Contact:
Michelle Alvarez
202-434-2555, 202-390-0032
malvarez@aarp.org
or Nancy Thompson
202-297-3106
nthompson@aarp.org, both of AARP
WASHINGTON, July 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — What are the top places to live in for boomers 50+ looking for a great community to retire in? AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine, today unveiled its annual list of the top five places to live in the U.S. with Atlanta, Beacon Hill in Boston, Chandler, Milwaukee and Portland nabbing the honors. The magazine also named the top four places to watch — Austin, TX; Burlington, VT; Mankato, MN; and Traverse City, MI — in its September/October issue which takes an in-depth, colorful look at why these areas rank highest and are ideal for older residents. The selections were based on specific criteria for what makes a community livable: new urbanism, smart growth, mixed-use development, and easy-living standards.
“The places we chose are ahead of the curve in providing services for empty nesters, active retirees, and everyone in between and we’re thrilled to recognize them for their efforts,” said Steve Slon, editor of AARP The Magazine. “City living may cost a bit more, but urban communities also deliver peak value in the form of culture, work options, mass transit and fitness opportunities, and this year’s selections really cover the spectrum.”
AARP The Magazine’s selections focus on livable community characteristics in each location including mass-transit systems so residents can drive less, expanded sidewalks to encourage walking, better health care, and a wide range of mixed use housing. These qualities attract members of the 50+ age group, a segment that spends more than $2.2 trillion on goods and services each year and is expected to grow in size by 32 percent in the next 15 years.
