by Nicki Cambell

I was reading an article on Forbes.com yesterday that listed the ten most affordable cities in which to retire and -- you're not going to believe this -- Columbus, Ohio was ranked Number One!  Now, many of you might not think of Columbus, Ohio  as a retirement destination, given the cold, gray winters and general lack of glitz.  But, the experts at Forbes.com were looking at some other qualities that make Columbus attractive to retirees.  Here are the ones they mentioned:

  • Reasonable housing prices.
  • Excellent health care.
  • Relatively low cost of living
  • Home of Ohio State University.  This offers seniors the opportunity to attend Buckeye football and basketball games and benefit from educational opportunities and arts programs.
  • The convenience and accessibility of a smaller city.

As Realtors, we know that Columbus has lots of great housing opportunities for seniors -- condos, patio homes, ranch-style homes and, of course, independent and assisted living facilities.  In Worthington, we have a wonderful Senior Center, the Griswold Center, which offers exercise programs, speakers, day and overnight trips, a winter Farmer's Market and lots of other activities.  I know other towns in the area offer great senior programs, as well.

So if you're thinking of retiring and you don't require a beach or year-round warm weather, but you'd like a friendly town that's easy to get around in and affordable, consider Columbus, Ohio.  With your extra money, you can travel to a sunny destination or take a Carribean cruise!