Once the children leave home, empty nesters often find that their priorities change. Many consider swapping the large suburban house for a smaller urban residence, the maintenance-heavy yard for nearby shopping and restaurants, and the first-rate public school system for a lively cultural scene.

We considered these shifts in values when we looked for Great Cities for Empty Nesters. All our recommendations have a high percentage of residents 45 to 64 years old because people often prefer living among their peers. The cost-of-living index helped us determine a community’s affordability; we stuck with cities that fell below the national average of 100.
These cities also have a high percentage of “creative class”
workers -- people in education, science and the arts who help
the economy as well as support and start cultural amenities.

The slide show begins with the navigation bar
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10 Great CitiesFor Empty Nesters

Population: 356,587
Metro Population: 2,828,990
Cost of Living Index: 90.2
Percentage of Population 45-64: 25%
Unemployment: 9.9%
Proximity to Airport: 10 miles
It may be the 18th-largest metropolitan region in the United States, but St. Louis’s low cost of living and friendly Midwestern charm bely its urban roots. The Gateway City on the Mississippi River offers an abundance of free cultural attractions, including the Anheuser-Busch brewery and the St. Louis Art Museum, Science Center and Zoo. First-rate Washington University in St. Louis is a top employer. It's a great sports town, too.

Cons: High urban crime rate, relatively high unemployment

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St. Louis, Mo./Ill.

Population: 399,803
Metro Population: 626,227
Cost of Living Index: 92.6
Percentage of Population 45-64: 26%
Unemployment: 8.7%
Proximity to Airport: 6 miles
With Pikes Peak as a backdrop, Colorado Springs merges natural beauty with urban living. For active empty nesters, the city offers 70 miles of on-street bike lanes and over 100 regional and neighborhood parks, including the Garden of the Gods, a national natural landmark containing massive red rock formations. Colorado Springs’ unemployment rate is well below the national average and is helped by top employers such as Memorial Health System, Lockheed Martin and Hewlett-Packard.

Cons: Municipal budget shortfall evident in turned-off
city streetlights and unfilled police officer positions

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Colorado Springs, Colo.

Population: 311,640
Metro Population: 2,354,957
Cost of Living Index: 91.6
Percentage of Population 45-64: 24%
Unemployment: 8.2%
Proximity to Airport: 12 miles
This affordable midsize city has dozens of unique affordable neighborhoods, wonderful architecture, a symphony, an opera and the top-notch Carnegie museums, among many other cultural destinations. On weekends, empty nesters can go antiquing in bucolic Western Pennsylvania or visit the area’s 47 historic covered bridges. It’s home to eight Fortune 500 companies, including PNC Financial Services and United States Steel, and more than 800 technological research firms.
Another great sports town.

Cons: Rush hour bottlenecks in the Squirrel Hill
and Fort Pitt tunnels that feed into Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh, Pa.

Population: 171,351
Metro Population: 524,303
Cost of Living Index: 89.8
Percentage of Population 45-64: 26%
Unemployment: 8.8%
Proximity to Airport: 5 miles
Once dubbed the dirtiest city in America by Walter Cronkite, Chattanooga has shaken off its soiled reputation by investing in its cultural scene and riverfront area. Five years ago, Chattanooga completed a $120-million renovation of its downtown that expanded public spaces and restored several museums. The Southern city is a two-hour drive from Atlanta and Nashville.

Cons: High crime rate for a city of its size, unreliable regional
airport that forces many residents to take a shuttle bus
to the more-distant Nashville airport

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Chattanooga, Tenn./Ga.

Population: 605,466
Metro Population: 1,582,264
Cost of Living Index: 88.6
Percentage of Population in Age Group: Nashville-Davidson, 24%; Murfreesboro, 19%
Unemployment: 8.8%
Proximity to Airport: 9 miles
For a vital cultural scene, look no further than this Southern musical hub, where on most nights residents can visit over 100 live music venues. Nashville boasts a low cost of living and a relatively low unemployment rate. Major corporations headquartered in Music City include Bridgestone Americas, Gaylord Entertainment and Nissan North America.

