Lawrence, Kansas: Best Places to Retire

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Best Places to Retire

Danny Wilcox Frazier/Redux for USN&WR — VIEW GALLERY


Total population	81,816
Median home price	$ 177,635
Average January/July temperatures	29.9° / 80.2°
Annual Precipitation	39.78 in. /yr.

Music and basketballs fill the air in "Jayhawk Country."

Cultural Attractions: The Spencer Museum of Art at Kansas University is one of the top 10 college art museums in the nation.

Geography: Lawrence is a riverfront city on the banks of the Kansas and Wakarusa Rivers.

Historical: Kansas University's basketball program was founded by the inventor of the game, James Naismith. (The Naismith Award is given to the NCAA's player of the year.)

Recreation: Known for its music scene, Lawrence puts on music festivals year round, and the Kansas Jayhawks standing as a basketball powerhouse makes its games a hot ticket.

Weather
Average January high/low temperature (?)	39.2 ° / 20.5 °
Average July high/low temperature (?)	90.6 ° / 69.7 °
Precipitation (?)	39.78 in. /yr.
Index score for various storm types (?)	97
Cost of Living
Median home price (?)	$ 177,635
Median household income (?)	$44576.0
Maximum state income tax (?)	6.45 %
State sales tax (?)	7.3 %
Recreational & Cultural Activities
Area of square miles of parkland/greenspace (?)	3.539 mi.²
Number of public golf courses within the county (?)	7
Number of private golf courses within the county (?)	2
Number of sports teams within the county (?)	0
Number of movie theaters within the county (?)	2
Number of libraries within the county (?)	5
Number of museums within the county (?)	7
Number of college and universities that reside within the county (?)	3
Population & Demographics
Total population (?)	81,816
Population density (?)	1,488 people/mi.²
Population trends (Percentage growth/decline of the 55+ population) (?)	67.5% growth
Population over 55 (?)	12,493 people
Education (?)	35 % have a college degree
Health
Number of hospitals within the county (?)	3
Number of clinics within the county (?)	43
Number of elder care facilities within the county (?)	25

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