Forex Articles

Arizona has long been a winter mecca for older Americans fleeing cold-weather states – and no wonder. The Grand Canyon state offers warm weather, sunny skies, spectacular scenery and that laid-back desert lifestyle. It also has low personal income tax rates that top out at 4.54% and no state property tax. When you add in high-quality medical care, low-cost housing and cultural opportunities, the state becomes even more attractive. It's not surprising that Arizona residents score above the national average in overall feelings of well-being.

These days retirees are flocking to Arizona's three capitals – past and present – Tucson, Phoenix and Prescott. Each offers a different take on the desert lifestyle.

People come to Tucson for the weather, but they stay for the desert. Set in the magnificent Sonoran Desert, home of the ubiquitous saguaro cactus, and surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson is a hiking paradise and a bicycle-friendly community. (The League of American Bicyclists awarded it a gold medal.)

The city is also very affordable, with a cost of living index of 91.5, which means you get a lot of bang for your real-estate buck. The median home value is $136,000.

Want to get outdoors? The riparian canyons of the Catalina Mountains are threaded with hiking trails, and there are bike lanes galore all over town. For an introduction to the local flora and fauna, head to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum and then on to Saguaro National Park, which has preserves on both the east and west sides of town.

They don't call Tucson the Old Pueblo for nothing. An hour north of the Mexican border, Tucson wears its Mexican heritage well. It's hard to pick out the best Mexican restaurant because there are so many. A new streetcar runs from the university to the vibrant downtown, home to restaurants both funky and fancy.

Those who prefer more cerebral pleasures can check out classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arizona, which has a top-ranked medical school and a top-notch medical center.

There's a reason that Arizonans call their state capital the Valley of the Sun. Imagine sunshine 265 days a year, and you'll understand the attraction of the desert lifestyle.

You can thank basketball for helping to transform downtown Phoenix into an inviting place for fans and nonfans alike. Ever since the Phoenix Suns moved into their home arena, the surrounding neighborhood has experienced a boom. The city has franchises in four professional sports leagues.

Phoenicians (yep, that's what they're called) have no trouble keeping their eye on the ball, whether it's golf or baseball. The valley is home to more than 200 golf courses, ranging from affordable municipal courses to opulent resorts. Spring training has been a tradition in Phoenix since 1947. Today 15 baseball teams train in the metropolitan area, making springtime especially fun.

Phoenix is a big city (1.5 million residents) and the metropolitan area is nearly three times that, with distinct neighborhoods. Home prices are lower in the West Valley, which is home to loads of 50+ communities as well as major sporting venues. The east side of town is home to tony Scottsdale as well as the Mayo Clinic, which offers world-class health care.

The city's artistic and cultural jewels are a big plus – including Taliesen West, Frank Lloyd Wright's former compound, the Heard Museum with its large Native American collection, Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Symphony. And then there's the Desert Botanical Garden, where you can learn to tell the difference between a cactus and a succulent. Phoenicians spend a lot of time in their cars but a good freeway system and new light rail make getting around town much easier.

If you don't like crowds or the heat, head north to off-the-beaten-track Prescott. The town started life as Arizona's territorial capital before the seat of power moved south to Tucson and then Phoenix. It came of age as a mining town. The shady town square and historical downtown business district give Prescott a decidedly small-town feel.

The climate is more Mediterranean than desert, which means cooler temps in the summertime. The surrounding mountains boast stands of ponderosa pines rather than cactus. The town's smaller size (40,600) means a slower pace. It also has more of a cowboy feel, not surprising since the town claims to have the world's oldest rodeo.

But the town is no slouch in the intellectual department. It's home to Prescott College, a small liberal arts school that emphasizes the environment and social justice. Home prices are higher here than in Tucson or Phoenix, which is why the median age is higher as well. (To compare some of the costs in any of these places with your own hometown, check out the Numbeo comparison tool.)

It's true that the nearest international airport is more than one hundred miles away, but with its delightful climate, why would you want to leave?

For retirees tired of a lifetime of winters, Arizona offers sunshine and desert beauty – along with an affordable cost of living, high-quality medical care, plus plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors and cultural or culinary adventures.

(For more retirement destination ideas, see Find The Top Retirement Cities In California and The Best States To Retire For Tax Reasons.)