Ten Great Boomer Cities

Everyone wants to live in a community where they feel comfortable. For Boomers, that should be easy, since there are so many of us. But if you live in a very small town (limited opportunities) or a frenetic city (emphasis on casual dating among younger people), you might find yourself thinking about a different place to live. Here are some suggestions. Whether you are looking for a new dating life, a different job, or a stimulating place to retire, there’s probably something here for you.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you’re single and looking to date, you might want to think about heading south. In the Miami area, there are 224,000 men over 55 who are separated, divorced, widowed or never married. Miami might be too big for some, but Fort Lauderdale, the third-largest city in Florida, has an abundance of recreational opportunities, including sailing, golfing, snorkeling and boating.

Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA Want to live with a lot of Boomers? In the northern California towns of Santa Rosa and Petaluma, Boomers make up 29.8 percent of the population. And that’s not the only advantage: Both towns are laid-back, art-centric and a short drive from the beautiful Pacific ocean spot Bodega Beach. And they’re about 50 miles north of San Francisco.

Colorado Springs, CO This city, about an hour south of Denver, consistently appears on best-of lists for retirement cities. It’s close to the Rockies, and that means year-round activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and horseback riding. If you’re looking to continue working, as many Boomers are, Colorado Springs has a number of large employers, including Verizon, Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Progressive Insurance.

Austin, TX The Brookings Institute ranks this as the number-one city for Boomers. The city has always been known for its live music scene, and in recent years it’s become host to SXSW, the film/music festival that’s a kind of funkier Sundance and draws thousands to hear new and upcoming artists. And the University of Texas provides a lot of continuing-education opportunities.

Boise, ID To the surprise of many people, this town has made more than one best-Boomers or best-retirement-place list. It’s bigger than you probably think – 205,000 people – and it’s got a symphony orchestra, a ballet, and a nationally ranked football team (Boise State) that consistently outplays bigger opponents.

Raleigh, NC If you’re interested in matters of the mind, Raleigh just might be the place for you. The second-largest city in North Carolina, Raleigh is the home of North Carolina State and is just 25 miles from Duke University, while the University of North Carolina is in nearby Chapel Hill. Raleigh has been called “The Smithsonian Of The South” because of the large number of museums there, including the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of History, the Contemporary Art Museum, and the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Spokane, WA Seattle’s grown way too crowded and expensive, but if, like many Boomers, you enjoy a casual lifestyle, the Northwest is still a good place to consider. There are 76 lakes in the Spokane area, and if you feel like driving for a few hours, you can take in any of six national parks, including Yellowstone. Bonus #1: Unlike Seattle, there’s actual sun on most days of the year. Bonus #2: There’s no state income tax.

Tucson, AZ This southern Arizona city seems to have everything except urban overcrowding. Picked by Business Week for its low cost of living, always a consideration for Boomers, It’s surrounded by stunning desert vistas and has plenty of golf courses and hiking. And for history buffs, there are sites like the Cathedral of San Xavier del Bac, an 18th-century church with colorful carvings of an array of saints.

Portland, OR One of the most eco-conscious cities in the United States, Portland’s appeal has a distinctly green/outsiderish edge. If that’s what you want (and many Boomers fondly remember the 1960s), this city is for you. Residents insist that the weather isn’t nearly as rainy as you’ve heard, and that the sun shines every day. If you ever get tired of exploring the city’s bookstores or art district, you can zip off to nearby Mt. Hood for some skiing or check out the seasonal fruit and vegetable bounty in the Hood River Valley.

Santa Fe, NM U.S. News And World Report named this the number-one place for single retirees, because of its large number of singles 65 and older. More reasons to move there: the range of outdoor activities, from horseback riding to skiing. Art lovers flock to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, where 1,100 of her works are on exhibit.