A new study from Apartment Guide has determined the five best big and small cities, respectively, for seniors against a number of different criteria. Each location was graded by examining their population sizes, compared with the availability of certain services and facilities aimed primarily at the senior demographic.
“After compiling a list of 760 cities from our Multifamily Housing Inventory, we looked at the population size compared to the number of senior properties, total hospitals with Medicare and total ASC (ambulatory surgery centers) healthcare facilities,” according to Apartment Guide Senior Data Analyst Emily Williams. “We also gathered the cost of living and average annual temperature — since budget and nice weather are important for a happy life — then ranked each category for a total score.”
The small cities are designated as such because they each feature a population size under 200,000 people. According to Apartment Guide, the best small cities for seniors are as follows.
- Coral Gables, Fla.
- Jacksonville, N.C.
- Pinellas Park, Fla.
- Hendersonville, Tenn.
- Blue Springs, Mo.
Coral Gables ended up taking the top spot in this ranking because unlike the other entries on this list, it features the highest numbers of both ASC healthcare facilities and hospitals with Medicare at two each.
For the tabulation of big cities that are friendliest to seniors, in this case with a population of between 200,000 and 1.5 million people, the top five areas paint a bit of a different picture.
- Boise, Id.
- Glendale, Ariz.
- Tampa, Fla.
- Baton Rouge, La.
- Omaha, Neb.
Boise was far and away the winner for a number of different reasons, including the 8 ASC healthcare facilities it calls home, in addition to 3 hospitals with Medicare.
“Not only is this idyllic mountain town relatively affordable with an average rent of $1,066, but it also has great tax benefits for seniors given Social Security income is not taxable.” Williams says. “This, combined with the low medical costs and low crime rates, makes this breathtaking town a good fit for any senior that is looking for affordable housing and quality care.”
Read the full list and the accompanying data at Apartment Guide.
