Arizona

A fitting complement to the toasty west Arizona air, Lake Havasu City, Arizona (population  60,000) offers a cool welcome to incoming visitors and new residents.  The city is located along the Arizona - California border and sits on the eastern shore of Lake Havasu, a large, shimmering reservoir that was created by the construction of Parker Dam in the 1930s.  Originally created as a planned community for Army Air Corps personnel during World War II, Lake Havasu City was later purchased by chainsaw industry mogul, Robert McCulloch, in 1963.
	Since those early days, the city has evolved into a popular tourist destination, attracting 3.5 million visitors a year (including some Spring Break revelers).  Retirees, many from California, have discovered the city, too, and it has flourished, growing by a whopping 40% in the last 10 years (and the population increases by about 15% each winter as "snowbirds" flock to the area).   Of the population, 53% is age 45 or better. Considering the amount of waterfront property available, Lake Havasu City’s median home price is surprisingly reasonable at $150,000.  The overall cost of living meets the national average, and the crime rate is below the national average (although there was a mass murder in 2010).  The city boasts some upscale restaurants, and the new-ish The Shops at Lake Havasu City has national retailers, including J.C. Penny, Wal-Mart and Dillard's.
This desert oasis has a bit of fame as the home of the original London Bridge, which Robert McCulloch purchased from the city of London, England in 1967 when the bridge could no longer support that city's increasing automobile traffic.  McCulloch hoped that the reconstructed 1831 bridge, which was transported brick by brick half way around the globe, would draw new home buyers and tourists to his remote city in the desert.  His publicity stunt worked.   Today, London Bridge is Arizona's second most popular tourist attraction, behind only the Grand Canyon.
But Lake Havasu City is not just about a transplanted English landmark.  It has a pretty desert landscape with mountains nearby, and it is often hailed as one of North America’s preeminent water sports hubs.  Lake Havasu is an ideal environment for jet skiing, wind surfing, wakeboarding, sailing and fishing (particularly for bass and sometimes the elusive white sturgeon).  Fishing charters and boat rentals are always available if the need arises.  For a more rustic excursion, Lake Havasu State Park boasts a full tapestry of beautiful scenery from Windsor Beach to Cattail Cove with rolling hills in between.   Hiking, camping, and fishing are among the main activities enjoyed in this historic state park.
The Mojave County Senior Center offers a variety of programs and activities for people age 60+, including congregate meals and homebound-delivered meals. The Havasu Area Transit (HAT) system keeps everyone mobile with five routes that operate every day except Sunday.  The cost to ride is $1.  A curb-to-curb service is also offered for people who need transportation outside of the pre-established routes.   The fare for this service is $2. Havasu Regional Medical Center has 130 beds and is accredited by the Joint Commission.  It meets national averages in most areas but not all, and only 58% of patients would recommend the facility to a friend (below the national average).  Medicare patients are accepted.  The next closest hospital, La Paz Regional Hospital, is in Parker, 25 miles away.  It has 40 beds and is not accredited by the Joint Commission but meets or exceeds national averages in most areas.  Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted. Lake Havasu City is hot, hot, hot in the summer (really April through October), with temperatures reaching into the 120s some days.  Winters are mild and beautiful, with temperatures in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.  On the comfort index, a combination of humidity and temperature, the city comes in above the national average.  The sun shines 300+ days of the year.  The water quality is below the national average, but the air quality is above the national average.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, but.... Have a town in mind for retirement?  Write to us and we will review it in a weekly issue!

Great water recreation, sunny skies, reasonably priced housing, beautiful winters, a pretty natural landscape and a low crime rate are pluses, but extreme summer heat, limited senior services and a so-so hospital should be weighed before retirement in Lake Havasu City.

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