If you want a low cost of living without sacrificing quality of life or access to culture and recreation, consider heading for Hot Springs, Ark., or Winston-Salem, N.C., which rank first and second.
Hot Springs, Ark., has enjoyed popularity as a spa resort, but its low cost of living also makes it of particular interest for retirees, according to geographer Warren Bland. The Arkansas city is No. 1 on Bland's list of the top 10 value cities for retirees in 2007.
"Hot Springs is an even better bargain in terms of housing costs," he said. Houses from 1,600 to 2,100 square feet average $135,000 to $225,000, according to statistics from Coldwell Banker Alliance Realty in Hot Springs. The central Arkansas location is especially attractive to people with family in the Midwest, Bland said.
To rank the cities, Bland used 12 criteria: landscape, climate, quality of life, cost of living, transportation, retail services, health care, community services, cultural activities, recreational activities, work/volunteer activities and crime. Bland has also authored books on the topic, including "
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