AARP The Magazine Reveals its Annual List of the Top 10 Best Places To Live (and Retire) Affordably in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Always looking for ways to
enhancelife after 50, AARP The Magazine toured the nation to find the top 10
retirement destinations that offer a fabulous lifestyle without outrageous
costs. To determine the list, AARP The Magazine examined financial data on more
than 350 cities across the country including the median housing price, cost of
living, tax rates on pensions and Social Security, recreation, climate, and
health resources. The September/ October issue in homes July 24th and online now
features the annual top 10 list of retirement hot spots that combine
affordability and a rewarding environment.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070209/NYF043LOGO)

Gainesville, Georgia

Water sports like boating, sailing and kayaking on Lake Lanier make Gainesville
the perfect destination for an active retirement; not to mention the area’s 15
golf courses and shop-filled town square.

How far your money goes in Gainesville:

— State tax on pensions:Yes
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:7%
— Property tax rate:7.76%
— Best way to spend $10:Graba drink and small plates at Recess Southern
Gastro Pub on the square,then check out events downtown, includingfree
concerts.
— Can’t put a price tag on:Fast access to the Blue Ridge Mountains and
their panoramic hiking trails, lush with rivers, waterfalls, and richly
diverse ecosystems. Gainesvilleis near the Chattahoochee and Oconee
National Forests, which comprise 843miles of trails.

Columbus, Indiana

Residents love this little city’s under-the-radar charm and less than an hour
south of Indianapolis, Columbus has it all. The city boasts dozens of buildings
and pieces of public art by such big names as I.M.Pei, the Saarinens and Henry
Moore, and its innovative architecture ranks right up there with Chicago’s and
San Francisco’s.

How far your money goes in Columbus:

— State tax on pensions:Yes
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:7%
— Median Housing Price:$124,200
— Best Deal in Town:Drink in the Hoosier bliss of an ice-cream soda
($2.99) at the counter of Zaharakos, which looks the same as when it
opened in 1900 — and sounds it, too, thanks to a fully restored pipe
organ.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

With its gracious layout, the lovely Susquehanna River, and plentiful festivals
and events, Harrisburg is a magnet for cyclists and pedestrians. The city’s
50,000 shade trees, 4.5 mile-long Riverfront Park, and 20-mile greenbelt around
the city showcase its modern skyline, lovely old cathedrals, elegant Capitol
complex and historic districts.

How far your money goes in Harrisburg:

— State tax on pensions:Partial
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:6%
— Median Housing Price:$144,200
— Best Deal in Town:There’s no admission for Wildwood Park, which includes
a nature center that specializes in wetlands life.

Portland, Maine

This diverse city offers a relaxed urban environment with a variety of cultural
and art opportunities and is just a short drive from some of Maine’s famous
outdoor attractions including ski resorts, lakes, ocean beaches and more. The
bustling waterfront also recently helped Portland earn the title of Bon
Appetit’s”Foodiest Small Town in America.”

How far your money goes in Portland:

— State tax on pensions:Yes
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:5%
— Property tax rate:14.35 %
— Best way to spend $10:Pack a picnic and hop the ferry to Peaks Island
(the fare is just $7.70 round-trip).
— Can’t put a price tag on: Eating a lobster roll next to the
oft-photographed Portland Head Light in nearby Cape Elizabeth.

Ithaca, New York

Set in the heart of the Finger Lakes’ booming wine and food culture, Ithaca’s
outdoorsy-urban hum provides plenty to do for nature lovers with crystal-blue
lakes and waterfalls, and hiking trails that allow you to see both.

How far your money goes in Ithaca:

— State tax on pensions:Partial
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:8%
— Median Housing Price:$146,100
— Best Deal in Town:For no more than $15, have lunch at the Moosewood
Restaurant, a hippie haven that launched vegetarian movement back in the
1970s; then shop and watch street performers on Ithaca Commons.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is a small-city jewel with an impressive art deco district, first-rate art
museums and plentiful green spaces. Residents can enjoy the great outdoors along
the city’s 26 miles of paved cycling and walking trails that wind among
fountains, playgrounds and sculptures.

