I already live in the town Forbes believes the best retirement value
Filed under: Retire
To my surprise, Forbes, in a newly released study, named Columbus, Ohio as the best place to spend my golden years. Surprise, because I already live there, and such strokes of good fortune are not often graced upon me. Dallas, Minneapolis, and Houston finished just behind Columbus on the list.
Why would our city gain such esteem? Certainly, we have relentless cloud cover nine months of the year that guards us from UV and skin cancer, and the OSU football team to keep us humble. But we must have something else going for us. Forbes looked at a number of stats, including housing cost (we have beau coup empty houses for sale), inflation, access to health care, cost of living, and job prospects.
We Columbusites benefit hugely from being the Buckeye State capital, the linch pin that helps keep our downtown thriving. The Ohio State University, the largest school in the country, provides a second core for jobs and culture. Unlike most of our Midwestern cities, Columbus, a late bloomer, was never overly dependent on heavy industry, so the loss of manufacturing jobs that has bedeviled Cleveland, Detroit and others has not impacted our city as much.
Other companies such as Nationwide Insurance and The Limited that have their home here also help support a healthy job market.
The city is large enough to bring in top entertainers and professional soccer and hockey, to have a well-served airport, but small enough that rush hour traffic still flows. It has a very diverse culture, with a large Somalian population, as well as many immigrants from around the world drawn by OSU, Honda of America and other companies. It also seems to provide a welcoming climate for the GLBT community.
For we blue-hairs, a couple of shortcomings temper our enthusiasm. Our mass transit system sucks, with buses infrequent except for the main thoroughfares. Funding for programs to serve the elderly are constantly under assault.
And the kids all drive too darn fast!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-25-2008 @ 7:35AM
Jorge said...
No one in Columbus has ever driven fast. Seriously. I think Ohio puts something in the water that pver time develops into a pathological inability to achieve, let alone exceed, the speed limit.
And as far as the Buckeyes go, get over it. I've been in Columbus the week of the Michigan/OSU game and the fact that the preparation for the game is the lead story on ever local news program for a week is just sad. Please, please give it a rest, it's just a game fer crying out loud.
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10-25-2008 @ 10:05AM
Cindy said...
I think I love you Jorge....are you married? Cindy
10-25-2008 @ 2:36PM
Michael said...
LOL what are you smoking. That is the funniest blog I have read in a long time.
Ohio has three type of drivers, the lame, the quick and the deadly.
Lame drivers, drive 5 mph under posted speed limits up to the posted speed. In any lane. FACT Ohio Highway Patrol.
The Quick, drive at speeds upto and including 15 mph over the posted speed limit always, day/night, sunny/snow blizzard, Icy or dry. It does not matter to us and we love the left hand lane, because we are not getting on or OFF yet. FACT Ohio Highway Patrol.
Deadly Drives, are young social climbers and probably once cheerleaders. They drive tiny cars or dad SUV at 30 plus over the yank your license speed and chat on their cell phones chewing gum, painting their toes and flip you off because they are late getting somewhere. Meanwhile their boyfriends are either drunk or smoked up driving the same way doing the same things and live at home. FACT Ohio Highway Patrol.
10-25-2008 @ 8:26AM
Pat Gardner said...
I lived in Columbus for many years and I loved every minute of it. I was born in Maryland and would not be back here if it was not for my family.
Buckeye football is something I look forward to watching each and every weekend during football season. It may be just a sport but it is exciting and fun and enthusastic. I was there during the Woody Hayes area and would love the know the gentlemen who so resembles him. I think it is fantastic.
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10-25-2008 @ 8:14AM
Kristina said...
Ah Jorge, its okay to be jealous of our wonderful Buckeyes! :)
Columbus is a wonderful place to live, and yes the state lives for the scarlet and grey. You can go into any elementary school and yell OH and you will get a response back of IO. We are very loyal fans to the Buckeyes.
This is such a great time to buy a home in Ohio because of all the foreclosures, thanks to Bezer Homes amongst others. The people are friendly and what other place can you experience a 80 degree day and it snow the next day... dont think you can find many places :)
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10-25-2008 @ 8:24AM
nunya said...
Football, especially the rivalry, is something that can't really be explained to people who aren't fans of it. Before attending Michigan, I would have said "it's just a game," too. There's just always going to be that difference in opinion and understanding between people who are big football fans and people who aren't. Plus, when you live in a college town or a city that is basically built around a university, college games will be huge.
I can't imagine that anywhere in Ohio is welcoming to GLBTs...but then, I couldn't imagine the same about Michigan, either, until I got there...and GLBTs are, by far, the best-treated "minority" group in Ann Arbor.
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10-25-2008 @ 8:40AM
Bud Foster said...
Pardon me for being naive or out of touch, but what is GBLT?
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10-25-2008 @ 1:12PM
Mike said...
gay lesbian bisexual transgenders
10-25-2008 @ 8:46AM
Celli said...
We've only lived here just over a year. Already it is our FAVORITE place to live across the country. As a friend recently said, this town is a hidden gem.
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10-25-2008 @ 8:54AM
skyspy said...
I learned something a long time ago while traveling around the world, if you haven't lived somewhere, you shouldn't throw stones, or comments, until you have. Every place, even Fairbanks, Alaska, has something to offer that makes it special. So, Jorge, all your doing is showing a lack of maturity and maybe, you might just want to re-evaluate your principles before making comments that reflect poorly upon you, and just gives more ammunition to those in Columbus who bemoan the lack of respect they get.
As far as OSU football goes, weeeeellll, you can't get on the dance floor unless you've been invited to the dance!
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10-25-2008 @ 8:56AM
dave scott said...