Cons: Ongoing recovery from devastating floods last
spring, congested rush hour traffic, poor walkability

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Nashville-Davidson -- Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Population: 138,722
Metro Population: 298,382
Cost of Living Index: 91.9
Percentage of Population in Age Group: Fort Collins, 21%; Loveland, 25%
Unemployment: 6.5%
Proximity to Airport: 9 miles
Sitting at the western edge of the Great Plains and the base of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins boasts 300 days of sunshine a year and the lowest unemployment rate of cities on our list. The city’s largest employer is Colorado State University, a research institution and the second-largest university in the Centennial State. Fort Collins offers close-by ski resorts, 280 miles of bike lanes and endless unspoiled western landscapes.

Cons: Rush-hour congestion for commuters to Denver, limited service
at regional airport means most air travel means
a one-hour drive to Denver, too.

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Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.

Population: 813,518
Metro Population: 1,328,144
Cost of Living Index: 92.6
Percentage of Population in Age Group: 25%
Unemployment: 11.9%
Proximity to Airport: 9 miles
Although it has the highest unemployment rate among our picks, Jacksonville has a mild climate, miles of pristine beaches and a lively arts-and-culture district. Florida’s First Coast boasts the largest urban park system in the United States, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville and the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. Empty nesters searching for a good travel hub will find that the Jacksonville International Airport is served by 15 airlines and that the city’s seaport includes a cruise port.

Cons: High unemployment rate, disappointing performance by city's NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars

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Jacksonville, Fla.

Population: 115,459
Metro Population: 659,191
Cost of Living Index: 99.1
Percentage of Population in Age Group: Charleston, 23%; North Charleston, 21%
Unemployment: 10.0%
Proximity to Airport: 9 miles
Charleston offers a historic oceanfront community, homes with classic Southern architecture along tree-lined streets, nearby resorts and first-rate Southern cuisine. Regular festivals include the MOJA Arts Festival, Lowcountry Oyster Festival and Charleston Restaurant Week. Next year, Southwest Airlines will begin operating in Charleston, offering
nonstop air travel from Washington, D.C., Chicago, Houston and Nashville.

Cons: Higher cost of living than the rest of our cities,
energetic tourism industry can be bothersome to some residents

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Charleston-North Charleston, S.C.

Population: 229,147
Metro Population: 501,228
Cost of Living Index: 96.3
Percentage of Population in Age Group: 22%
Unemployment: 7.3%
Proximity to Airport: 9 miles
Though distinct from its neighbor, Raleigh, N.C., Durham shares its museums, symphony and performing-arts venues. It’s an intellectually and economically vibrant area, thanks in part to the presence of several major universities, including Duke, North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina. Located halfway between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Atlantic coast, this industrious Southern college town claims more than 300 medical and health-related companies. Residents enjoy a
physician-to-patient ratio four times the national average.

Cons: Empty nesters make up a relatively low percentage
of the population, relatively high cost of living
but still below the national average

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Durham, N.C.

Population: 389,369
Metro Population: 929,015
Cost of Living Index: 87.9
Percentage of Population in Age Group: 25%
Unemployment: 7.6%
Proximity to Airport: 5 miles
With a low cost of living and a low unemployment rate, Tulsa has plenty to offer empty nesters. The city on the Arkansas River prides itself on its “comfortably cosmopolitan” vibe, a unique blend of arts venues and rambling urban parks. The city has 19 public golf courses -- including Southern Hills, the host of the 2007 PGA Championship -- and has attracted a number of new businesses to the area, including Spartan Engineering and Lansing Trade Corp.

Cons: Few major cities close-by, an unmet demand for downtown housing

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Tulsa, OK

SLIDE SHOW: 10 Best Cities for the Next Decade
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SLIDE SHOW: 10 U.S. Cities With the Lowest Cost of Living
SLIDE SHOW: What $500,000 Buys You Now
GUIDE: Best Cities for Your Future
TOOL: Find the Best City for You

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