Alaska

Juneau, sometimes called "Little San Francisco," is nestled in 17 million acres of spectacular national rainforest along the Canadian border in southeastern Alaska.  It is a sophisticated, charming city in a truly breathtaking location.   Bounded by water and steep mountains that touch the sea, with fjords, forests, lakes, glaciers and streams all around, this busy metropolis of 32,000 people is steeped in native culture and attracts the adventurous, outdoor-oriented retiree.   The cost of living is high, nearly 35% above the national average, and the median home price is $295,000, also well above the national median.  The population is educated and affluent, with 32% age 45 or better.  Politics lean to the left.
	While outdoor recreation is abundant and wildlife watching is unmatched, with bear, moose, eagles and whales romping nearby, the Juneau also attracts people interested in culture.  There are two opera companies, a symphony, a professional theater (the Perseverance Theatre), and a delightful, historic downtown with dozens of art galleries, excellent restaurants and trendy shops.   Born as a gold rush town in 1880, Juneau today is Alaska's capital and a major cruise ship port, with more than one million passengers offloading each summer. Numerous painters, photographers and other artists call Juneau home.   The primary economic underpinnings, though, are the government and tourism (and the unemployment rate is below the national average).
Alaska has no state income tax, and so retirement income is not taxed.  Property taxes are roughly 1% of a home's fair market value, but homeowners 65 and older (or surviving spouses 60 and older) are exempt from municipal taxes on the first $150,000 of the assessed value of their property.   And all Alaska residents - every man, woman and child - receive an annual dividend from the state’s oil revenue, usually between $600 and $1,500, which helps offset taxes (residents must have lived in the state one year to receive the dividend).   The amount of each dividend payment in 2011 is $1,174.   There is a public transit system ($1.50 to ride each way), and the local airport, Juneau International Airport, is serviced by Alaska Airlines.
The Alaska Commission on Aging is located in Juneau and provides a number of services, including job training and other workshops, and it manages a senior resource center.  Catholic Community Services also operates a senior center and offers transportation to and from the center. The Juneau Public Library has two branches and offers an interlibrary loan program, wireless internet access and writing workshops (and books). Bartlett Regional Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission and has a 55 beds.  It meets national averages in most areas, and 71% of patients would recommend it to a friend, which is above the national average.  Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted.
Considering that it is in Alaska, Juneau has a relatively mild climate.  Summer daytime temperatures are in the 60s, and winter temperatures are in the 20s and 30s, not below zero.  Still, the city does receive a lot of year-round moisture, and November to March are very snowy, with up to 25 inches of the white stuff per month (these months are also the best time for viewing the amazing Northern Lights).  The sun shines just 85 days of the year, and the weather tends to settle in (but as residents say, when the sun comes out, Juneau is magical).  While it does not experience the "midnight sun" and "polar night" that much of northern Alaska does, Juneau summer days are longer and winter days are shorter than in much of the Lower 48.   This quaint city has many good points, but it is obviously a very remote place, only accessible by plane or by boat, and cars have to be transported to the city by ferry or barge.    The crime rate is also slightly above the national average.

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

Juneau's rich cultural amenities, spectacular setting and outstanding outdoor recreation are very appealing, but its isolated location, high costs, plentiful snow, small hospital, often overcast skies and higher than average crime rate seem to outweigh the positives.

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