SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WWJ) – Four cities in Metro Detroit have been named among the best places to retire in the Midwest, including one at the very top of the list.
A new study from SmartAsset looked at 98 cities across the Midwest with populations of at least 65,000 and found Troy was the very best place for seniors looking to settle down.
Southfield came in at No. 8, while Sterling Heights was No. 11 and Livonia No. 15.
While many people look to retire somewhere with sunny skies and year-round golf, SmartAsset says the Midwest can be a “preferable and affordable” landing spot for retirees “looking to experience all four seasons and to have relatively easy access to all corners of the country.”
The researchers considered factors like the concentration of seniors, senior tax burden and access to medical centers, as well as other metrics.
So what makes Troy and Southfield so good for retiring seniors? Here’s what SmartAsset had to say.
• Troy (No. 1)
"There are 21.32 medical centers for every 10,000 residents in Troy, the most in this study. The city also places in the top 10 when it comes to a lack of violent crimes with just 79 for every 10,000 residents, placing seventh. The population is 18.33% people over the age of 65, the 10th-highest percentage."
• Southfield (No. 8)
"Southfield is a popular place for older people, with 21.36% of the population being age 65 or older (the second-highest percentage in this study). That said, it is rather expensive, with housing costs representing 31.51% of average retirement income, ranking near the bottom of the cities in the study. There are 21.32 medical centers for every 10,000 residents, placing first for that metric."
As for Sterling Heights, the city ranked among the cities with the lowest property crime rates and Livonia had one of the highest population percentages of people over 65 years old.
The entire study can be found on SmartAsset.com.
More retirement planning tips, including SmartAsset’s free retirement tool, are also available.
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