A GREAT PLACE TO RETIRE Morgantown has a lot of what seniors want and need.
THE GOOD STUFF Compared with other small Eastern university cities in MarketWatch ’s clever online “Where's the best place for me to retire?” tool, Morgantown has a lot going for it: LOWER COST of living than State College, Pennsylvania MORE INTIMATE SIZE than Lexington, Kentucky MORE COMFORTABLE summers than Athens, Georgia It compares most closely with Blacksburg, Virginia—a Forbes 2016 Best Place to Retire. Source: marketwatch. com/graphics/ best-place-to- retire/#division
sons to retire in a college town,” MarketWatch wrote in 2019. Theater, dance, art, concerts, and lectures are among the appeals cited—and of course, in Morgantown, that in- cludes Mountaineer sports. College towns are diverse, the publication observed; a delightfully international dining scene is just one way we benefit from that. And world-class whitewater, climbing, and other recre- ation are right nearby. A reasonable cost of living No one knows how long their nest egg needs to last. So while many people look forward to a sunny climate or daily walks on the beach in retirement, when they price it out, Morgantown’s affordability is appealing. The cost of living in the Morgantown metro area is 10 percent below the national average, according to online calculators. College towns in places with warm
Excellent healthcare As you age, you want trusted medical support close to home, and that’s one of Morgantown’s best attributes. And Mon Health Medical Center practices deeply patient- centered community hospital care. WVU’s medical center, which Newsweek ranked among the world’s top couple hundred in 2019, offers a wide range of specialties and subspecialties, advanced treatment options, and access to clinical trials. Witt retired from WVU’s College of Business and Economics in 2012 and continues consulting today. He and his wife enjoy an active social life in Mor- gantown, and they find the proximity to airports in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., convenient for frequent international travel. He thinks Morgantown offers seniors a satisfying way of life. “It has all of those elements that a prospective retiree would be looking at in terms of relocation.”
➼ WHEN IT COMES TIME to decide where to retire, a few things are really important. Highest among them, for many, is nearness to friends and family. Seeing one’s children navigate middle life, being part of the grandchildren’s childhoods, and spending time with old friends are some of the greatest joys of life. They’re also important for mental and emotional health—happiness, studies have shown, is a key to longevity, and social ties are an important part of it. Beyond that, what mat- ters? A variety of cultural and recreational activities, says TomWitt, who serves on the board of the Mor- gantown Area Partnership economic development organization. A reasonable cost of living. And excellent healthcare. Those are ex- actly the elements that most retirement experts focus on and, as it turns out, Mor- gantown has them all. A great lifestyle A uni- versity spins off activities that are interesting for all ages, and retirees have taken notice. “There are actually tons of great rea-
winters—Gainesville or Tampa, Florida, for example, or Las Vegas, Nevada—have costs of
living closer to the national average. Most, like Santa Barbara or Santa Cruz, California, are well above it.
written by PAM KASEY
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