Looking to retire to Midwest uni/college town

Consider Bloomington, IN. Cool town, outdoor activities and better weather.

OKBloomer wrote:

Consider Bloomington, IN. Cool town, outdoor activities and better weather.

Thanks. I hadn't thought of IU since the movie Breaking Away.

Champaign would be my last pick of those three (it's just not as cool of a city). Though cost of living is probably the lowest.

You should consider Iowa City. Great size. Cool downtown. Nice running scene. Excellent hospitals. Better weather than Madison (though admittedly not quite as good as Bloomington, IN).

Madison is pretty nice. Lakes, some varied terrain, also a state capital so that brings another element. Easy to Chicago if you want some big city stuff.

Bloomington is nice as well, nice hills down that way if you like that sort of thing. Indy is close, needed for the airport.

I'm not a fan of Champaign Urbana, really flat and gross.

Haven't spent much time in Ann Arbor, but otherwise love Michigan, albeit preferring the western side of the state along lake Michigan.

IU's school of music also brings wonderful concerts, opera, jazz, etc - if you are into that kind of thing. all very cheap compared to what you pay in a big city.

The midwest is cold.

First off, you'll freeze. As pleasant as 'the Midwest' may be for a few days in the spring, summer, or fall, it's the damn Arctic for far too long in the winter. If you've never experienced ice that will entomb your car and make power lines fall down, you will.

That said, if you really want to experience this, and more (trust me), consider Lawrence, KS.

Take a look at some of the smaller towns with little liberal arts colleges. Ann Arbor, Bloomington, etc. are nice places, but the universities are so enormous that the town is permeated with college kids and are actually very crowded and congested when school is in session. And these towns are not at all cheap when it comes to real estate.

Take a look at places like Wooster, OH, Appleton, WI, or Traverse City, MI. Wooster is a tiny town, but is a nice quiet place that has a few good restaurants and dirt cheap housing. Traverse City is a bit of a tourist trap in the summer, but is a very vibrant town with a lot of culture for a little city in the UP. Appleton is a great town and has really taken off recently. It has more hustle and bustle than a place like Wooster, but is not choked with college kids all the time.

Oberlin, Ohio is the home of Oberlin College. My wife and I have spent a few weekends away from the kids there over the years. There is a world class museum, world class conservatory with countless free performances, a few good restaurants and it is handy to big city entertainments in Cleveland and maritime activities on Lake Erie and the islands.

The town is quaint with very affordable real estate.

But, but, but, but; it is a crazy, far left place around the college as shown by the crucifixion of the Gibson family and their bakery. It is just the place for you if you are into Mao, Che or identify as Napoleon Bonaparte.

Appleton and Oshkosh also have killer outlet malls!

tarckstar wrote:

First off, you'll freeze. As pleasant as 'the Midwest' may be for a few days in the spring, summer, or fall, it's the damn Arctic for far too long in the winter. If you've never experienced ice that will entomb your car and make power lines fall down, you will.

That said, if you really want to experience this, and more (trust me), consider Lawrence, KS.

Thanks. I've considered the weather. Just don't want to go too far south and lose the "Midwest" feel.

I love Traverse City and know it well. Of course it has serious winters. But it's not in the UP.

It has a good race (HM and 26.2) in the spring.

Columbia, MO

Neta wrote:

Can someone offer suggestions. Specifically, how would you rank: Ann Arbor, Urbana Champaign, Madison. Weather seems more or less the same. What are the perks/drawbacks of each? I'm mainly interested in affordability, running/fitness scene, etc.

Thanks.

Ann Arbor is a great town, but why would you want to retire there? Do you want to shovel snow and drive in bad weather and slip on the ice and break a hip when you are 80? I lived in Ann Arbor for 2 years, and the two winters I was there were brutal. Also, outside of the immediate bubble of Ann Arbor, everything sucks. The roads are horrible. Have to go north for the more desirable places in Michigan (other than Ann Arbor). Ann Arbor ain't cheap either. Money best spent elsewhere.

Madison, WI has the same winter issues.

If you REALLY need to live in a college town in the Midwest, Precious Roy's suggestions are very good, especially Wooster, OH and Appleton, WI. My in-laws went to Lawrence University in Appleton, and they speak highly of the town. I spent a week there once on a business trip, and it seemed nice. I like Traverse City, MI to visit, but it's too touristy for me to want to live there. Someone also mentioned Oberlin, OH. My sister went to college at Oberlin and liked it. There are a lot of what could be pejoratively called "townies" just on the outskirts of the college though. Not sure I would want to live there.

If you decide on Ohio, Granville is a nice town, home of Denison University.

Here are what I would consider better choices if you open your horizons and will leave the Midwest (in order of preference).

Asheville, NC - If you are willing to spend the money to live in Ann Arbor, Asheville should be on your list. Its housing is still 4% below the national average. UNC Asheville is there. Beautiful scenery. Day trip away from the ocean. 8 hour drive to Orlando, FL (not that Orlando is a destination...just giving you a sense of what you are close to). Smoky mountains there. Lots of retirees there including many from the Midwest. Mostly mild winters.

Knoxville or Nashville, TN - College towns, both. Low cost of living. Lots of Midwest transplants. Mostly mild winters, but if the cold is coming, there are VERY cheap flights to Orlando, FL. Get on one and stay in a hotel there for a week.

In my opinion, all three are better choices than any Midwest town for retiring in. Asheville would be my top choice if I were you.

allbeury wrote:

Columbia, MO

Home to one of the best marathons in the country!

allbeury wrote:

Columbia, MO

I'd rather retire in Springfield than Columbia.

Madison is my top pick of the cities mentioned by the OP, but damn all of those would be cold for longer than I like.