Good article, but you only scratched the surface. There are many places where the living is reasonable, compared to places like Bozeman, and still have great ski areas and abundant snow fall. If you want to retire now and not wait until you’re richer (and also less athletic), you might want to look into places like Philipsburg, Montana. The local ski area is Discovery Basin and has more than 1,700 vertical feet, great snow conditions, and a season pass is only $225!!! Land prices in this part of Montana is relatively cheap. Other places to look into are near the Targee ski area in Idaho and near the many small ski areas in the Wasatch of Utah, including places like Snow Basin and Powder Mountain. So pick a small area with great snow and retire now! After all, we’re not getting any younger.
bob rennick
of MT
@
Mar 05, 2009 14:58:59 PM
Buffalo
We don't like to talk about Buffalo or the rest of Western NY because too many people might discover what a great area it is. The summers are temperate with everything from fresh water coastal plains, lakes and access to the worlds largest fresh water supply. Beautiful hills for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. The climate is more temperate than anywhere in the midwest. The finger likes are one of the worlds great wine regions and most beautiful places on earth. The Adirondacks, Catskills, Poconos, and every major city from DC to Boston is less than a days drive and only our hours to Cedar Point. If our political leaders to fix their ridiculous tax policies, there would be no other area in any of your Best Places TO: list which could compare. I've lived all over this country and in tavelled overseas extensively. Just let the weather channel keep talking about lake effect snow. None of them ever lived here anyway.
Joe from Scottsville, NY
of NY
@
Dec 19, 2008 17:31:36 PM
10 Great Places to Retire?
There are only 9 in the article.
Tom
of WA
@
Dec 19, 2008 15:40:45 PM
Anchorage?
Anchorage, AK didn't even get a mention, yet there is an extensive lighted Nordic trail system right in town, a major downhill ski resort 30-min down the road (with senior discounts), large outdoor areas for ice skating, cultural activities such as plays and concerts throughout the winter, great restaurants, snow machining, mushing, ice fishing, and almost any other winter activity imaginable. If you like a variety of winter activities, yet want to live in a location with plenty of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment, there really is no comparison to anywhere else in the US.
AKRetiree
of AK
@
Dec 19, 2008 12:29:40 PM
Buffalo Area
What is amazing to me is the bad rap that Buffalo gets. We have one of the natural wonders of the world, ski resorts that boast several olympians as home towners, ease of use, professional sports teams, large universities and ALL FOUR seasons
LovingGreaterBuffalo
of NY
@
Dec 17, 2008 13:51:59 PM
While Bozeman is nice, other places are cheaper
This is a pretty pricey list of retirement towns, given that many seniors are on a fixed income. Even with the housing crisis, land values and taxes in Bozeman are some of the highest in the state. So why stick to the popular "big towns" that have gained national fame? For example, Butte, with average home values of the $150,000 range vs the $350,000 range of Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, sits at one mile high, and is surrounded by mountain ranges. Anaconda is nearby and is nearer the ski resort. There are within a fifty mile radius four or five hot springs resorts. Great Falls is near to Showdown, Helena to Great Divide. Or White Sulphur Springs--named for the hot springs there--sits north of Livingston, making it easy to get to Bridger Bowl, Showdown, a bit further to the ultimate tourista ski resort, Big Sky. Don't accept these high priced options--look around!
MontanaMountainWoman
of MT
@
Dec 16, 2008 20:42:34 PM
bob rennick of MT @ Mar 05, 2009 14:58:59 PM
Joe from Scottsville, NY of NY @ Dec 19, 2008 17:31:36 PM
Tom of WA @ Dec 19, 2008 15:40:45 PM
AKRetiree of AK @ Dec 19, 2008 12:29:40 PM
LovingGreaterBuffalo of NY @ Dec 17, 2008 13:51:59 PM
MontanaMountainWoman of MT @ Dec 16, 2008 20:42:34 PM
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