Scottsdale, Tucson named top cities for snowbirds
Nov 13, 2014, 10:58 AM | Updated: 10:58 am
PHOENIX — As temperatures in more North American cities drop to near-freezing, two Arizona cities are likely to see an uptick in out-of-state license plates.
Scottsdale was ranked the best overall city for snowbirds by apartments.com and Tucson came in third.
The ranking breaks the common idea that Florida is the hotspot for snowbirds. The two cities scored well on several criteria.
“To develop our Top 14 Cities list, we looked at lifestyle factors that make cities attractive to part-time winter residents, as well as retirees looking for a place to settle down more permanently,” Brad Long, president of Apartments.com, said in a press release. “While southern Florida is often thought of first for this demographic, our list uncovers many other options, in other areas of the country, that offer more than just sunshine.”
Apartments.com also cited affordable rent — $1,165 and $778 in Scottsdale and Tucson, respectively, for a two-bedroom apartment — as reasons many snowbirds should look to the desert if they want to ditch the cold.
It also doesn’t hurt that Arizona is the fifth tax-friendliest state for retirees or that snowbirds are likely to make some retired friends. About 20 percent of Scottsdale residents are older than 65.
If Arizona isn’t a good fit, Henderson, Nev., Sacramento, Calif., and El Paso, Texas, rounded out the top five.
KTAR’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report.