Asheville News

Asheville listed as top retirement destination

Jason Sandford March 2, 2010

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Asheville wins another online popularity contest. The list is compiled by TopRetirements.com, and here’s how it was done, according to Robert Powell of MarketWatch, who wrote about it:

The 100 most popular retirement towns list is compiled by calculating the 100 towns with the most online visits of the 450 cities reviewed at Topretirements.com. The list is essentially a popularity contest; it reflects the towns that site visitors are the most interested in for retirement.

Here’s what they say about Ashvegas:

Asheville, N.C. Asheville is a long-time favorite, said Brady. Part of its ongoing appeal is its climate (it’s mild year round); its location (it’s in the Blue Ridge Mountains; there’s water everywhere for fishing and boating, and its downtown is walkable and dynamic); its housing stock (there’s a wide range of upscale housing opportunities for seniors). What’s not so special is that Asheville gets crowded in the summer and overdevelopment is coming.

Here’s the rest of the top 10:

2. Sarasota, Fla.

3. Prescot, Ariz.

4. Paris, Tenn.

5. Austin, Texas

6. Green Valley, Ariz.

7. Winston-Salem, N.C.

8. Beaufort, S.C.

9. San Diego

10. Ft. Myers, Fla.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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8 Comments

MSR03 March 3, 2010

Asheville is to Austin

as

Dteroit is to Paris

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Dad March 3, 2010

Sarasota’s number two, woohoooo.

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ThePhan March 3, 2010

I think people get waaaaay too bent out of shape about things like this. Fact is, retirees have brought a lot of good things to this area as well. They contribute enormously to volunteer efforts, for starters. They pay property taxes without putting children into the schools. And we’re in some pretty good company on this list–Austin and San Diego are great cities for reasons other than retirement.

Besides, who in their right mind thinks this list is even legit? Winston-Salem as a retiree mecca? Paris, TN?

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Ash March 2, 2010

lol, skippy.

i agreed, Rocker and David. we don’t need to be on another list.

Denise, i think it’s a big deal in the sense that there’s clearly still a ton of widespread interested in out little burb. we need to stay prepared for handling it.

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skippy March 2, 2010

‘mild year round’ my ass

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Denise March 2, 2010

Big deal. This is not news since Asheville and WNC have been on list like this for decades now. More old people and Floridians who are here only part-time — not exactly the type of community we need more of.

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RockerKevin March 2, 2010

Greeeaaat …

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David Lynch March 2, 2010

More retirees. Just what we need to widen the gap between rich and poor in our town.

Reply