Slide Show | April 2007
BEST CITIES FOR EMPTY-NESTERS
For a full explanation of our criteria click here. BEST CITIES FOR EMPTY-NESTERS
Slide Show
BEST CITIES FOR EMPTY-NESTERS - Slide Show
SAN FRANCISCO
Population: 4,071,751
Cost-of-Living Index: 157 (100 being national average)
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36%
Bohemian Indicator: 165
Creative-Class Salary Growth (2000-2005): 16%
Yes, it's expensive, but the City by the Bay is suited to empty nesters for a number of financial reasons. If you don't have kids and are well along in your career, San Francisco just becomes more affordable. Salary growth is strong, and it has a large concentration of people in the creative class. Of course, it also happens to be one of the greatest places to live on the planet.
For a full explanation of our criteria click here. SAN FRANCISCO
Slide Show
BEST CITIES FOR EMPTY-NESTERS - Slide Show
SEATTLE
Population: 3,144,715
Cost-of-Living Index: 108 (100 being national average)
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 33.7%
Bohemian Indicator: 141
Creative-Class Salary Growth (2000-2005): 13.9%
Wet happens in Rain City, but you can cure cabin fever by biking the Burke-Gilman Trail, hiking the Cascade foothills and boating on Lake Union. The indoors action lies downtown, in the raffish bars, cozy bookstores, hip restaurants and funky coffee shops.
For a full explanation of our criteria click here. SEATTLE
Slide Show
BEST CITIES FOR EMPTY-NESTERS - Slide Show
MADISON, WIS.
Population: 519,330
Cost-of-Living Index: 96 (100 being national average)
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 34.3%
Bohemian Indicator: 128
Creative-Class Salary Growth (2000-2005): 17.9%
Madison has always lured back hometown kids and UW-Madison grads, but increasingly it's attracting empty nesters who are ready to trade in the suburbs for easy urban living. Madison offers plenty of amenities -- the arts, ethnic restaurants, pubs and shopping -- and includes the city's four in-town lakes plus many parks and trails. Although the state government and university still dominate employment, Madison is becoming a biotech center, too.
For a full explanation of our criteria click here. MADISON, WIS.
Slide Show
BEST CITIES FOR EMPTY-NESTERS - Slide Show
CHARLESTON, W.V.
Population: 301,716
Cost-of-Living Index: 93 (100 being national average)
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 27.9%
Bohemian Indicator: 69
Creative-Class Salary Growth (2000-2005): 9.8%
Charleston has an interesting combination of a low cost of living with a relatively strong creative class. The city is surprisingly cosmopolitan, with fine restaurants, art galleries, specialty shops and cafés along its tree-lined downtown streets.
For a full explanation of our criteria click here. CHARLESTON, W.V.
Slide Show
BEST CITIES FOR EMPTY-NESTERS - Slide Show
BOULDER, COLO.
Population: 271,934
Cost-of-Living Index: 102 (100 being national average)
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 40.4%
Bohemian Indicator: 201
Creative-Class Salary Growth (2000-2005): 16.1%
You've got to love a city with 300 days of sunshine, a spectacular mountain setting and its very own teahouse, imported from Tajikistan. Empty-nesters stay active by hiking the trails, biking Boulder Creek Path and sidestepping the jugglers on Pearl Street Mall.
For a full explanation of our criteria click here. BOULDER, COLO.






