|
x
|
|
Home
Vol VI Issue 26
April 12, 2011
Previous Issues
With its Frontier Character,
Historic Neighborhoods, Gentle Climate and Solid Medical Facilities,
Prescott, Arizona, Once Just a Vacation Getaway, Has Blossomed into a
Popular Retirement Destination
Cost of Living: Above the National Average
|
|
Twice the capital of the Arizona Territory, Prescott
(population 40,000) got its start as a rowdy,
hardscrabble mining camp and has held onto its frontier
heritage, giving it an old west flavor that is alive and
well today. Called Preskitt by the
locals, it is part of a tri-city area, along with
Prescott Valley and Chino Valley, and is situated in the
Bradshaw Mountains (5,400 feet), seventy-five miles
northwest of Phoenix. It is a fast-growing
city and has expanded its population by nearly 25% in
the last decade. Positive word has spread about
Prescott, and many of the newcomers to this once remote
vacation getaway are retirees seeking a high quality of
life in a pretty region with a mild climate.
The cost of living is 5% above the
national average, and the median home price is $235,000.
Of the residents, nearly 55% are age 45 or better, and
the median age is 48, also well above the national
average.
|
In its early days, Prescott brimmed with colorful Victorian architecture,
including Greek Revival, Octagon and Queen Anne building styles. Lavish homes were
built by miners who, with one lucky strike, had become millionaires overnight.
A devastating fire in 1900, however, destroyed a large section of
downtown. After the fire, Prescott's new structures were built from
brick and stone in the Craftsman and Classical Bungalow styles, and cement
sidewalks and paved streets replaced wooden boardwalks and dusty boulevards.
Today, more than 800 buildings and many neighborhoods sporting beautifully
restored Victorian and early 20th-century homes are on the National Register of
Historic Places, and several museums, including the open air, living history
Sharlot Hall Museum, built around the site of the first territorial governor’s
mansion, are dedicated to preserving Prescott's frontier heritage. This
appreciation of its past and protection of its historic buildings are reasons why many
residents love living in Prescott.
 |
These days architectural styles run the gamut and include
Mediterranean-style homes, Craftsman-style homes, mountain chalets,
A-frames, contemporary ranch-style homes, bi-level and tri-level homes.
Many residences are in the mountains, surrounded by pine trees, scrub oak
and chaparral. A purchase price of $235,000 will fetch a very
comfortable three to four bedroom dwelling with 1,500 to 2,500 square feet,
depending on location and upgrades, etc. A good selection of more modest homes
can be found in the mid- to high-$100,000s (higher-end properties are easy
to find, too). Condos and town homes
are in good supply, as well, with prices starting in the low-$100,000s.
Apartment rents begin in the $500 per month range for a one bedroom, and
seasonal rentals, both condos and houses, are plentiful because Prescott
attracts large numbers of "snowbirds" and vacationers.
|
The annual taxes on a $235,000 residence are roughly $1,365.
Single homeowners age 65 and better who have annual incomes less than $3,750 and married
couples who have annual incomes less than $5,500 are eligible for a tax credit of up to $502. Individuals
at least 65 years of age who have lived in their primary residence for at
least two years and have total income not more than four times the Social
Security supplemental security income (SSI) benefit rate may apply to have the
valuation of the primary residence frozen at the full cash value.
When it comes to retirement taxes, Social Security
and Railroad Retirement benefits are exempt. Up to $2,500 total of
military, civil service and Arizona state/local government pensions are also
exempt. All out-of-state government pensions are fully taxed. Up to
$2,500 of retired pay and/or military survivor benefits are
excluded.
The centerpiece of Prescott’s fun downtown is Courthouse
Plaza, a green, touristy oasis under the shade of giant elms surrounded by museums,
restaurants, antique stores, ice cream shops, the 1905 Elks Opera House and
historic accommodations, including the 1927 Hassayampa Inn. Nearby
Whiskey Row, an early day saloon neighborhood and a survivor of the 1900 fire,
is today a fashionable block with boutiques, cafes and galleries.
Not to be missed is the Palace, Arizona's oldest bar and restaurant, with its
warm wooden floors, tin ceiling and original quarter sawn oak and cherry bar.
This section of town hums with residents and tourists alike and is the site of
outdoor concerts during the summer.
|
|
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.
And while the city does not have a lot of nightlife, it has some casinos, a
few dinner theaters and plenty of festivals and events, such as the World's
Oldest Rodeo (started in 1888), the Arizona Shakespeare Festival (which
travels to various towns), the Cowboy Poets Gathering and the Prescott
Bluegrass Festival. Shopping is not world-class, but Prescott Gateway
Mall, on the way to Prescott Valley, has a good selection of stores.
