We want to retire to a place where our children and grandchildren will also want to live. Our budget is $7,000 per month. Where should I go?

We want to avoid the high humidity of summer, but we also try to avoid the desert heat. The same goes for trying not to shovel too much snow.

We love gardening, biking, hiking, boating, and fishing, so having access to water would be a blessing. It would be a good idea to have a space of at least half an acre.

our next 2nd generation In May Please follow us. Then employment opportunities will be an added benefit for them.

I don’t know where to go, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Russ

Dear Russ,

Congratulations on your new adventure ahead of retirement.

I’ve heard you say that the South and Southwest are both missing because of the weather. There are still plenty of options, but winter weather may require some compromises. (How much snow? How much rain?)

To follow the next two generations, we need regions with below-average unemployment rates (at least before the pandemic). Fast-growing areas can be a bonus. Before choosing a position, you may want to ask what compromises they are willing to accept. I hope this isn’t just your wish.

Thought: Why not look for townhouses or a 55+ community where snow removal is included in the fees you pay to the homeowners association? Maybe even mowing the lawn? This may mean giving up half an acre of land, but you can still do a lot of gardening on less land. Check your HOA rules. A community garden can be a back-up plan. Still, don’t underestimate how much a half acre can do!

read: 4 Questions to Ask When Finding a 55+ Active Adult Community

There are three very different places to consider. MarketWatch’s “Where Should I Retire?” Tools can reveal more possibilities.

Salem, Oregon

You can escape the summer humidity in Oregon’s capital city of 175,000 people. You also don’t have to do a lot of digging. On the other hand, it rains a lot in winter.

Fishing opportunities can be found on the Willamette River within city limits, but it’s also less than a 45-mile drive to Silver Falls State Park, considered the crown jewel of the state park system. Just two hours east is stunning Detroit Lake, which is 400 feet deep and over 9 miles long. It’s in the Willamette National Forest, which spans 1.6 million acres across eight wilderness areas, so hiking options are plentiful. If you’re into biking, start with Salem’s 11-mile Minto-Brown Island Park Paved Path.

Salem is in the center of the Willamette Valley, so vineyards aren’t far away. If grapes can grow, so can a garden.

Housing costs are slightly higher than the national average. Here’s what’s currently on the market, using listings from Realtor.com (which, like MarketWatch, is owned by News Corp.): You can easily flip over to view rental information.

An alternative could be Corvallis, as suggested here.

read: This is what your healthcare costs will be in retirement. But it will probably cost more than that.

Johnson City, Tennessee

This area of ​​Northeast Tennessee can make the fisherman in you very happy.

And since it’s just west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are plenty of hiking opportunities. If you actually want to hike some sections, the Appalachian Trail isn’t too far away. Do you ride a bike? Start with the 10-mile Tweetsie Trail to Elizabethton.

Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine described the reader-chosen winner of its 2018 Best Midsize Cities poll as a relatively new adventure town with a “reawakened downtown.”

Summer humidity is moderate, with average July highs in the mid-80s. The average snowfall in January is 3 ½ inches, so there isn’t much shoveling to do.

In addition to outdoor activities, Johnson City boasts a live music scene. Eastern Tennessee State University here has a renowned bluegrass music program.

On the financial side, Tennessee has no state income tax, and the phaseout of the tax on investment income (known as the property tax) will be completed on January 1. Housing costs are well below the national average. This is the cheapest of the three I suggested.

The following products are currently on the market through Realtor.com:

Johnson City is also the smallest of the three proposals, with a population of about 67,000. The larger three-city metropolitan area that stretches across southwestern Virginia is home to more than 500,000 people.
If this is too small for the younger generation, they may want to base themselves in Knoxville (suggested here) within 2 hours.

If Johnson City isn’t right for you, Roanoke, Virginia, recommended here, may be an alternative.

read: What should you do with the money you save for retirement? This guy is spending money and he feels good

Columbus, Ohio

You may find a half-acre lot here in Ohio’s capital city, or in suburban Franklin County.

Fast-growing Columbus has a population of 900,000 and is home to Ohio State University. The larger metropolitan area is home to 2 million people, so you’ll find a variety of communities and home prices and rents. The website Livability included Columbus on its list of the 100 Best Cities to Live in 2019, noting that it has “quickly become one of the most popular cities for millennials.” In 2020, when the list was reorganized due to COVID-19, Columbus jumped to 11th place. 19 Increased ability to work from anywhere in the world.

One of the reasons is jobs. Younger generations will find headquarters for companies like Cardinal Health, Nationwide Insurance, and L Brands, as well as other high-profile employers.

Water lovers should check out Griggs Reservoir and its boat club on the west side of the Scioto River in Columbus toward the suburb of Hilliard. Or head to one of the many lakes north of the I-270 loop.

I know…you’re thinking of the Midwest, so what types of hikes are there? Woodland options abound. Start at Christmas Rocks State Nature Reserve, 40 miles southeast of the city. . Or try the Buckeye Trail, which circles the state for over 1,400 miles.

You’ll find plenty of bike trails, including the 25-mile Alum Creek Greenway Trail. If you want to keep pedaling, this trail is also part of the 326-mile Ohio to Erie trail between Cincinnati and Cleveland.

In terms of weather, it is no surprise that there are four seasons. January is the snowiest month, averaging nearly 7 inches of snow. Average summer high temperatures reach the mid-80s and humidity is moderate. Your garden will love it.

Despite its size, on average housing costs are not much more expensive than in Johnson City. Learn about the housing market throughout Columbus and Franklin County with Realtor.com.

Readers, where do you think Russ and his wife should retire? Please leave your suggestions in the comments section.

Now read: We want to leave our cold Midwestern states for a ‘warmer, drier climate’ and affordable health care that costs $44,000 a year. So where should you retire?