AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for Americans 50 and older, has ranked Jackson, Tennessee as one of the best places to live and retire in the country.
Jackson, located in Madison County, has a population of 68,205. According to AARP, Jackson made the list of best places to live and retire due to it’s “affordable and accepting” vibe. The organization also cites median home costs of $1,071 per month and the median home cost burden of 29.5% of income spent on housing. The city is also great for those who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, with 74% of the population living near parks and recreational facilities.
According to AARP:
Jackson’s status as a majority-minority city is a big draw for retirees looking for a diverse place to live. The city prides itself on being gridlock free; drivers can zip through town in 15 to 20 minutes. Even with the relaxed pace, Jackson was among the first cities in Tennessee to get ultrafast internet with download speeds of 1 gigabit per second.
The senior citizens’ advocacy group also noted Jackson has ample opportunities for golf, fishing and hiking. There are numerous fitness centers, including Lift, an 84,000-square-foot facility with a medical clinic, three indoor pools and a healthy café. Jackson offers free concerts at the Amp, an outdoor amphitheater next to the farmers market, as well as musicals and plays at the performing arts center that locals call The Ned.
Tennessee Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08) recognized the city’s high ranking on the AARP list with a message on Twitter that read, “AARP has ranked @CityofJacksonTN one of the best places to live and retire! With a great business environment and strong local leaders, this is no surprise.”
AARP has ranked @CityofJacksonTN one of the best places to live and retire! With a great business environment and strong local leaders, this is no surprise.https://t.co/FLq6J90XVB
— Rep. David Kustoff (@RepDavidKustoff) January 24, 2022
Along with Jackson, the other cities that made AARP’s list include Cedar Falls, Iowa; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Anderson, South Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lansing, Michigan; Provo, Utah; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
