Ed Note: Author Warren Bland provides information on where to retire.
By Warren Bland
The famous thermal springs that issue from the lower slopes of Hot Springs Mountain have long attracted visitors and settlers to the area. Today, Hot Springs has much to offer retirees. Surrounded by mountains and lakes, it offers abundant outdoor recreational opportunities in a beautiful environment where living costs are low.
Landscape: Hot Springs is nestled in several valleys amidst the gently rolling Ouachita Mountains in south central Arkansas. Dense forests of oak, hickory and short-leaf pine cover the mountains and much of the lowlands. Flowering trees are common in town.
Climate: Hot Springs has four distinct seasons with heavy precipitation, moderate amounts of sunshine and pronounced day-to-day and seasonal weather changes.
Quality of Life: Very good. The city is quiet in the off season and bustling in summer, and the Bathhouse Row commercial area is charming and historic.
Housing: Housing costs are 25% below the national average and a good selection of inexpensive housing is abundant.
Goods and Services: Goods and services are priced up to 12% below national norms.
Taxes: State and local taxes in Hot Springs are 10% of income compared to the U.S. average of 9.7%. State income taxes approximate the national average, property taxes are lower than average and sales and excise taxes are higher.
Transportation: Most residents drive or take the bus or trolley. Little Rock International Airport, 50 miles away and accessible by shuttle bus, offers jet service. Amtrak provides rail service from Little Rock and Malvern; Hot Springs Shuttle connects the city and train station.
Retail Services: Hot Springs Mall, Wal-Mart and Kroger stores and the city’s historic downtown provide a good variety of shopping opportunities.
Health Care: St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center and National Park Medical Center offer a wide range of services. Additional medical services are only an hour away in Little Rock.
Community Services: Services of interest to seniors are well developed in this retirement-oriented city.
Cultural and Educational Activities: Hot Springs hosts a nice variety of film and music festivals. Art is displayed at the Hot Springs Arts Center and in many studios and galleries within renovated Victorian buildings in the historic district. The Shepherds Center and the Senior Citizen Center sponsor continuing education courses.
Recreational Activities: Surrounded by mountains and lakes, Hot Springs and its immediate surroundings offer excellent recreational opportunities. Hot Springs National Park is especially notable for bathing and sightseeing along Bathhouse Row and hiking on its forested trails.
Work and Volunteer Activities: Many seniors find work in service and tourist-related industries. Volunteer opportunities are abundant.
Crime Rates and Public Safety: Potential exposure to crime varies over relatively short distances in Hot Springs, with outlying suburban districts being safer. Many lovely, older inner city neighborhoods bordering the national park appear safe and peaceful.
Conclusion: Hot Springs is scenic, with low mountains and a national park in town and three large lakes nearby. Its climate is sunny and warm, with four clearly defined seasons, and its quality of life is good. Housing costs are so low in Hot Springs that you can more easily afford a nice house in an upscale neighborhood here than in most other desirable communities making it a great option of where to retire.
Ratings courtesy of “Retire in Style, 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada” by Warren R. Bland, PhD (www.nextdecade.com)