Is Prescott Arizona A Good Place To Retire?
I am looking to relocate from Florida to the West Coast to be closer my son. If anyone could please provide with me some information regarding retiring on the West Coast. If you have any other suggestions regarding towns, the extra info would be great…
What is the climate like in Prescott? Does it snow that much?
What is the shopping like in Prescott? Are there any good malls and restaurants in the area?
What is the cost of living? How much are houses?
What is traffic like in Prescott?
Are there a lot of activities for senior citizens in Prescott?
What is the health care system like?
Thank you for any info…
I think I can help you with this question as I was thinking about relocating to Prescott myself…to retire!
Prescott, is a beautiful place to live! I went there three times just too check things out.
The climate is pretty moderate. Yes, you get sonw in the winter but, not a lot of it! Just enough to be very pretty! I will say that if you have allergies, such as myself, it is not good as it sits in the middle of two floras and faunas! So, there is alot of pollen there!
The shopping is so cool! You will love it as they have many little shops which are retro and new ones as well. It is very mixed with modern and old! One of the dress stores there has new clothing and antique clothing! That was one of my favorite stores as it had the old soda fountain downstairs too! There are many restaurants! That is not a problem there! Now, I do not remember seeing a mall but, there is a tremendous amount of shops.
My information on the cost of living and housing is too old to be accurate now. However, you can google this town and get a tremendous amount of information.
Traffic has never been a problem when I was there.
This is about all I can give you as for your questions. I can tell you to check out Sedona as well! It is WONDERFUL!
Best of luck to you!
I have already decided to retire in Prescott. It’s a great area with mild winters and summers. I have been to their web site and checked out everything! I check the temperature everyday and the hottest this summer has been 99degrees. That’s 20 degrees or more cooler than where I live now. It’s gets a little snow in the winter, but not much and it doesn’t stay on the ground long. There is a veteran’s hospital, plenty of shopping, and loads of restaurants. Apartment rentals are reasonable, $495 and up. There are several RV parks in the area. I live in a 40ft. RV. I am not sure about buying a home. Go to their web site and check it out. Just type in Prescott az and search. Good luck to you. Maybe we will be neighbors.
Here’s some info – http://www.city-data.com/city/Prescott-A…
10 years ago Prescott looked like Bedford Falls was supposed to look – small town America. Now think SPRAWL.
Driving up I-17 from Phoenix, there’s a continuous string of towns Including Prescott Valley, Prescott & Chino Valley.
I live in Phoenix & I’m not much of a fan, although the climate is pretty great. I am desperately trying to find somewhere in the VERDE VALLEY, just to the East of the Prescott Valley, to live, so I can work in Phoenix 3 days a week (and telecommute 2 days a week).
I would love to be able to live in Cottonwood – http://www.city-data.com/city/Cottonwood…
There are places in the Southern end of the Verde valley with 50-70 mile views up to the San Francisco peaks on a clear day (lots of them). It’s 3500-5500 feet in the valley, so there’s some snow, but not too much. Rain, but not too much. Heat, but not too much. etc. Cottonwood is a (just) one of everything sort of town, including (just) one hospital.
I lived in Plantation from 1995-1996 & couldn’t wait to return to Phoenix (even though I was a Brit, I Love the DRY heat).
Of course, if you’re real rich, there’s always Sedona.
Email me if you want more information on anything
Prescott has mild 4-season weather. Typically a lot of days in the 60’s and 70’s from about March – May and September – November. Summertime highs will be 80’s and 90’s, with maybe one or two days that hit 100. Humidity is low, though, so it’s very tolerable. Monsoon season is July, August, into September. We usually get daily rains each afternoon which cool the temps into the low 80’s. Nighttime lows in summer are generally in the low to mid 60’s. (Nice sleeping weather!)
Winter highs will usually be in the 50’s with lows in the upper 20’s to low 30’s. An occasional cold spell and we may see a night or two of teens with highs in the low 40’s. It will snow maybe once or twice a month during Dec, Jan, Feb. Those snows will usually melt as they hit the ground, and within the day almost always. Some years are warmer and we get rain instead of snow.
For shopping, Prescott has almost all your typical big box stores and a nice mall. To name a few – Costco, Sam’s Club coming, Kohl’s (almost ready to open), SuperWalMart (3), Target, K-Mart (2), Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s (opening this year), etc. Only one mall – Gateway Shopping Center. Lots of good restaurants: the usual chains – Olive Garden, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Outback, Red Lobster, etc., but lots of good individual restaurants – Murphy’s, Hassayampa Inn, Gurley Street Grill, Prescott Brewing Co, 129-1/2 American Jazz Grill, plus many more.
Homes prices for a newer typical 1800 sf 3bdrm/2ba/2cg will run about $250k-$300k in Prescott Valley to $350k-$450k in Prescott. Taxes on those homes will run around $1000 – $2000 / yr. Insurance will be around $400 – $600 / yr. MUCH cheaper than Florida, from what I hear.
Traffic along the Hwy 69 corridor is getting more congested, however it still moves very smoothly and everybody drives the speed limit +. Lots of construction will be a pain for a while.
Lots of activities for seniors. Prescott was named by Money Magazine last year as one of the top 5 places to retire. We have lots of retirees here, so the activities are geared toward that age group.
Health care – 2 hospitals. More doctors moving in. Mayo’s in Phoenix is 90 miles away for more serious health issues.
Hope this info helps!!!
Any place is good to retire, the trick is to get to retirement age.