A new article in the Arizona Republic by Jackee Coe, positions Peoria as one of the best places in the country for the younger, newly retired. I think our members would agree.

"Peoria came in No. 7 among the Top 10 Best U.S. Cities for Early Retirement, according to a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice.

Peoria was the only Arizona city to make the top 10 list and placed above such cities as Virginia Beach and Honolulu.

A majority of the cities highlighted by Kiplinger are suburbs of larger cities, such as Bellevue,Wash. outside Seattle and Sandy Springs, Ga. outside Atlanta.

Peoria’s proximity to big-city amenities was noted, along with its low crime rate, low cost of living and favorable taxes that make it an ideal location for people to retire early.

Kiplinger looked for economically healthy cities where early retirees can work if they choose, either part-time or a second career, and be successful. It considered such things as unemployment rates, household incomes and living costs, particularly housing and health care; tax-friendliness; crime rate and the concentration of residents ages 45 to 64.

Peoria City Manager Carl Swenson attributed much of the city’s appeal to its leadership.

“Peoria has achieved a reputation for being a great place to live,” he said, “not only for its beautiful neighborhoods and surroundings, but the deliberate choices made by mayor and council.”

Kiplinger selected Peoria for a variety of reasons.

The city’s location in Arizona gives it some inherent qualities, such as “dry heat, ample sunshine and favorable tax laws,” that make it “a prime destination for retirees of all ages.”

Kiplinger cited Peoria’s crime rate of 3.16 crimes per 100 residents, the fact that 24.1 percent of the approximately 160,000 population is 45 to 64 years old, and that its cost of living is 9 percent below the national average.

Arizona also is “one of the most tax-friendly” states in the country, "...

Read More at AZcentral.com