Thursday, November 15, 2012

10 Best Weather Cities for Retirees

Here are the places with the most sunshine, low amounts of rain or snow, fewest days below 32 degrees or above 90 degrees and low humidity—these locales came to mind for John Brady, of TopRetirements.com

1. San Luis Obispo, Calif.-San Luis Obispo, Calif., a city on the Pacific Coast with an average January temperature in the low to mid 50s and an average July temperature in the high 60s. While you can expect rain from December to February, there are clear skies for most of the rest of the year. “We chose San Luis Obispo, but the fact is almost any California city would qualify as a great weather retirement city,” Brady said.

2. Las Cruces, N.M.-The high altitude of Las Cruces helps to moderate the city’s temperatures throughout the year, and its dry climate is a plus for people who can’t stand humidity.

3. Medford, Ore.-Oregon might have a reputation as a rainy state, but the farther you get from the coast, the drier it gets.  The climate is ideal for the growing of fruit, and Harry and David, the mail-order fruit and gourmet foods company, is one of the biggest local companies based there.

4. Carson City, Nev.-Carson City is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and nearby Lake Tahoe is an attraction for those interested in recreational activities. Nevada doesn’t have a state income tax, which can also be a plus for residents, Brady said.

5.  Sequim, Wash.-It’s called the “blue hole,” so nicknamed by airline pilots because it’s often the only cloudless spot in the region. The city only gets about 14 inches of rain a year, about the same as Los Angeles

6. Key West, Fla.-It’s the only frost-free city in the continental U.S., and ranked No. 10 on the Camelot Index, a ranking of locations based on climates that are sunny and mild, with few extremes in temperature, humidity or precipitation.

7. Lake Charles, La.- Pleasant temperatures but one downside: high humidity.

8. Prescott, Ariz.- It’s hot in many parts of Arizona, but weather in the northern part of the state, where cities are higher above sea level—including Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff—are cooler.

9. St. Marys, Ga.-Its location near the coast means moderate temperatures year round, and easy access to the beaches and Georgia’s Sea Island.

10. Asheville, N.C.- Asheville is a good choice for retirees who still want to experience the four seasons—in moderation. The average July high is 84 degrees and the average January low is 27 degrees, Brady wrote.

Honorable mentions: Other cities that came close to making TopRetirements.com’s list: Blacksburg, Va.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; San Angelo, Midland or Odessa, Texas; Florence, S.C.; and Hattiesburg, Miss.

(Via MarketWatch)

8 comments:

  1. What about non US destinations?

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  2. Better think long and hard about Midland/Odessa. Smells like oil and cow dung, and there's nothing to do there but watch high school football.

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  3. I find it hard to believe that San Diego is not on this list. I live down the street in Imperial Beach, about 4 miles from Mexico (it's much safer than people would like to believe.) The average high in July is 77. The average high in January is 67. You can't beat it.

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    1. I agree. San Diego and all the communities within 5 miles of the coast in San Diego County has the best weather in the world. How could you overlook it?

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    2. Agreed. Many apartments in San Diego don't even have AC or heating, because you don't need it. Beautiful beaches, too.

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  4. I live in Bellingham, WA, where there is a mild marine climate, but a lot of rain because it is in a northwest rain forest. I recommend Sequim, Washington, because of the marine climate and the blue zone, that is the rain shadow.

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  5. El Paso, TX. Same climate as Las Cruces, bigger city with more amenities and a nice airport. Also, no state income taxes but offset by higher property taxes than NM. Best Mexican food in the US and safest city in the US with a population over 500k.

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  6. They list Asheville, NC, which wouldn't meet best climate in winter....quite cold, often, and a good bit of snow.

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