost-of-living considerations frequently offset those locations’ high rankings for health care and recreational opportunities.

The following table shows the second group of cities – numbers 11-20 – in the WEG analysis, along with the percentage of total possible points each community earned in the weighted scoring system:

Read coverage from Tallahassee.com / Tallahassee Democrat

The full Washington Economics Group report is available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/89220697/Best-Choice-for-Retiring-Boomers-Head-South-An-Analysis-of-Selected-U-S-Cities.

The previous Mason-Dixon poll results are available through http://consumerfederationse.com/2012/02/01/new-poll-shows-what-baby-boomers-want/#more-382.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A broad range of community leaders joined Tuesday in welcoming relocating members of the Baby Boom generation from across the nation to America’s No. 1 “Boomtown” for Boomer retirement relocation destination, Tallahassee, “for the best of their life.”

“Our message to relocating Boomers is simple:  You are welcome here,” said Tallahassee Mayor John Marks.  “We would love to have you join us in this beautiful community, to enjoy our affordable housing, high-quality health care, warm climate, lifelong learning and great recreational opportunities.”

“On behalf of Florida’s Capital County, I and the Leon County Commission want to welcome relocating Boomers to our community,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long.  “You’re going to love living in Tallahassee.  We all do.”

Mayor Marks and Administrator Long joined representatives of many other business, government and community groups in issuing the welcome Tuesday, weeks after a respected national economist and his firm named Tallahassee as America’s top Boomer retirement spot.

A broad-based grassroots organization of community leaders had been at work on a plan to welcome relocating Boomers to Tallahassee for more than a year when Dr. Tony Villamil and the

Washington Economics Group (WEG) ranked Tallahassee No. 1.  The WEG study ranked 20 communities nationwide.

The WEG report was based on criteria that Boomers themselves identified in a landmark national poll in February sponsored by the Consumer Federation of the Southeast.  In that poll, some 1,100 Boomers identified affordable cost of living, quality health care, a warm and welcoming climate, affordable recreational opportunities, great area cultural offerings, lifelong learning opportunities and strong local elder-care services as key factors in choosing a retirement relocation destination.

WEG economists then established a weighted scale based on Boomers’ own criteria and applied the scale to selected communities.  Southern university towns tended to come out at the top of the scale – a natural fit given their warm climates and university offerings – with Tallahassee emerging as the best of the best.

“We weren’t surprised,” said Choose Tallahassee co-chair Ken Boutwell of the best-in-the-nation designation.  “Those of us who live in Tallahassee recognize this as a special place.  And we’re ready and willing to share our home with Boomers who are seeking to experience ‘the best of their life.’ “

The Choose Tallahassee initiative was organized in late 2010 as community leaders came together around the idea of encouraging retiring Boomers to consider relocating to Tallahassee.  The initiative has attracted broad community support, with contributions from the financial and health-care sectors as well as private citizens and local government.  A Choose Tallahassee Action Team includes dozens of representatives from nearly every sector of the community, including real estate, development, educational institutions, business, city and county government, health care, volunteer organizations and many other groups.

Relocating Boomers could have a significant positive economic impact on any city they choose.  The first Boomers were born in January 1946 and turned 66 in January 2012, the age of eligibility for full Social Security retirement benefits.  Boomers will be retiring at the rate of nearly 10,000 a day this year and for another 17 years.  According to various national surveys, anywhere from one in three to one in five Boomers wants to relocate in retirement.

If just three-tenths of one percent of 18 million relocating Boomers choose Tallahassee as a retirement destination, they would add $1 billion per year to the community’s annual income, according to AARP Florida.

Organizers have created a unique welcome for Boomers (and others) wishing to relocate here – the Tallahassee Red Carpet Hosts.  Members of this group of community-minded volunteers have agreed to make themselves available as friendly guides to Tallahassee, at no cost to the new resident.  On request, these volunteers will offer their personal experiences, insider tips and informed perspective to help ease the transition to retirement in Tallahassee.

“In Tallahassee, Southern hospitality is more than a slogan, it’s a treasured way of life,” said Marjorie Turnbull, a Choose Tallahassee Action Team steering committee member and one of the Red Carpet Host organizers.  “We want to make you feel right at home from the first day you’re here.  Through the Red Carpet Host program, even individuals with no community network in place in Tallahassee can quickly develop one.”

Read coverage from Tallahassee.com / Tallahassee Democrat

Continue reading »]]> Citing the strong value of current home prices U.S. News and World Report recently named Tallahassee one of “10 Bargain Retirement Spots.”

The magazine also noted that “Seniors in Tallahassee can stargaze at the Challenger Learning Center Planetarium, explore the 68,000-acre St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, or visit the reconstructed Spanish colonial Mission San Luis, all for $5 or less.”

Read the full story

Continue reading »]]> There’s no state or local personal income tax (forbidden by the state Constitution); groceries and medicine are tax-free; no “car tax” on personal property; $50,000 in available property tax relief for homeowners age 65+; plenty of available housing (example: a three-bedroom, two-bath home with an attached garage often sells for $175,000 or less). Gulf beaches are less than an hour away, yet Tallahassee lies outside of the high-priced coastal wind zone, where homeowners’ insurance can be very expensive.

State income tax rate: None

State sales tax rate: 6.0%

Local income tax rate: None

Local sales tax rate: 1.5%

2011 property tax rates:

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Source: Talgov.com

Tallahassee is a place where Southern hospitality is more than a slogan, it’s a treasured way of life. This is a diverse community that welcomes people of every background, ethnicity and faith. Whatever your background, wherever you’re from, we are very glad you’re here. Check out Choose Tallahassee’s unique Red Carpet Team; making you feel personally welcomed is their mission in life!

