Nevada

Nestled in the Mojave Desert and partially ringed by the McCullough Mountain Range, Henderson (population 265,000) is essentially a residential suburb of Las Vegas and was incorporated just 58 years ago.  In many ways, it is indistinguishable from Vegas' suburbs and is characterized by new master-planned communities and tract housing, particularly on the southern end of the city.   While Vegas is to the northwest, two other attractions, Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, are to the east, and the area plays host to millions of tourists every year.
	Henderson is well laid out and mostly feels new, with fresh construction and wide streets, some lined with palm trees (there are, of course, some older neighborhood, as well).  The cost of living meets the national average, and the median home price is $185,000, down 20% in just the last year alone (and down 50% from a year before that).  Anthem is a large age-restricted community with many neighborhoods, and Green Valley Ranch is a manufactured "lifestyle center" with retail shops and residential housing.   There are at least another 15 large, master-planned developments in the city.  Of Henderson's population, 34% is age 45 or better.   The city also attracts a lot of families, and the median household income is above the national average.
During the winter months, the mild weather invites residents to enjoy outdoor activities in the city's 41 parks, 8 golf courses and 55 miles of walking and bicycling trails.   Lake Mead, 112 miles long and the largest reservoir in the U.S., is just twenty miles away and attracts boaters, fishermen (and women), swimmers, hikers and campers.  The Lake, however, has been suffering through years of drought conditions and the water level is well below capacity.  The shoreline is shrinking and some marinas have closed or have been relocated (on a good note, water levels are expected to rise this summer thanks to a relatively wet winter).  During the summer, temperatures can reach 110 degrees (with very, very little humidity), and most activity moves indoors where air conditioning runs non-stop.   The sun shines 300 days a year.
Retirees enjoy programs and services at three senior centers, and the Galleria at Sunset, one of the largest malls in Nevada, provides plenty of shopping opportunities.  The city's downtown has been spruced up, with old buildings having been torn down and replaced by typical southwestern architecture (sandstone exteriors with tile roofs).   Public transportation is provided by CAT, but Henderson has been named one of the nation's most walkable cities.  Crime rates meet the national average (while Las Vegas' rates are high).  There are a few casinos, and slot machines are everywhere, from gas stations to restaurant lobbies.   Great restaurants and world-class entertainment are just 15 miles away, and views of the mountains and of the Vegas Strip receive rave reviews from residents.
St. Rose Dominican is the primary hospital and has two campuses.  It is a non-profit, religious-sponsored facility, providing services in cardiology, neurosurgery, surgery and emergency medicine, and it meets national averages in most specialties.  Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted.  Las Vegas has a dozen hospitals and medical centers. Most people who live in Henderson seem to enjoy it, but the city is having some problems.  Nevada continues to be the hardest hit state when it comes to foreclosures, with Clark County, where Henderson is located, leading the way (in March of this year, 1 in 77 Henderson homes received a foreclosure notice).    Lake Las Vegas, a beautiful, huge, high-profile Henderson resort and residential community, emerged from bankruptcy nearly a year ago but is embroiled in legal troubles, and numerous  city neighborhoods are cluttered with empty houses. Nevada's unemployment rate is also above the national average, hovering around 14% (higher when part time workers and underemployed workers are factored in).  Much of this unemployment is centered in Las Vegas, which hit a record 14.9% unemployment rate in January, but it spills over into Henderson, too.   This city has grown by 45% during the last decade, with housing subdivisions spilling into the desert.  Today, though, the boom is over, and much of Henderson's future depends on what happens in Las Vegas, which is not expected to recover from the current economic slump for some time.    Henderson also has poor air quality (according to the American Lung Association, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area has the 12th worst year round air quality in the United States).  Water restrictions are in place.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Probably not, at least not now.... Have a town in mind for retirement?  Write to us and we will review it in a weekly issue!

Desert climate, water recreation, pretty scenery, a moderate crime rate and world-class amenities in nearby Las Vegas are pluses, but the current high foreclosure rate, high unemployment rate and poor air quality are strong negatives and seem to outweigh the positives.

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