Forbes would like Columbus. The local paper just endorsed McCain.
Columbus has a lot going for it. It's a college town without being small. The cost of living is much cheaper than in cities on the coasts. Of course, what makes a city a good place to retire depends on what matters to you. Mountains or coast Columbus hasnt got, and Ohio does have seasons (although autumn in Ohio is as pleasant as weather gets anywhere).
If you like malls, Columbus has all kinds of malls. Tycoon Leslie Wexner's Easton competes with Polaris. Columbus even has a great bIg empty mall right smack in the middle of Downtown.
If you like sports, it may be the only city in America where your can watch your team get humiliated in front of tens of millions of TV viewers -- not just once, but three times in a row. And Columbus likes its sports. The mayor once did a commercial saying "We've got a game to win."
I'm not sure what position he was playing.
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10-25-2008 @ 8:58AM
Marie said...
To Obama Supporters--Spread the wealth. Do not want to live under communism. Tony Resco, William Ayers, Acorn, and Saul Alinsky.Nice Bunch?? Google Saul Alinsky who wrote Rules for Radicas. This is Obama's bible and he plays it to a tee. Promise the middle class
everything and promote class warfare. How many of you hate big business , big oil , wallstreet, the rich? What would some of you UAW workers have if you did not work for a big car company, and how would you travel and ship goods without oil from big oil. But the middle class will get nothing and everything will be taken away. Remember the Constitution is only a paper contract. Any contract is only as good as the people involved. A Socialist-Marixt-Communist will not honor individual rights. Remember the saying: they came for the ----and I stood by because I was not a ----. Then they cames for ---. I stood by again. Then they came for me. There was no one to help. Argentina President Cristina Fernandez proposed a government takeover of nearly US$30 billion in private pension funds. The Democrats are floating the same idea of basically ELIMINATING our 401(k) system and replacing it with a new Social Security program: Powerful House Democrats are eyeing proposals to overhaul the nation’s $3 trillion 401(k) system, including the elimination of most of the $80 billion in annual tax breaks that 401(k) investors receive. A plan by Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economic-policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York, contains elements that are being considered. She testified last week before Miller’s Education and Labor Committee. So not only will continue to pay into Social Security, the Democrats would TAKE ANOTHER 5% of your pay!! And you don't have ANY control over it, it would go into US Government Bonds -- which are just promissory notes for the future. Government will take control of your 401K. plan would amount to a tax increase on workers making more than $75,000--considerably less than the $250,000 Barack Obama has said would be his tax-hike cutoff. In addition, workers would be able to pass on only half of their account balances to their heirs; presumably the government would seize the remaining half. (Under current law, 401(k) balances are fully heritable, although they are subject to the income tax.) You can be assured that this will fly through the corrupt and dishonest Congress if they have an unbreakable majority AND a Dem President. This is just one of many such little zingers the socialis...umm, Democrats have been concocting to spring on an unsuspecting America. Make your voice heard and vote for America in November, not for Socialism
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10-25-2008 @ 11:04AM
Tiorjj48 said...
This comment really tells me why Columbus is the best retirement city ! LOL
10-25-2008 @ 12:22PM
Don said...
People with your mindset and the weather are the reason I left Ohio in my rearview mirror 50 yrs ago
10-25-2008 @ 2:13PM
Jerry said...
Dear Marie:
You need a lesson in just what socialism is. Presumably you would define social security, unemployment insurance, and Medicare as socialism. These are government responsibilities to the citizenry. Over my entire working life I paid premiums for my unemployment insurance, social security, and Medicare. These are not government handouts. However when the government comes in and bails out the big Wall Street financial institutions, that's socialism and that's what McCain voted for and urged to do so by that great free-marketeer George W. Bush. Steve Forbes believes in privatizing the profits and socializing the losses.
Throwing the word "socialism" around as a scare word went out of fashion when Joe McCarthy was buried. Grow up, Marie, and recognize the fact that necessary federal regulation in certain areas is not "socialism" but rather responsible government.
10-25-2008 @ 10:25AM
Jonathan Craft said...
Being born and raised in Ohio you see it all. And one thing Ohio is about is the Scarlet and Grey. You Cannot go anywhere in Columbus and not see the proud tradition of and honoring Buckeye fan. I now live in Frederick Maryland Right outside Washington D.C, and you cannot Imagine the people here that are from the Ohio or Columbus area that live in the Metro Maryland,Virginia & D.C. area. They stand Proud for the Buckeyes. I know i do. Once you get that taste of an Ohio State Game. You want more. It's like an Addiction. And yes, I'm Hooked.
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10-25-2008 @ 9:03AM
David said...
Did not know what GLBT was either, so I Googled it, turns out to be Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transexual..... makes sense, can't swing a cat in the air without striking one , in Col.
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10-25-2008 @ 9:13AM
scubby said...
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eat the lion!!!
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10-25-2008 @ 9:27AM
Jan said...
I have lived in Columbus OH for the past 31 yrs. I live in a suburb called Grandview Heights, which is a very nice small community. Whatever you need, you can find it here in Columbus. It's a very clean city, but like any other city, it has it's bad areas, where I won't even drive my car there. The East side is the worst. Alot of Buckeye Fans here in Columbus!!! Football season is like a season of it's own. Really enjoy watching the games. You can also have four seasons in one day here in OHIO... I'm serious.......
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10-25-2008 @ 9:33AM
OneDunQH said...
While we are chatting about all the fine things in Columbus I love traveling up there every April for the Equine Affaire. Now for the negative...did they mention the high volume of foreclosures going on there? How do I know this you say because I have done the complaints, for alot of these foreclosures.
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