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| Tucked away in rural west central
Arkansas, about an hour outside of Little Rock, is
the town of Russellville (population 25,000), an
unassuming spot that seems to generate rave
reviews from just about everyone. The most
appealing reason for considering retirement here is the very
affordable cost of living, but with this also
comes a rich quality of life, a fairly moderate
climate, scenic surroundings and nearby lake and
mountain recreation. Small enough to
be laid back and inviting but big enough to have
most services residents need, Russellville is
healthy and growing, and new retirees are arriving
every day. Of the population, 19% is age 45
to 64, and 14% is age 65 or better. |
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The overall cost of living here is a whopping
25% below the national average, and the median home price is
$140,000, also significantly below the national average (we
have seen recent published reports that the median home
price is $85,000, but our research shows that $140,000 is
closer to the mark). This is not to say that there are
not many cozy (1,000 sq. ft. or so), single family homes for
sale in the $65,000 to $85,000 price range. Slightly
more money, $125,000 to $150,000, will fetch a 1,200 to 2,000 sq.
ft. home with three to four bedrooms, two baths, an attached
garage, mature landscaping and possibly acreage.
$225,000 will buy a beautiful five bedroom, three bath brick
home with a pool and a three car garage. In other
words, real estate dollars go a long way in Russellville. |
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The property tax is roughly 45 mills per $1,000 in
assessed property value, and property is assessed at 20% of market
value. The annual taxes on a $135,000 home would be
$1,215. All households are eligible for a tax refund of
up to $300 regardless of income or age. Social Security is
exempt from taxation as is up to $6,000 in military, civil or
private pensions. The city sales tax is 8.5%. Personal
income tax rates range from 4.5% to 7%.
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 (more than once if necessary) the +/- signs to zoom in
and out.
Nestled between two mountain
ranges, the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains, and
situated along the Arkansas River in the
idyllic Arkansas River Valley, Russellville is gaining a reputation as a
recreation oasis. Nearby sparkling, 35,000-acre Lake
Dardanelle and Lake Dardanelle State Park provide plenty of areas
for camping, hiking, canoeing, boating and picnicking (retirees
have even been seen hang gliding, rock climbing and jet skiing as well), and the fishing is excellent. Fishing
tournaments (particularly bass) are big business in Russellville
and attract national attention. Lake Dardanelle is
also a place to lend one's volunteer talents. And when not
on the Lake, residents can enjoy one private golf course (at the
Russellville Country Club) and two public courses within a few
miles of town. Russellville, Arkansas, Continued...
Great Retirement Spots Newsletter is
published four times a month by Webwerxx, Inc. 2770 S. Elmira St.,
#152, Denver, CO 80231. (303) 358-0512. Copyright © 2006-2008.
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be
reproduced without the express written consent of Webwerxx, Inc. All
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.
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