Best Places To Retire in Alaska: Alaska has the biggest immigrant youth population in the nation throughout the 1960s and 1970s. During the pipeline period, many people came north to strike it rich, while some were here with the military.
They aged just like everyone else. And a good many of them are staying put, according to a Washington Post research from 2023.
The majority of the Last Frontier is indeed isolated and chilly, yet southeast Alaska has a climate more like that of the Pacific Northwest. The closest major city, Seattle, is really just 900 flying miles distant from Juneau, the state capital (or 1,410 driving miles; there aren’t many highways in Alaska).
However, some Lower 48 rural locations also need lengthy flights or drives to reach big cities. Furthermore, some of these areas are indeed less developed and colder than certain places in “Seward’s icebox.”
According to The Post, retirees in Alaska could ignore the distance and the cold for several reasons.
Alaskans pay the lowest taxes in the nation on practically all metrics. Seniors receive a sizable discount on property taxes, and there is no state income, sales, or estate tax. Alaskans are also eligible for yearly payouts from the state permanent fund, a massive $77 billion investment vehicle established to protect the oil wealth of the state for coming generations. The annual dividend of a fund varies according on the performance of its assets, although it usually exceeds $1,000.
In 2022, every qualified resident earned a record high of $3,284 from Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend programme.
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Best Places To Retire in Alaska
These locations might be a fantastic starting point if you’re getting older and wish for adventure (or tranquilly).
1. Anchorage
Population as of 2022: 287,000
The majority of amenities are available in Alaska’s largest city, which also has two hospitals, the state’s main airport, and two sizable senior housing complexes offering assisted living, skilled care, and memory care alternatives.
Together with regional theatre, music, and dance performances, the Alaska Centre for the Performing Arts frequently presents international travelling productions. There’s an opera, a symphony, and one of the few all-classical radio stations in the United States, KLEF-FM, in Anchorage. The downtown office buildings cast a shadow over king salmon fishing, and elderly citizens are eligible for free fishing (and hunting) licences. Several lakes are excellent for kayaking and canoeing (or winter skating), and there are 120 miles of paved multiuse paths in the municipality.
Not the kind that enjoys being outside? For those 65 years of age or older, the University of Alaska offers free tuition, and the Anchorage Senior Activity Centre provides a variety of activities that don’t include wearing a coat and boots.
2. Palmer
Population as of 2022: 6,300
In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Matanuska Valley Colony, offering farmers 40 acres at no cost provided they could live in tents for a period. Palmer has created a developing shopping district without sacrificing the welcoming, small-town atmosphere; farmers still till the land.
It is home to a hospital, and the area is seeing a rise in the number of medical testing institutions and experts. Palmer is home to the state’s “Pioneer Home” retirement centre, and a few senior housing complexes are conveniently close to grocery stores and other retail establishments, including a stand-alone bookshop.
Adult day care, home-delivered meals, assistance with domestic tasks, transportation to medical appointments and other amenities are provided by an organisation named Mat-Su Senior Services. Some of these services may even be provided without charge, depending on a sliding scale.
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3. Wasilla
Population as of 2022: 9,700
The local joke, “The best thing about it is that it’s only 20 minutes from Alaska,” is aptly exemplified by Wasilla. Throughout the past few decades, this once-quiet town has seen massive construction of homes and retail space. Nevertheless, Wasilla’s (growingly extended) municipal borders still contain moose, bears, and other wildlife.
As previously mentioned, the area has witnessed a discernible increase in medical testing facilities, and its hospital has received national recognition for its excellence in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Anchorage is just approximately 40 miles distant if you are unable to receive the necessary medical care.
Activities for outdoor enthusiasts include hiking, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, and a small ski resort. There is a robust community theatre that presents somewhat daring shows in addition to family-friendly productions, and there is an excellent library system.
4. Homer
Number of people: 5,900 as of 2022
With its breathtaking mountains, deep-blue Kachemak Bay, and views of Cook Inlet’s still-active volcanic peaks, this is one of Alaska’s most picturesque locations.
There are a tonne of visitors in the summer as well, but Homer never loses its independent spirit or small-town charm, no matter how many RVs arrive.
There are clinics and a hospital in Homer, along with specialised services like neurology and oncology. An assisted living facility and four senior apartment buildings are managed by Homer Senior Citizens Inc. Additionally, it provides services like meal delivery, adult day care, classes, support groups, and respite care.
The town is well-known for its top-notch dining establishments, thriving small-scale arts community, world-class fishing, and other outdoor pursuits. There’s a weekly newspaper and a real supermarket instead of just convenience stores. Tom Bodett, the spokesperson for Motel 6, wrote a book titled “As Far As You Can Go Without a Passport: The View From the End of the Road,” which some may recall. It should give seniors a sense of what to expect from Homer, as it was based on his life there.
5. The Cooper Landing
Population as of 2022: 340
If you like boating, rafting, fishing or hiking, then you’ll love Cooper Landing, which is about 105 miles south of Anchorage. Dwarfed by the Kenai Mountains and overlooking the turquoise-colored Kenai River, “The Landing” gets very busy each summer as day-trippers head down to play in the water, hike gorgeous trails in the Chugach National Forest and watch grizzly bears prowl for salmon leavings. The rest of the year, things are fairly quiet.
A senior housing complex is available, and the Cooper Landing Senior Citizen Corp. provides bus transportation to Soldotna and Kenai for shopping and medical appointments. Soldotna also has a hospital; if your situation is serious, you might be sent up to Anchorage.
Visitors and residents alike appreciate the adorable Cooper Landing Library, which is located in a log cabin. The closest movie theater is in Kenai, which is 50 miles away, but you might catch a return performance by the moose that walked in to swipe some popcorn back in April 2023.
