Northwest Arkansas has become a hotspot for new retirees, more so than conventional retirement locations like Florida, Carolina, and Georgia. And although there aren’t thousands of people flocking to Arkansas, there’s a steady increase in the number of people settling here during their retirement years. Why is that?
People are retiring to Northwest Arkansas for three main reasons – Arkansas has a lower state income tax, is located in Central America, and promotes an active lifestyle. Southern and northern cities experience temperature extremes, but Central America has moderate and pleasant weather conditions.
In this article, we’ll closely examine why people are moving to Northwest Arkansas and why you may want to consider it as a retirement option.
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Why People Are Retiring to Northwest Arkansas
Low State Income Tax
As mentioned, Northwest Arkansas charges a lower state income tax than other popular retirement destinations. Therefore, if you continue to generate some income after retirement, moving here will ensure you get to keep most of your money!
You may argue that Florida doesn’t charge income tax so that you can save more money there. However, Florida makes its money in other ways, through taxes on property, insurance, and sales. And these taxes tend to be higher than what you’d pay in Northwest Arkansas.
And while Arkansas charges an income tax, it levels the playing field by setting lower overall taxes compared to the other states. Arkansas also had a surplus from last year’s budget, and most of this money has gone to lowering taxes for its residents.
A lot of attractions in NWA, find out 5 must-see things in Northwest Arkansas in another blog!
Arkansas Is Central
Most southern states like Florida and Arizona are hot and humid, with Florida even experiencing the occasional hurricane. And these northern and southern states experience extreme weather and temperature changes that can be uncomfortable to adapt to.
However, Northwest Arkansas is known to have a good, solid spring, a pleasant summer, a fantastic fall, and mild winters. This city can be classified as the middle ground of everything, where weather and temperature changes are negligible, and you can enjoy the climate throughout the year.
Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
Active Lifestyle
One of the other reasons so many people are moving to Northwest Arkansas in their retirement years is because the state has so many activities for people to pursue.
To be frank, there isn’t much activity in most retirement communities in other states. And once you move there, you begin to age faster because of a slower lifestyle and reduced physical activity.
However, new retirees favor Northwest Arkansas because they regularly see the physical activity people engage in. Here, you can bike, go for runs, or go on hikes through different trails. And this level of activity also makes for a more engaging community, rather than one that prefers to play shuffleboard on the weekends, to say the least.
Northwest Arkansas has golf courses, lakes, beaches, and even frisbee golf, so you always have something to look forward to.
Most other retirement states have communities that slow down quickly due to a lack of physical activity. And staying in these places can cause you to age much faster. However, this won’t happen in Northwest Arkansas.
If you want to learn more about outside activities to do in Northwest Arkansas, check out my article, 5 BEST Things To Do Outside in Northwest Arkansas.
Close to Family
In the last few years, many families have been moving to Northwest Arkansas. Families move here for employment, to attend university, and to enjoy the outdoor activities the state has to offer. And most of the time, the grandparents aren’t far behind.
As such, many retirees are moving to Northwest Arkansas so they can be close to their kids and grandkids while enjoying all the other benefits the city has to offer. The chance to spend time with family coupled with a low income tax, pleasant weather and outdoorsy lifestyle make Northwest Arkansas a more attractive option compared to places like Florida and Arizona.
A lot of times, large families are being flown out to Northwest Arkansas because the parents have secured a job here. And in many cases, the grandparents come with them. Most of my clients call Arkansas a unicorn or hidden diamond just waiting to be discovered, and having your family move here is enough reason to follow suit.
Chance To Retire Early
A part of the reason most people move here for retirement is that there are certain cash-exit strategies in other states that people take advantage of. Most people retire early, knowing they’re shifting to Northwest Arkansas. Early retirement means they can plan the move earlier.
After moving, they usually get a part-time regular job without much commitment or stress and spend most of their time enjoying life. Holding a steady job also works out cheaper, thanks to the low income tax laws in Northwest Arkansas.
So most people cash out of their jobs early knowing they can move to a state where they can live, work, and play in peace. So instead of continuing to struggle at their full-time jobs and moving four or five years later, some people cash out and move here so they can cruise in their last few working years.
This way, they can get accustomed to Arkansas without a stressful work life and be ready to retire when the time comes. Also, most people know the future is here in this state, and they might as well move a little early and coast into retirement.
Additionally, retiring early gives people a chance to integrate with the regular life in Northwest Arkansas, meet people, and build a community of friends. By getting a head start on these things, you can rest assured that your retirement years will be much more exciting and eventful.
Final Thoughts
If you’re figuring out where to move when you retire, consider Northwest Arkansas for the reasons mentioned throughout this article. While the state isn’t a popular choice for most people today, it offers plenty of ways to make your life more comfortable and exciting.
Think about it. You want to get in as much physical activity as possible, enjoy pleasant weather, and stress less when you retire. And Northwest Arkansas is an excellent place to enjoy all these benefits.