Wheat Ridge has garnered another Top10 listing, this time
Livabality.com used data collected from a number of local, state and federal agencies along with quality of life metrics in selecting the nation’s best retirement cities. Wheat Ridge was singled out for its parks, fitness center, proximity to Denver and the mountains and also had the highest percentage of residents who exercise.
“Beyond great natural amenities, (Wheat Ridge) retirees will find a variety of support groups, lots of shopping opportunities, great restaurants, low crime and excellent health care,” the website stated. “While we couldn’t find a golf course in Wheat Ridge, there are more than 40 within a 45-minute drive.”
, which bills itself as one that “explores what makes small- to mid-sized cities great places to live, work and visit,” looked at county health rankings to find cities with a large number of hospitals and doctors and low health-care cost.
Quality-of-life factors like access to social and emotional support along with options for seniors to stay active, retiree-friendly tax benefits, costs of living, and crime rates were also analyzed.
“Not all seniors will move when they retire, but for those who do, Livability wanted to suggest a range of options,” Livability editor Matt Carmichael said in a news release. “As retirement itself is changing for many beyond a traditional idea of warm weather and golf, so too have our ideas of what makes a great retirement city.”
In August, Wheat Ridge by finance website Nerdwallet.
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
Livability.com Best Places to Retire 2014
1. Springfield, MO
2. Knoxville, TN
3. Bellevue, WA
4. Largo, FL
5. Wheat Ridge, CO
6. Honolulu, HI
7. Albuquerque, NM
8. Tucson, AZ
9. Missoula, MT
10. Coeur d’Alene, ID
