Attractions of a College Town
There's something about living near a campus that stimulates the mind and spirit.
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, May 2007
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Flagstaff, Ariz.: Old West, new energy
College: Northern Arizona University
Population
Town: 65,338
Gown: 13,443
Housing: For $300,000, you can buy a 1,400-square-foot townhome.
Taxes: Social Security is exempt from state income tax, which ranges from 2.73% to 4.79%. Property tax on a $300,000 house: $2,400.
Nestled just south of the San Francisco Peaks, in the middle of the world's largest unbroken forest of ponderosa pines, Flagstaff, Ariz., could be mistaken for just another sleepy mountain town. Sprawling along historic Route 66, the town is bisected by train tracks, and whistles ring out regular reminders of its railroad roots.
Though a sense of timelessness permeates Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College wield a strong influence on the town. Those campuses "generate so much energy that it's infectious," says Jack Welch, who retired to Flagstaff from St. Louis eight years ago.
Retirees can take courses at both schools. Senior students at Northern Arizona pay full tuition (typically $270 per credit hour), and Coconino waives half the tuition for learners age 60 and older, bringing the price to $31 per credit hour. The local adult center offers courses in everything from yoga and tai chi to language and arts. Northern Arizona's Elderhostel trips explore the Southwest and spotlight watercolor painting in nearby Sedona.
Flagstaff's ambience is cozy and cultural, with a symphony orchestra, museums and art galleries. A staple of community activity in historic downtown Flagstaff is Friday-night movies in Heritage Square, running from May to September. An ongoing project to restore historic buildings and storefronts has helped preserve the city's character, and you won't see commercial chains downtown. Each store is unique -- from the fusion of scents at candle shop Armadilla Wax Works to the hippie threads at Animas Trading Co. Local java chain Late for the Train serves up the best cup of joe in town and displays local artwork.
Retiree-friendly Flagstaff has a growing baby-boomer population, a top-notch medical center and a low crime rate. The cost of living is 19% higher than the national average, but many retirees think the quality of life is worth the premium. "Very few people wish they were someplace else," says Ray Lynch, who chose Flagstaff over his native Wilmington, Del. Lynch traveled through Flag, as residents call it, during a road trip and fell in love with the town. He returned a few years later for good. The high altitude (about 7,000 feet) has actually helped his emphysema, and at age 64 he graduated from Northern Arizona with a degree in sociology.
Flagstaff has four distinct seasons, and winter lows dip into the teens. But the sun shines 300 days a year, and summers are mild. You can bike and hike on Flagstaff's 32 miles of urban trails, and wintertime skiing and snowboarding are just 15 minutes away, at the Arizona Snowbowl. If you seek a change of scenery, the Grand Canyon and the ancient Indian ruins at Walnut Canyon are less than two hours away. --Jessica L. Anderson