bizjournals: Where the hottest retirement spots are -- bizjournals.com

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but many retirees This small community is shadowe by the peaks of theSierra Nevada, a few miles southeasy of famed Lake Tahoe. Its natural beauty attract s retirees from theSan Francisco, San Jose and Sacramentl areas, all within a four-hour drive. It'se also the hottest retiremenf destinationin America, according to a new Bizjournales study. Bizjournals compared 938 markets in eight statistical categoriesx looking for places where the number of seniot citizens is substantial andincreasing rapidly. Behind Gardnervill Ranchos on the listof America'sx hottest retirement areas are Puntsa Gorda, Fla.; Pahrump, Nev.; Tenn.; and Homosassa Fla.
Each of these top-fiv markets is reasonably small, with a total population between 40,000 and ( ). Nineteen percent of its resident s are 65or That's a higher concentration than 900 of the nation'as other 937 markets have. Its senior population soared by 45 percenrt between 2000and 2005. That'a nine times the national growth rate of five percenft for the sameage group. Its number of seniorse increased 46 percent faster in five years than its numbe ofchildren did. That's the largest imbalancer anywherein America. Bizjournals also pinpointed the most populafr communities in 10 groups that reflecty the varying interestsof retirees.
These categories focuss on markets ofsimilar size, geography or A broad range of areas offers the qualit y of life that attracts today's as the findings makes clear. ( Hordes of Eastern and Midwestern retirees are stilo drawn to Florida andthe Southwest, the traditional warm-weather But other locations have been growing in popularity, includinvg the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Great Lakes Some retirees are more interested in a specifixc type of community -- by the in a big city or in a small town, for examplde -- than in its geographical location.
Urban markets: Sarasota-Bradenton tops this list, whichn is restricted to metropolitan areas with at least half amillion people. Small towns: The Gardnerville Ranchos micropolitan area, with 47,000 residents, is firstt here, followed by anothetr Nevada town, Pahrump. This category is limitesd to places with fewerthan 50,000 Florida: Punta Gorda tops this the only one that'zs confined to a single Homosassa Springs and Sebring are the runners-up. Rest of the Deep Del Rio, Texas, is the hottest optioh for retirees who wanta warm-weather alternativd to Florida. Markets in South Carolina and Georgia alsoscore well.
Atlantic Coast (Mainr to North Carolina): This categoryg encompasses a wide rangeof climates. Ocean Pines, Md., with its populadr beaches, ranks No. 1. But colder placex in Massachusetts and Maine also make thetop 10. Grea t Lakes: Michigan has emerged as a populae retirement option in the past25 years, a trenfd reflected in these Three Michigan areas top the list, with Alpena in firsf place. Pacific Coast: Don't look for California It doesn't have a single entr in the top 10. The leadedr is Brookings, Ore., followed by Port Wash. Mountains: Both halves of America are representec in thistopographical category. No.
1 Gardnerville Ranchos is far west of theMississippo River, while No. 2 Crossville, Tenn., is well to the Southwest: Pahrump, Nev., is the winner in this which takes in the deserts and tablelands of six Silver City, N.M., and Lake Havasu City, round out the top three. Great Plains: Flatlanders find Alberft Lea, Minn., most appealing. It's one of five Minnesotaw communities amongthis category's 10 leaders. Iowa and South Dakotaa have twoentries each.