If you’re looking to retire, one of the first things you’ll have to decide is where to settle down. Many retirees are looking for a place with a low cost of living, warm weather, and plenty to do. Arizona meets those needs perfectly.
Why retire in Arizona?
The top seven reasons you should consider retiring to Arizona are:
- It’s tax-friendly for retirees
- It has a low cost of living
- There’s a varied climate
- There are health benefits
- You’ll enjoy low-maintenance living
- There are great attractions
- You’ll find lots of fellow retirees
Let’s get into the details!
Arizona is fairly tax-friendly toward retirees.
An important part of the retirement decision is looking at the tax rates of specific states so you can be sure you’ll be able to live off the money you have. Arizona is “moderately” tax-friendly. Social Security is not taxed, property taxes are substantially lower than the national average, and public pensions qualify for a deduction. Property valuation follows a complex system, but many seniors are able to take advantage of clauses that reduce housing costs. Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from the Arizona sales tax, two large expenses for many seniors.
The cost of living in Arizona varies.
Arizona is well-known for main cities such as Phoenix, and the cost of living in Phoenix makes it a bargain among big cities. However, cities all over the state might be interesting to retirees, and even Phoenix has dozens of suburbs and surrounding cities that have different costs of living. Places like Scottsdale are beautiful, with lots of amenities, if you’re willing to pay the higher cost of living. Tucson, about two hours from Phoenix, is cheaper.
Arizona offers all kinds of climates.
Obviously, Arizona is well-known for being extremely warm. People think of Arizona as being one big, hot desert. To an extent, that’s true. However, the state’s climate actually varies widely. Phoenix is a great place to be during the winter, with highs in the 60s and 70s. Though Arizona can get hot in the summer, the low humidity tends to make it feel not that bad. Flagstaff, on the other hand, is at a much higher elevation, which makes it about 25 degrees colder than Phoenix at any given time.
Arizona’s weather might help your health.
A warning comes with this possible benefit: Your mileage may vary. People assume that low humidity and high heat can help relieve both allergies and arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation confirms that cold, wet weather (something you won’t get much of in southern Arizona) is the worst for inciting arthritis pain. The Cleveland Clinic warns, however, “Weather has some impact on arthritis, but it’s not the be-all, end-all.”
Either way, you’re more likely to get out and be more active in warm weather than in cold climates. As for allergies, people in Arizona can also suffer from symptoms, though they might be caused by different plants than what affects you back home. Plants can bloom all year in Arizona, too, with no killing frost. So perhaps the best advice: Come visit Arizona for a while first to see how your health fares.
Arizona yards are extremely low maintenance.
People tend to think of green lawns as being the epitome of a beautiful yard. Not so in Arizona. Arizona is full of beautiful, colorful flora that thrives in the dry climate. This makes Arizona a good place to live if you want a nice yard with minimum effort. People tend to fill up their yards with multicolored rocks rather than grass, and it makes for a uniformly pretty experience. Some cities such as Glendale even pay residents to ditch grass and switch to native plants to save water.
Arizona offers all kinds of great attractions.
Perhaps one of the best-known things about Arizona is the Grand Canyon. It’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and no matter where in Arizona you choose to settle down, the Grand Canyon is only a few hours away. There’s more, though. From the Musical Instrument Museum, known for its gorgeous acoustics, to the Mystery Castle, a whimsical, unique building open for tours, you’ll never be lacking in entertainment in Arizona.
Arizona is a retiree haven.
Sun City, just to the northwest of Phoenix, was the first active adult community in the U.S., built about 50 years ago. Since then, the state has become an extremely popular destination for retirees. In fact, about 18 percent of Arizona residents are age 65 or older.
Are you ready to retire in Arizona?
Find retirement communities in Arizona on After55.com. You’ll find an abundant number of retirement communities in several terrific cities throughout the state, including some you might not have considered. While Phoenix might come to mind when you think of Arizona, don’t overlook Scottsdale, Mesa, Tucson, and Tempe.
Popular retirement cities in Arizona include:
Choosing a location for your retirement isn’t easy, but Arizona is an excellent option because of its weather, cost of living, great destinations, and variety of senior living options. No matter what you decide, After55.com can help you find your place in the sun.