Prescott is also a great place for outdoor lovers, even during
the summer. There are four golf courses, and with Prescott National
Forest right next door, more than 450 miles of hiking, biking and horseback
riding trails are a short drive away. Four nearby lakes provide for an
abundance of fishing and boating. The back road trip up to the ghost
town of Crown King is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, as is touring
Prescott's handful of up and coming wineries.
Crime rates meet the national average, and residents are
generally a friendly bunch. Perhaps this is because so many people
are from somewhere else and know how important it is to make newcomers feel a
sense of belonging. Voters tend to lean to the right, and
traditional values are important.
|
|
Non-profit Yavapai Regional
Medical Center is the primary health care facility and is a 135-bed acute care
hospital with a new state-of-the-art cardiac surgery wing. High tech
imagery services, a 24/7 emergency unit, an ICU unit, wellness programs and
inpatient and outpatient surgical services are a few reasons why YRMC was
named an America’s 100 Top Hospital in 2006. It is fully
accredited by the Joint Commission and accepts Medicare patients but not
Medicaid patients. The hospital also has a campus in nearby Prescott
Valley (which does accept Medicaid patients). Prescott has a VA
hospital, as well.
With its large 50+ population,
it is not surprising that Prescott has some good senior programs.
Foremost is the Adult Center of Prescott, a private, non-profit group that
provides a broad range of recreational, educational and social activities for
Prescott adults. Activities and programs include game groups, a cribbage
league, yoga, tai chi, a singles group, fitness classes, dances, vision
screenings, Medicare counseling, legal assistance and much more. Annual
dues are $50, and there are some additional fees. Volunteers to help
with various programs are welcome. Meals on Wheels is based in the same
building as the Adult Center.
CitiBus provides public
transportation ($1.00 to ride) and while service is not extensive, it is
wheelchair accessible and makes stops at the YMCA, Albertsons (grocery),
Wal-Mart, Target, the VA Hospital and the library. It operates Monday
through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is also a limited trolley
system that offers tours of some of the city's historic neighborhoods. A
shuttle van runs to the municipal airport, which is serviced by Great Lakes
Airlines. The nearest international airport is in Phoenix, 83 miles
away.
Thanks to its elevation,
Prescott does not suffer through the kind of heat experienced in, say, Yuma or
Phoenix. Summer temperatures reach into the low 90s but cool off
into the 50s at night. Winters are mild with temperatures in the 40s and
50s; nights can get chilly, though, with temperatures dipping into the 20s.
It rarely rains, except in July and August, but it does snow an average of 25
inches from November through March or April. On the comfort index, a
combination of temperature and humidity, Prescott is above the national
average. The sun shines 277 days of the year. The air quality and
water quality are both above the national averages.
|
|
Prescott has a lot going for
it, but it has some drawbacks, too. It is struggling with growth issues and traffic congestion (there are just three roads in and out
of town). While it remains a generally welcoming place, some residents
do resent the town's popularity with "outsiders" and point with
annoyance to such things as a mountain being bulldozed for the new shopping
mall. It can get especially crowded on weekends, with parking
downtown essentially non-existent, as out-of-state tourists come to visit and Arizona
residents from hotter cities come to cool off. Water is always a
concern in this part of the country, but in 2004 Prescott co-purchased land on
top of one of Arizona's largest aquifers, and if properly managed, water
supplies should be stable for years to come. Illegal immigration
is also a hot button issue, and it engenders strong emotions on both sides of
the debate (currently the city has little diversity). Some people
consider Prescott overpriced, overbuilt and overdone (and undone by
development), while others enjoy the influx of new blood and newer amenities.
In some ways, with its mountain setting, mining history and
cooler climate, Prescott feels as if it is in Colorado or Utah rather than in
Arizona. And although it is not perfect,
it is a pleasant, pretty place to live. Its cowboy character,
sense of history, very good medical facility, gentle climate, dry air,
interesting architecture and good senior programs outweigh its drawbacks, and
most residents say that they have found a great place to retire in this popular
city.
|
Back to Top
|
Great Retirement Spots Newsletter is
published eight to ten times a month by Webwerxx, Inc., 2770 S. Elmira St.,
Denver, CO 80231. (303) 358-0512. Copyright 2006-2011. All
rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be
reproduced without the express written consent of Webwerxx, Inc. Many
attempts were made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this
bulletin, but some information may have changed since publication. Webwerxx,
Inc. cannot be held responsible for information that has changed since this
publication appeared online. Please contact us at staff@greatretirementspots.com
if you have questions or comments. View our privacy
policy.
Arizona Real Estate Active Adult
Developments in Arizona Retirement Communities
|
|