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Home
Vol VI Issue 35
May 10, 2011
Previous Issues
Retirees Come to Amiable San
Marcos, Texas for its Riverfront Locale, Friendly Residents, Low Cost
of Living, Diverse Culture and Easygoing Ambiance
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
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About 30 miles southwest of Austin, along
the headwaters of the clear, cool San Marcos River, a
land of gently rolling hills and prairie farmland
stretches into the distance. Here, on the edges of
the verdant Texas Hill Country, the amiable city of San
Marcos (population 51,000) makes its home.
Considered to be the oldest, continuously inhabited area
in the Northern Hemisphere, this region was first home
to a Paleo-Indian Clovis culture and then visited by
Spanish explorers and settled by Mexican families.
In 1846, the first Anglos arrived, and soon the fledging
village of San Marcos (pronounced "San
Marcus") prospered as a cattle-raising and
cotton-producing center. The
addition of what-was-to-be Texas State University
(30,000 students) in 1903 furthered the city's growth,
and today this unpretentious metropolis receives great
reviews for its gentle way of life, surrounding beauty,
affordable living and ethinic diversity.
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San Marcos has a young population, thanks to the
University (28% of population is age 45 or
better), but most residents enjoy the vitality of TSU and its
students, and the University provides a solid economic base.
The city is growing, nearly 35% in the last ten years, but despite
its size, it still has a small town charm. Friendly
residents willing to lend a hand and country hospitality make
newcomers feel welcome and a part of the community. In
particular, lovers of BBQ, Tex-Mex food and tasty breakfast tacos
will feel right at home here! And because San Marcos
is situated between two big cities, historic San Antonio
(population 1.5 million) and music-loving Austin (population
750,000), amenities not found in town are never far away.
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The median home price is $150,000 and contributes to an
overall cost of living that is roughly 12% below the U.S. national
average. Real estate is a smorgasbord, everything from older, ramshackle
ranch-style homes to lovely new Mediterranean-style residences. Many
homes are built of brick, and most have mature landscaping, often with shady
pecan trees and fragrant cedar trees. The city has a good
selection of apartment complexes, but many of these are populated by TSU
students. Higher priced units, however, tend to cater to non-college age
residents, and The Wellington, an elegant, 80-unit, one-story apartment
community, is just for the age 55+ crowd. Rents start at around $775 for
a one bedroom unit.
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Texas taxes
are fairly straight forward. The state has no state income
tax, and retirement income is not taxed. Because of this,
however, property taxes are high. Real estate is assessed at
fair market value and taxed at roughly 1.65%. There is,
though, a $15,000 homestead exemption, and for homeowners
age 65 or better, $10,000 (in addition to the regular $15,000
homestead exemption) of the property's assessed value is exempt
from school taxes, and $3,000 is exempt from other local taxes.
Without any exemptions, annual taxes on a $150,000 residence are
roughly $2,415.
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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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The historic downtown, primarily along Main Street, has been
recognized by the Texas Historical Commission and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation, and the town center, dating from 1851, has recently
undergone a renovation. The Hays County Courthouse has been
restored, and popular 19th-century commercial architectural styles, including
High Victorian Italianate, Beaux Arts and Commercial Style, as well as grocery
and clothing stores, doctors' offices and banks, dot this section of town.
The Belvin Street Historic District is another interesting neighborhood and
boasts fine examples of grand 19th-century homes along a street canopied by
giant live oaks. Residences here are open to the public during each
May's Tours of Distinction.
Much of the local recreation revolves around the San Marcos River, the
quiet body of water that rises from the San Marcos Springs and is thickly
lined with caladiums and cypress trees (it is also home to
eight endangered and threatened species). Locals say that the
water is always 72 degrees, making fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving and
canoeing possible nearly all year long, although the river really brims with
activity during lazy summer afternoons. And not to be missed is a ride
in a glass bottom boat at TSU's wonderful Aquarena Center.
The San Marcos River Walkway unites three pretty parks along the river, and
another twenty parks are scattered throughout the city. Texas is
often thought of as dusty, dry and desolate (as in the wonderful 1956 movie
classic Giant), but here in central Texas, the landscape is often lush
and green. A scenic drive up along a winding ridge route called the
Devil's Backbone offers exceptional views of the Hill Country's amazing
scenery. Pedernales Falls State Park, the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake
and the Lost Maples State Natural Area are all within 50 miles.
San Marcos has two golf courses, a 9-hole public course and an 18-hole public
course, and Texas State basketball, football and baseball games give sports
fan plenty of opportunities to have fun while rooting for the Bobcats.
AARP has a chapter here, and
there are at least three senior centers, the San Marcos Senior Citizens
Center, the Allenwood Senior Citizens Center and the Price Senior Center,
which is operated by the Greater San Marcos
Area Seniors Association and housed in the First Christian Church of San
Marcos, a beautiful 1893 structure. The Price Center is very active and
offers meals, activities, classes, theater presentations and much more.
The city also has plenty of organizations and
groups, from the Great Books Discussion Group to the Arts League to the River
Walkers, so getting involved and staying active is easy to do.
The San Marcos Library is well stocked and has 46 public computers with
Internet access. It also has wireless access for laptop owners.
When it comes to shopping, many residents (and tourists) spend time at the
Tanger Outlet Center and Prime Outlets, two huge, popular outlet malls with
more than 280 name brand outlet stores between them.
Summerfest, Viva Cinco de Mayo and the Texas Water Safari are just a few of
San Marcos' annual events. San Marcos' crime rate meets the
national average.
Public transportation is provided by CAT, and the fare is 50
cents (exact change only) or 25 cents for riders age 60 or better. San
Marcos has a small airport, but the closest international airport is the
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, 30 miles away.
Central Texas Medical Center, established in 1960, is a
120-bed facility and is part of the Adventist Health System, the
largest not-for-profit Protestant healthcare provider in the nation.
Services include a 24-hour emergency center,
outpatient surgery, rehabilitation services,
an MRI unit and a cardiac catheterization lab.
It is accredited by the Joint Commission and accepts Medicaid and Medicare
patients but ranks below national averages in some areas. Better
rated, even award winning, hospitals are in San Antonio and Austin. For
military retirees, San Antonio has a VA hospital, and Austin has a VA
outpatient clinic.
The climate in central Texas is hot and humid
in the summer and mild and damp in the winter. Summer temperatures reach
into the high 90s with morning humidity averaging 75% (it tapers off to 60% in
the afternoon). Winter temperatures are in the 30s, 40s and 50s.
The area receives 2 to 5 inches of rain per month (May and October are the
wettest months) but virtually no snow. On the comfort index, a
combination of temperature and humidity, the city is below the national
average. The sun shines 235 days of the year. The air
quality and water quality are both well above the national averages.
San Marcos has a few drawbacks. It is growing, and
traffic congestion is becoming a problem. The risk of a tornado striking
is 75% above the national average. The city has experienced flooding,
most recently in 1998 when 30 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour period and
again in 2001 when the nearby Blanco River overflowed its banks. As the
city states, when floodwaters come, they "can cover many blocks up to
three or four feet deep." And Texas,
including San Marcos, is home to fire ants and snakes!
Despite these creepy critters, the popularity of Texas as a
retirement state continues, and San Marcos, with its easygoing character and
friendly people, has a unique charm all its own. Between the local
affordability and the big city amenities just down the road in San Antonio and
Austin, the best of both small city and big city living can be had here,
making for a great retirement in this pleasing and most welcoming Texas
destination.
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