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A spirit that is not afraid

Forbes deems Auburn best town to retire

Forbes magazine scoured the country and compiled a list of the best places to retire in 2014 with the city of Auburn topping the list.
To create the list, Forbes considered many factors that set certain communities apart for a place to retire.
Forbes featured 25 of the best places to retire based on those factors.
Auburn has been recognized by Forbes as No. 18 in Best Small Places for Business and Careers, No. 98 in Cost of Doing Business, No. 41 in Job Growth and No. 24 in Education.
Warm places are notorious hot spots for those looking to move on and relax. With Auburn in the heart of the South, warm days come with the territory.
Cost of living ranks as a large factor when deciding where to live, especially once retired.
Forbes used FindTheData.org to narrow down the choices and also looked into National Association of Realtors, Trulia.com and Zillow.com to determine where a retiree could find a nicely priced home.
With the average home price at $207,000, trying to find a city that can offer houses for adequate prices can be daunting.
Auburn's is 11 points below the national average at 89, in terms of average cost of living. Auburn's average home price is $165,000.
The economy also factors in the decision process due to retiree's continuing to work part-time after they move.
According to Forbes, Auburn has a good economy because it is a college town and has a low crime rate.
Forbes also considers crime and safety when compiling their list.
Mayor Bill Ham said Auburn has been fortunate to be named and recognized by Forbes and many other magazines.
"There are several factors that add up to Auburn being a great place to live," Ham said. "Auburn University [is a] safe community, and a lot of retirees already live here. There is a lot of golf in the area, and Auburn was named one of the best golf destinations in Golf Digest four years ago."
States' tax rates were also considered, with the state of Alabama topping the list, followed by others like Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia.
These states offer little to no taxation on Social Security or pensions.
Also considered are places to stay fit and healthy for the retired.
Forbes uses Bicycling Magazine's ratings and Walkscore.com to discover the best place for physically fit people to retire.
According to Forbes, the only downside to living in Auburn is the few doctors per capita.
David Dorton, public affairs director for the city of Auburn, said this is one of the many times Auburn has been recognized for its value of living.
"It's always great to be recognized for the city Auburn is," Dorton said. "It is the best place for small business and has a strong economy and local life."
City Manager Charlie Duggan said it was nice for Auburn to be recognized from time to time.
"The city is an attractive place for many reasons," Duggan said. "Just look around and take stock of the people who live here. We have low taxes, a great quality of life, a wonderful park and recreation system, and great university events."


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