We want to retire somewhere our children and grandchildren will want to live, too. Our budget is $7,000 per month – where should we go?

We want to avoid high humidity summers, but we also try to stay away from the desert heat. Try to avoid shoveling too much snow, too.

We love gardening, biking, hiking, boating and fishing, so having access to the water would be a blessing. It would be great to carry a half acre or more.

Our next generation maybe Follow us, so job opportunities for them will be an added benefit.

I'm confused about where to go, so your help would be greatly appreciated.

rus

Dear Ross,

Congratulations on the cusp of retirement and starting a new adventure.

I hear you saying that both the South and Southwest are out due to the weather. There are still plenty of options, but you may have to compromise a bit for winter weather. (How much snow? How much rain?)

If you want the next two generations to follow, you need an area where unemployment was below average (at least before the pandemic). A fast-growing area can be a bonus. You may want to ask them what trade-offs they are willing to accept before choosing a location. I hope it's not just wishful thinking on your part.

Idea: Why not look for a townhome or 55+ community where the homeowners association fees include snow shoveling? Maybe shearing too? It may mean giving up half an acre, but you can still do a lot of gardening on less space. Just check those HOA rules. A community garden can be a backup plan. Regardless, don't underestimate how much work a half acre can take!

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Here are three very different places to consider. MarketWatch's Where Should I Retire tool can point you to more possibilities.

Salem, Oregon

You'll escape the summer humidity in Oregon's capital, home to 175,000 people. You also won't have to shovel as much – although the flip side is rainy winters.

You'll find these fishing opportunities on the Willamette River within city limits, but you can also drive less than 45 miles to Silver Falls State Park, considered the crown jewel of the state parks system. Two hours east is the stunning Detroit Lake, 400 feet deep and more than 9 miles long. It's located in the Willamette National Forest, which covers 1.6 million acres in eight wilderness areas, so you'll also have plenty of hiking options. And when you want to bike, start with the 11-mile paved Salem Minto-Brown Island Park Trail.

Salem is in the middle of the Willamette Valley, so vineyards aren't far away. If grapes can thrive, so can your garden.

Housing costs are slightly higher than the national average. Here's what's on the market right now, using listings on Realtor.com (which, like MarketWatch, is owned by News Corp). You can easily flip to see rentals.

An alternative could be Corvallis, suggested here.

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(Johnson City, Tennessee).

This part of Northeast Tennessee can make the angler in you very happy.

You'll also be west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, so there are plenty of hiking opportunities. In fact, the Appalachian Trail is not far if you want to hike some parts. Cycling? Start with the 10-mile tweetie trail to Elizabethton.

The reader's choice winner of the 2018 Best Midsize City vote was described by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine as a relatively new adventure city with a “woke downtown.”

You will have moderate summer humidity and average July highs in the mid 80s. The average snowfall in January is 3 1/2 inches, so there's not much to do.

Outside of outdoor activities, Johnson City prides itself on its live music scene. East Tennessee State University, located here, has an outstanding bluegrass music program.

On the fiscal side, Tennessee has no income taxes, and the phase-out of the tax on investment income (known as the hall tax) will be complete on January 1. Housing costs are well below the national average; It's the cheapest of my three suggestions.

Here's what's on the market right now, with Realtor.com.

Johnson City is also the smallest of the three proposals, with a population of about 67,000 people. The broader metropolitan area of ​​the Three Cities, extending into southwest Virginia, is home to more than 500,000 people.
If that's too small for younger generations, they may want to settle in Knoxville (proposed here) less than two hours away.

If Johnson City isn't quite right, an alternative might be Roanoke, Virginia, recommended here.

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Columbus, Ohio

You can find a half-acre lot here, in Ohio's capital, or you can look in the suburbs of Franklin County.

Fast-growing Columbus is home to 900,000 people and is home to The Ohio State University. The broader metro area has a population of 2 million, so you'll find a range of communities as well as home prices and rents. Livability described Columbus as “quickly becoming one of the most popular cities for millennials” when it placed it on its list of the 100 best places to live in 2019. It jumped to 11th place in 2020, when the list was reshaped to accommodate COVID-19. 19 worlds and increased ability to work from anywhere.

One reason is jobs. Younger generations will find headquarters for companies like Cardinal Health, Nationwide Insurance, and L Brands as well as many other big-name employers.

For the water lover in you, visit Greggs Reservoir on the west side of the Scioto River in Columbus, toward the suburb of Hilliard, and the boat club is there. Or head to one of the many lakes north of the I-270 loop.

I know…you think this is the Midwest, so what kind of hiking could there be? Forest options abound. Start with Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve, 40 miles southeast of town. . Or tackle the Buckeye Trail, which extends more than 1,400 miles around the state.

You'll find several bike trails, including the 25-mile Alum Creek Greenway. This is also part of the 326-mile Ohio to Erie route between Cincinnati and Cleveland, if you want to keep pedaling.

Weather-wise, it's not surprising that you get four seasons. January is the snowiest month, with an average snowfall of about 7 inches. Average summer temperatures reach the mid-80s, and humidity is moderate. Your garden will love it.

Despite its size, housing on average doesn't cost much more than it does in Johnson City. Find out what's in the housing market in Columbus and across Franklin County with Realtor.com.

Readers, where do you think Ross and his wife should retire? Leave your suggestions in the comments section.

Read now: We want to leave the cold Midwestern states for a “warmer, drier climate” and affordable health care at $44,000 a year—so where should we retire?