How far your money goes in Tulsa:

— State tax on pensions:Yes
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:5.5%
— Property tax rate:8.77%
— Best way to spend $10:Admission to thePhilbrook Museum of Art, an
Italian Renaissance villa built in the 1920s and converted to a museum,
is just $7.50.
— Best night on the town:Although Tulsa offers plenty of big acts — Elton
John and Paul McCartney both played recently at the BOK Center — it has
smallerquirky pleasures, too. Try aMexican dinner with local and organic
ingredients at trendy, affordable Elote.

Midland, Texas

For all its wealth and Big-City skyline, it is still uniquely West Texan:
Barbecue and mariachi mingle with haute couture and endless cowboy boots. For
entertainment, check out the Museum of the Southwest or a local high school
football game.

How far your money goes in Midland:

— State tax on pensions:No
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:8.25%
— Median Housing Price:$96,600
— Best Deal in Town:$10 gets you a balcony seat at Summer Mummers in the
Yucca Theatre, a melodrama/comedy performance that’s been going on since
the 1940s. Alcohol is served and attendees are encouraged to throw
popcorn at the actors.

Winchester, Virginia

A haven for history buffs, Winchester and Frederick County were the scene of six
major battles during the Civil War. Plus, its rural location allows visitors to
enjoy miles of rail fences, apple and peach orchards and lovely stone houses
from the 18th and 19th centuries.

How far your money goes in Winchester:

— State tax on pensions:Partial
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:5%
— Property tax rate:5.53%
— Best way to spend $10:ShenandoahConservatory has exceptional music,
theater, and dance programs (ticketsrange from $5 to $25)
— Can’t put a price tag on:Proximity to Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic
highway through awe-inspiring Shenandoah National Park.

Wenatchee, Washington

It may be the “Apple Capital of the World” but Wenatchee also offers an endless
array of recreational options, including skiing, hiking, camping hunting and
fishing. Stunning views make this city the Northwest’s very own “Garden of
Eden.”

How far your money goes in Wenatchee:

— State tax on pensions:No
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:8%
— Property tax rate:10.52%
— Best way to spend $10:Havea milk shake downtown at Owl Soda Fountain &
Gifts, founded in 1926, then check out “Art on the Avenues,” a
collection of more than 70 unique outdoor sculptures scattered
throughout Wenatchee.
— Best night on the town:Fall in lovewith baseball all over again with the
AppleSox, part of the West Coast League, a wooden-bat summer collegiate
league.

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cowboy culture and Wild West images abound in Wyoming’s Capitol, which boasts
just under half a million residents. Visitors flock here each summer for
Frontier Days, still one of the world’s largest outdoor rodeo after 115 years.
What makes Cheyenne most appealing to residents, though, is the real spirit of
the West: low-rise buildings, wide-open spaces, tumbleweeds and “Neighborhood
Night Out” parties which draw hundreds of locals.

How far your money goes in Cheyenne:

— State tax on pensions:No
— State tax on Social Security:No
— Sales tax:6%
— Median Housing Price:$141,400
— Best Deal in Town:Admission to the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, nine High
Plains acres inside Lions Park, is free.

Additional information on AARP The Magazine’s 2011 list of the top 10 places to
retire affordably can be found online at www.aarp.org/magazine.

About AARP The Magazine

With more than 35.1 million readers nationwide, AARP The Magazine
(http://www.aarp.org/magazine) is the world’s largest circulation magazine and
the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. Reaching over 23.5
million households, AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through
in-depth celebrity interviews, health and fitness features, consumer interest
information and tips, book and movie reviews and financial guidance. Published
bimonthly in print and continually online, AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958
and is the flagship title of AARP Publications.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps
people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and
affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for
public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates.
We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the
world’s largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers; AARP
Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s millions of members and Americans
50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the
50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an
affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older
persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors.
We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP