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Where to Retire: Boulder, Colorado |
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What You Need To Know Before Buying Property Overseas |
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Where to Retire: Charlottesville, Virginia |
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The Snowbird Life for Me |
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Where to Retire: Asheville, North Carolina |
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Where to Retire: Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
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Where to Retire: Bellingham, Washington |
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Where to Retire: Austin, Texas |
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Where to Retire: Burlington, Vermont |
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Where to Retire: Brevard, North Carolina |
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Where to Retire: Bloomington, Indiana |
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Secret Life of a Snowbird |
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Is an Active Adult Community for You? |
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Times are tough: How Can I Retire Now? |
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Sperling's Best Places |
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Changing Lights at Home |
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Is Hawaii Truly the Ultimate Dream Retirement Location? |
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Where to Retire: Chico, California |
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Where to Retire: Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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Preparing for a Green Holiday Season |
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Where to Retire: Eugene, Oregon |
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Do Not Toss My Memories in the Trash |
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Where to Retire: Fayetteville, Arkansas |
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Where to Retire: Fort Collins, Colorado |
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Where to Retire: Ithaca, New York |
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Create Your Personal List of The Best Retirement States |
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Unstuffing Freezers and Pantries |
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Where to Retire: Hendersonville, North Carolina |
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Humorous Perspective on Notorious Real Estate Ad |
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Digital Survival from Electronic Crimes |
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To Have a Residence in Florida, That is the Question |
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Active Seniors Guide to Adult Retirement Communities in Arizona |
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Where to Retire: Hot Springs, Arkansas |
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Where to Retire: Lexington, Virginia |
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Digital Survival from Electronic Crimes |
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Where to Retire: Madison, Wisconsin |
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Where to Retire: Medford Ashland, Oregon |
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Where to Retire: Olympia, Washington |
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Where to Retire: Oxford, Mississippi |
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Where to Retire: Ithaca, New York
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Ed Note: Author Warren Bland provides a summary of this desirable active adult community in the where to retire series.
By Warren Bland
Home to Cornell University since 1865 and Ithaca College since 1931, Ithaca is a very small place. But thanks to its institutions of higher learning and its lovely Finger Lakes Region surroundings, it boasts more culture, recreation and services than many major metropolitan centers. It is arguably New York’s best small town with an active adult community.
Landscape: Ithaca, located in the Finger Lakes Region of the Allegheny Plateau, is well landscaped with a variety of broad-leafed and coniferous trees and shrubs. The forested, rolling terrain embracing the southern end of Cayuga Lake is extraordinarily beautiful, especially during the autumn show of color.
Climate: Ithaca has four distinct seasons of about equal length. Rapid changes in weather are routine. Precipitation is ample in all seasons with most of winter’s falling as snow. Ithaca is sunny about half of the time and frost free 160 days.
Quality of Life: Excellent. Ithaca has a good mix of neighborhoods and is dotted with beautiful parks. The refurbished historic downtown (Ithaca Commons) is delightful, as are natural areas like Cornell Plantations and Sapsucker Woods bird sanctuary. Ithaca residents are friendly and appreciate the charm of their delightful little city.
Housing: Housing costs are about 10% below the national average, with excellent, inexpensive housing stock in Ithaca and nearby villages.
Goods and Services: Except for utilities, which are priced above the national average, goods and services costs are within a few percentage points of national norms.
Taxes: State and local taxes in Ithaca are above average. State sales, excise and property taxes are well above the national average. The state income tax situation is more complex, with exemptions granted to retirees in certain circumstances.
Transportation: Buses serve Ithaca and its suburbs. Tompkins County Airport and Syracuse Hancock International Airport provide jet service. Syracuse also provides Amtrak service. Greyhound offers intercity service to many points from Ithaca.
Retail Services: Pyramid Mall, historic downtown Ithaca Commons, Center Ithaca, Wegman’s Food Markets and the Ithaca Farmers Market provide ample shopping opportunities.
Health Care: Cayuga Medical Center provides emergency care, primary care and a full range of specialties. Excellent additional medical facilities are less than 100 miles away in Rochester and Syracuse.
Community Services: Ithaca and Tompkins County provide excellent community services. Valuable community outreach programs are offered by Cornell University’s Public Service Center, the Senior Citizens’ Council and Ithaca College’s Gerontology Institute.
Cultural and Educational Activities: A multitude of rich performing and visual arts activities are available both on and off campus, including theatrical, musical and dance performances, art exhibits and public lectures.
Recreational Activities: The varied landscape of the Ithaca area offers many recreational options, including hiking and cycling along scenic trails with views of gorges and waterfalls, golf, skiing, nature viewing and wine tasting.
Work and Volunteer Activities: Many seniors find jobs. Volunteerism is highly valued in Ithaca’s enlightened atmosphere with ample volunteering opportunities.
Crime Rates and Public Safety: Ithaca is one of America’s safest small college towns. The community feels safe as one walks the sidewalks, streets and paths of downtown, residential suburbs, and the university and college campuses.
Conclusion: Ithaca will appeal to those who prefer a four-season climate, enjoy summer and winter outdoor recreation in a lovely setting and appreciate the combination of small-town virtues and big-city amenities that the best college towns provide for an active adult community.
Ratings courtesy of “Retire in Style, 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada” by Warren R. Bland, PhD (www.nextdecade.com)
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