Big Growth, Small Towns

Posted at 9:53 PM, Mar. 22, 2006

Brookings Institution demographer William Frey says a growing number of retirees are choosing small towns over big cities, as they look to escape high home prices,smog, congestion and crime. Many retirees want to stay close to family, work part time, start a small business, participate in community activities or focus on their hobbies.

An examination of U.S. Census Bureau data from 2000 to 2004 by Frey found that the most popular small towns among retirees were Gillette, Wyo.; Silverthorne, Colo.; Juneau, Alaska; Edwards, Colo.; and Jackson, Wyo. Rounding out the top 10 were Bozeman, Mont.; St. Marys, Ga.; RockSprings, Wyo.; Taos, N.M.; and Evanston, Wyo.

No cities in the traditional retirement havens of Florida and Arizona made the top 10.

Source: U.S. News  World Report (03/13/06) Vol. 140,  No. 9, P. 56; Brandon, Emily