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With its Mystical Red Rock
Formations and Seductive Light, Sedona, Arizona is Known as a Spiritual
Vortex and Draws Retirees in Search of Beautiful Homes, Striking
Natural Beauty and Rejuvenation
Cost of Living: Above the National Average
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In the high desert of central Arizona, at the entrance of Oak Creek Canyon (a spectacular gorge often
described as a smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon), the
landscape is characterized by towering red sandstone formations
and open spaces. It is here, under a cathedral blue sky,
that Sedona (population 12,000) makes its home. The town
got its start in the late 1800s, and early residents were
farmers and ranchers. A sleepy desert outpost for years,
it was not until the 1950s that tourism began to pick up.
Building
boomed in the 1980s and 1990s, and today Sedona is fully
developed but still holds onto its mellow, small town
roots. The stark desert landscape, which almost glows when
the setting or rising sun hits it just right, and this casual,
affluent town nestled within it, beckon to retirees searching
for a beautiful spot with dry air, Southwestern architecture,
little crime, sunny days and a bit of spirituality and mysticism. In
fact, 60% of residents are age 45 or better.
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The cost of living is 30% above the national average,
and the median home price is $400,000, down 8% in the
last year. Most homes, particularly those in West
Sedona, boast views of the mystical red rocks and the amazing
purple and tangerine sunsets. The most expensive homes are generally
located near Uptown (really downtown), and the Village
of Oak Creek, a separate subdivision south of city
limits, also has some
lovely dwellings. The majority of residences were
built in the last 30 years so historic homes are few and
far between. There are three mobile home parks, all of which are rather rustic,
and apartments, which are not plentiful, range from
around $700 to $1,000 per month for one to three
bedrooms.
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As might be expected, Arizona
is a tax-friendly state when it comes to retirement.
Social Security is not taxed, and up to $2,500 of other
retirement income (military, civil service and Arizona government pensions) is exempt, too. When
it comes to property taxes, single homeowners age 65 and
better who earn
less than $3,750 annually and married couples who earn less than
$5,500 annually are eligible for a tax credit of up to
$502. Some may also be able to have the valuation of their primary
residence frozen at its full cash value. The annual taxes on a
$400,000 residence are roughly $2,240. The
state income tax ranges from 2.59% to 4.84%, and the
state sales tax is 6.6% (and between 10.35% and 10.72%
in town).
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Sedona attracts vacationers who come to
sightsee, shop and soak up the stunning desert scenery.
Uptown is the touristy area of town with galleries, upscale
boutiques, outdoor gear stores, eateries and specialty shops
(West Sedona has more in the
way of banks, drugstores, etc. and is where the locals shop). There is no Wal-Mart in town, and other large box store
retailers are in short supply. Instead shoppers find fine
jewelry, woven textiles and hand-crafted furniture for
sale. Particularly fun is the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts
Village, a replica of of a small town known for its markets
outside of Guadalajara, Mexico.
With a reputation as a spiritual center and
global power spot or vortex (a place with highly concentrated
energy conducive to healing and prayer), Sedona has
a healthy New Age tourism industry. The glowing red
rocks, year round greenery and vortexes make it a very popular
meditation destination, attracting people seeking spiritual
enrichment and
personal rejuvenation. Spas offering relaxation are found all over town.
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.
Sedona is generally a quiet, conservative place, home to
artists who revel in its mesmerizing light and
energy. Residents reap the benefits of this by
enjoying more than 40 art galleries and studios. The first
Friday of every month, numerous galleries host an evening of
openings, technique demonstrations and receptions. Music,
too, is a Sedona staple, brought to residents by the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks
Festival and Chamber Music Sedona's numerous concerts. The Sedona International Film Festival, the
Sedona Arts Festival and GumptionFest, a free music and arts
festival, round out the cultural calendar.
Sedona does not have its own hospital, but two
very good medical facilities are within 15 and 25 miles
respectively. In Cottonwood, the closest town, Verde
Valley Medical Center has 99 beds and is award-winning for
patient safety. It meets or exceeds
national averages in all areas and accepts both Medicaid and
Medicare patients. In Flagstaff, the Flagstaff
Medical Center (270 beds) is a Level II adult trauma center and
is also award-winning for patient safety. It, too,
accepts both Medicare and Medicaid patients.
For military retirees, Cottonwood has a CBOC.
The closest VA hospital is in Prescott, 45 miles away.
The parks and recreation
department has a good menu of activities and programs, including
low impact water aerobics, painting classes and piano
classes. Nearby Coconino National Forest has hiking trails
and campgrounds, and it is accessible via trails that run
through town.
Services for the mature
demographic are provided at the Sedona Community Center, which
offers congregate noon meals five days a week ($3 for people
age 60 or better), offers telephone assurance seven days a week
and has an exercise program, legal services and a van
transportation service.
The Sedona Public Library is
privately run and located in a pretty, new (2005)
building. It is an Internet wifi hotspot and has book
discussion groups, an interlibrary loan program, various speakers and is open seven days a
week.
Retirees who enjoy volunteering
will find plenty of opportunities to lend their services. The parks and recreation department and the library
need volunteers, and the city has a
Citizen's Academy that educates residents about the city and how
it works. Graduates of the Academy are then invited to
apply for vacancies on city commissions, boards and committees.
With an elevation of 4,500 feet above sea level,
Sedona's climate is a bit cooler than much of the rest of the
state. Summer temperatures reach into the high-90s,
but winter temperatures dip into the 30s. The areas
receives one to two inches of precipitation each month, and it
does occasionally snow in the winter. The air is dry, and
the sun shines 295 days of the year. On the comfort index, a
combination of temperature and humidity, Sedona comes in above
the national average. Both the water and air quality are
above the national averages.
Sedona, of course, has some drawbacks. The
nearest hospital, while very good, is 15 miles away, and Road
Runner, also known as the Sedona Public Transit System, shut
down in June of this year. Some people claim that
residents are somewhat snooty, and for people needing employment
in retirement, jobs are few, often tourism-based and low-paying.
Yet, with its mysticism and inspiring setting,
Sedona entices nearly all who come. It is not a place for
an action-packed retirement, but it is a place for peaceful and
mellow one. Once a dusty desert blip in the road, this
little hamlet is all grown up and has become a great retirement spot, indeed.
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