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Vol VI Issue 47
June 28, 2011
Previous Issues
Tucked Away on the Palouse in
Rural, Northwestern Idaho, Moscow Charms with its Mellow Way of Life,
Gentle Spirit and Surrounding Beauty
Cost of Living: Meets the National Average
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Up in rural northwestern Idaho, along the
Idaho/Washington border and about 90 minutes southeast
of Spokane, sits the very laid back town of Moscow,
Idaho (population 24,000), home to the University of
Idaho (population 11,000) and a mellow way-of-life where bicycles are
prevalent, the food co-op is a hoppin' place and locally
owned coffee shops have a steady following.
It started out in the late 1800s as a hog raising and
farming community hub (and although no one is quite sure
where the name came from, it was not named after the
Russian capital). These days Moscow is a youthful
place (14% of the population
is age 45 to 64, and 8% is age 65 or better) and it has
an educated populace, thanks primarily to the University
(50% of residents have at least a bachelors degree). It
is down to earth with a slightly funky, worn around the
edges feeling.
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The cost-of-living meets the national average, and
the median single-family home price is $210,000. All
kinds of real estate is available, from cute bungalows to rambling
ranch-style homes to country dwellings, and in recent years many
newer, energy-efficient homes have popped up. Town homes and
condominiums are not plentiful, but the ones that are for sale
start in the low-$100,000s. Manufactured homes and mobile
home parks can be found in and around the outskirts of town. Prices start under $35,000.
Apartments are mostly occupied by students. Idaho taxes all
income except Social Security and railroad retirement benefits
(and offers more retirement income tax breaks for people age 65 or
better). Property is taxed at full market value, but owner-occupied
primary dwellings,
including manufactured homes, are eligible for an exemption of up
to 50% of the value of the home (and people age 65 or better may
receive further property tax breaks). The annual property taxes on a
$210,000 home are roughly $2,600. Overall, Idaho
is considered a tax friendly state for retirees.
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Moscow is located in a stunning region known as the Palouse, a truly beautiful
farming landscape characterized by miles and miles of treeless, rolling hills.
Reminiscent of Tuscany, Italy, some hills to the east of town are very steep
(and have cows on top of them) while others roll like ocean waves as far as
the eye can see. In the evenings when the sun begins to fade, the light
turns the hills in to magical shades of blue, purple, yellow and orange and
transforms pasturelands into carpets of emerald green. It is kind of
amazing that more people do not know about this captivating area.
It is
still wide open, unspoiled and a beautiful place to call home.
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The town itself is laid out along two main streets.
One runs south to Lewiston (named after Meriwether Lewis of Lewis
and Clark fame) and north to Coeur d'Alene The other runs
west to Pullman, Washington (population 26,000) and Washington State University.
The downtown is small and quaint and has escaped much of the mad rush
of modern life.
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This is an interactive map.
Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and
click on the +/- signs (more than once if necessary) to zoom
in and out.
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Shopping is adequate - the modern Palouse
Mall has stores ranging from Macy's to Bed, Bath and Beyond, and there are
some big box stores. The local Wal-Mart closed in October, 2010 but is
set to re-open in January, 2012 (and there is one 15 miles away in Pullman,
Washington). Locally owned pizza joints and fast food restaurants are
the norm - fine dining is on the thin side, although West of Paris, located on
Friendship Square, is quite good. The popular Moscow Food Co-op is a great place to pick up a tasty morning
pastry, and the Saturday Farmers' Market (May through September) brings out
almost everybody. Eclectic, cozy coffee shops are in good supply, and a favorite activity is hanging
out with a latte while watching the
locals, some of whom are a little rag-tag, meander by on bicycle or foot.
There are numerous pubs and taverns about town, but nightlife is on the quiet
side. This is a safe city (the crime rate is well below the national average),
and it has a strong community spirit. Neighbors know each other,
and it is common to run into friends on the street or in local establishments.
Environmentalism is alive and well here, as is a commitment to a healthy,
outdoor lifestyle (camping, cross country skiing, bicycling, etc.), although some winters can turn
even the hardiest outdoor adventurer into a homebody. Churches representing all denominations (and one
synagogue) are scattered across town. The Moscow Public Library, built
in 1906 and on the National Register of Historic Places, was one of the last
libraries to be funded by Andrew Carnegie. It is warm, welcoming and has
an interlibrary loan program, a variety of classes and public computers with
internet access.
Moscow is a
walkable town, but Valley Transit operates free public buses and makes stops
at many shopping venues and the hospital. The city also
offers a Dial-a-Ride service ($1.50) and transportation to and from medical
appointments for Medicaid patients (2 days' notice required).
Gritman Medical Center is the community hospital (40 beds) and offers
emergency services, surgical services, cancer care, home health care services,
critical care and more. It is small, just 25 beds, but is accredited by
the Joint Commission and meets or exceeds national averages in nearly all
specialty areas. Medicaid and Medicare patients are accepted. Three other hospitals (Pullman Memorial,
which is a Level IV trauma center, Tri-State Memorial and St. Joseph
Medical Center) are within 25 miles. For military retirees, the nearest VA
medical center is in Boise, 325 miles away.
Despite having a youthful population, Moscow has a senior center.
Located in the 1912 Center (the former Moscow high school and now a
multipurpose community gathering place), it has a library and computers with
Internet access. Programs include Friendly Neighbors meetings, support
groups, bingo games, travel clubs, computer assistance and more.
The Center also has low-cost meals and home meal delivery can be arranged.
Moscow winters can be a little rough. Snowfall can reach a foot or more each December, January and February, and
skies are gray. Temperatures are in the teens, 20s and 30s. Summers, though, are delightful with temperatures in the 70s and low 80s.
The sun shines 170 days of the year. On the comfort index, a combination
of temperature and humidity, Moscow ranks well above the national
average. The air quality is above the national average, but
water quality is below the national average.
There are a few drawbacks to retirement here. The number of college students
may be too much for some people. The town is off the beaten path and not
easy to reach (I-90 runs through Spokane 85 miles to the north, and all other
roads to town are in good shape, but to get here, one has to really want to
get here). A breeze nearly always blows, and
strong winds are not uncommon. In recent years, a feud has brewed
between a local church and more liberal elements of the community, but this
seems to have settled down for now.
Despite these downsides, this town on the Palouse has an appealing, laid-back
character. Still a well-kept
secret, Moscow may
be just the ticket for retirees in search of a town with a gentle spirit, a slightly
"granola" vibe, little crime and an amazing natural landscape.
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