Location

Tallahassee, nestled among the rolling hills of northwest Florida, is located in the center of the eight-county “Big Bend” area. Geographically, Tallahassee is close to both the Gulf of Mexico, a mere twenty miles to the south, and to Georgia, fourteen miles to the north.

Physiography

Tallahassee’s rolling landscape, typical of regions further north, is unique among the major cities of Florida. Some areas of the county, including the downtown ridge encompassing the Capitol complex, City Hall, and the County Courthouse, exceed elevations of 200 feet. The highest elevation in Leon County is 288 feet, found in the northern part of the county, about a quarter mile to the southwest of Lake McBride. To the south of the city the hills yield to the flat terrain that is typical throughout the peninsula of Florida. The northern portion of the county consists of a thick layer of sand, silt, and clay overlying limestone formations, while most of the southern portion is characterized by flat, sandy lowlands.

Climate

Tallahassee has the mild, moist climate characteristic of the Gulf States, and experiences a subtropical summer similar to the rest of Florida. In contrast to the Florida peninsula, however, the panhandle, of which Tallahassee is a part, experiences four seasons.

Prevailing winds average 6.5 miles per hour and are from a southerly direction in the spring and summer, then shift toward a more northerly direction later in the year.

Climate Averages

Continue reading »]]> The City of Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department provides numerous recreational opportunities for citizens of all ages living in Tallahassee and Leon County.  Named “Best in America” by the National Recreation and Park Association, the department operates and maintains 3,526 acres of well-managed parkland – ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to regional parks. The City’s park system includes both active recreational complexes complete with a wide variety of athletic facilities and passive parks where visitors may simply enjoy the quiet natural surroundings.

The department is responsible for coordinating recreation and leisure opportunities at nine multi-purpose community centers, four specialty complexes including the Tallahassee Senior Center and an arts and crafts center, comprehensive gymnastics facility, a historic home now preserved as meeting/reception facility, 23 playgrounds, 86 athletic fields, and 55 tennis courts. The department also operates seven municipal aquatic facilities and two golf courses- the 18-hole Hilaman Park Golf Course and the 9-hole Jake Gaither Golf Course.  The park system features 56 miles of beautiful trails designed for walking, biking and paddling, 2 dog parks, a skate park, 2 disc golf courses and a Miracle League Baseball field for those with disabilities.

Many of Tallahassee’s most popular special events are staged by the Parks and Recreation Department including the Celebrate America event on July 4,  Springtime Tallahassee, Red Hills Horse Trials and our area’s largest nighttime event, the hugely popular Winter Festival and Celebration of Lights.  For more information please visit www.talgov.com/parks.

Continue reading »]]> With two major universities and a large community college, you’ll be inspired by a thriving life of the mind. An active Osher Lifelong Learning program stands ready to help you explore exciting experiences of learning and personal growth. Attend plays at one of the nation’s leading theater schools, haunt galleries and art museums, soak up history from conquistadors to Civil Rights heroes, or engage in our lively political scene (capital of the fourth largest state in the nation).

Florida State University

Florida A&M University

Keiser University

Tallahassee Community College

Lively Technical Institute

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Continue reading »]]> The Tallahassee Senior Center bustles with activity as it serves as the hub for active adults in the community.  A variety of lifelong learning programs attract active adults of all ages.  Wellness, educational, and art programs (among 140 other opportunities) draw 4500 individuals to classes, events and presentations each month.  These classes and workshops allow for the continuous building of skills and knowledge, as well as enhance one’s quality of life.

Lifelong learning classes include foreign languages, computer, digital camera, crafting, and “by request” classes offer the chance to learn new skills or sharpen old ones.  Helping seniors maintain healthy and active lifestyles is one of the Center’s primary objectives.  The interaction with other learners increases social fitness, civic engagement and personal development, and may also improve employability for those who may be job-hunting.

In their book Successful Aging, J.W. Kahn and R.L. Rowe identify three components of successful aging:  lowering the risk of disease and disability, maintaining high levels of mental and physical functioning and engaging actively in the community.  People can do all three of these at the Tallahassee Senior Center.

Tallahassee Active Lifelong Leaders (TALL)

Tallahassee is home to a large number of active adults and retirees who possess a wealth of knowledge, talents and skills.  TALL connects seniors with community leaders, experts and policy-makers. In partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Tallahassee, TALL provides participants an interactive “snapshot” of the community.

TALL classmates meet with area leaders and go on site visits for a better understanding of the area’s cultural, political, safety, housing, educational, transportation, and other public services or private initiatives.  By sharing resources and gaining insight, TALL graduates are equipped to enhance positive change in their community through advocacy and volunteerism.

Visit LeadershipTallahassee.com, click on “Programs.”

3rd Annual LifeLong Learning EXtravaganza

October 14 – 19

Join us for a week of eXploring, eXamining, and eXperiencing our culture, history, and environment! Pick and choose individual classes, field trips, or day-long excursions. Look for more information in the July Active Living magazine.

Center for the Arts

Art classes and workshops provide beginners and experienced artists with an environment in which to learn and enhance their artistic and creative skills.  Professional instructors assist students in a friendly, informal setting.

Students may display their work throughout the Senior Center and participate in special exhibitions that are part of the community First Friday Gallery Hop.

Follow Us Around Town

Talgov.com/seniors

Facebook: Tallahassee Senior Center

850-891-4000