There are a number of misconceptions about New York, particularly with regard to its appeal as a retirement spot. Part of the reason might be that the state is home to the nation’s largest and busiest city, New York.
The truth about the state as opposed to the city, however, might surprise many. Here are four myths surrounding retirement in the state of New York.
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1. It’s too expensive
There are high taxes and a higher cost of living overall throughout the state. However, there are a number of retirement locations that are not only reasonably inexpensive in which to live, but that also top a number of “Best Places” lists.
One is Ithaca, New York.
According to AARP, one of the draws of this artistic and scenic city is its affordability. The median house price is just $146,100 and the state tax rate is 8 percent.
Another affordable city is Buffalo, a city in which it may be possible to retire on Social Security alone. Seniors “pay just $466 monthly in housing costs if they have paid off their mortgages, $1,009 monthly if they are still paying off their home and $611 in monthly rent,"
reports U.S. News.
2. The weather is terrible
People hear the words, “New York” and automatically envision cold, snowy weather. It’s true that the winters in New York are cold (it is the Northeast after all). However, the state experiences relatively moderate temperatures throughout much of the year. The best temperature months on average are July, August, and September with July being the warmest of all those months.
The average high temperature throughout the year is 62 degrees Fahrenheit, while the annual low average is 48 degrees. There’s snow in the winter, yes, but there’s also three other distinct and attractive seasons for retirees to take in the warm temperatures, light rains, and beautiful fall foliage.
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3. It’s not safe
Crime rate is always a consideration for retirees, and a huge misconception about the state of New York is that there is a ton of crime. The opposite is actually more accurate.
A 2014 article in the New York Post indicates that crime throughout the state has dropped substantially. Specifically, “Statewide, crime plummeted 62 percent from 1990 to 2012.” During this time, New York actually led the nation in reducing crime.
4. If you’re not in NYC there’s nothing to do
Actually, New York contains some of the most unique cultural cities in the entire country. Many lesser known towns such as Binghamton and Saratoga Springs feature plenty of art, theatre, and music. Saratoga Springs has The Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Beekman Street Arts District, the Zankel Music Center, and the Tang Modern Art Museum. Binghamton is home to Binghamton University and the Kopernick Observatory and Space Center.
Clearly, there’s more to New York State than just New York City. There are a number of affordable smaller cities and towns with lots of scenery and culture, just perfect for those interested in finding a retirement destination. When discovering the truth about what the state offers, retirees might just reconsider their retirement plans.
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