Anja, Author at Aging Greatly

Many people look forward to retirement. Finally, after a lifetime of working really hard, you get to relax and enjoy your golden years. However, the place where you retire can make a substantial difference. If you want to retire in Nevada, for example, there are a few things that you need to know. Retiring in Nevada comes with pros and cons. The biggest advantage is low taxes, and many might also like the weather, the abundance of things to do, and the many retirement communities. However, they also have to deal with a high cost of living, relatively high crime, and poor healthcare. If you want to know more about the pros and cons of retiring in Nevada, read on. You might be able to glean from the following information whether or not Nevada is the place for you to spend your retirement. Pros of Retiring in Nevada There are a few things that make Nevada stand out as a great place to retire. Low Taxes One major reason why you might want to spend your retirement in Nevada is the low taxes. The total tax burden in this state is 8.3 percent, which puts it in the eighth-lowest position in the United States. Retirees will find this state very tax-friendly, as there are no state taxes on Social Security benefits or income. Additionally, you won't have to deal with taxes on either your retirement accounts or pension income, whether private or public. There is no estate or inheritance tax in the state of Nevada, either. Nevada is also in the bottom half (28th highest) when it comes to property tax collections, with the property tax being paid at 0.84 percent. The sales tax in this state is 6.85 percent, although it can go up as high as 8.1 percent in certain localities. Because taxes in Nevada are actually determined within each county, you can look for places in Nevada that are relatively tax-friendly to minimize the amount of property taxes that you have to pay. In addition, there are no state income taxes for anyone; it is not only retirees that get to enjoy this benefit. This means that if you have a spouse or children living with you and still working, their income won't be taxed either. This overall relative lack of taxes can leave you with a considerable amount of money to be able to enjoy your retirement. Warm Weather The climate in Nevada is warm and arid. The altitude is also fairly high, at over 3,000 feet. You won't have to deal with a lot of cold weather in Nevada, as there is plenty of sunshine and warm weather year-round. There can be dry snow if you live in the mountains, but far less than you would have to deal with in a further north state. The summers are hot and dry in Nevada. The warm weather is particularly attractive to senior citizens approaching retirement, as they are more susceptible to illness in cold weather. There Are Many Things to Do If you want to enjoy your retirement, Nevada can be seen as one of the best places to be. There are so many things that you can do. If you plan to stay active, you can go hiking or biking. Motocross is also very popular in the state of Nevada. There is a great deal of beautiful natural scenery that you can enjoy, which can be a fantastic backdrop for outdoor activities. Of course, there is also Las Vegas. If you want to try your hand at gambling, you can enjoy yourself here as well. Great Retirement Communities Because of everything that Nevada has to offer, there are many great retirement communities throughout the state. These communities have many seniors so that you'll have plenty of peers who can relate to your situation. They also have retirement communities and recreation centers that you can enjoy. One great city for retirees is Gardnerville. This area comes with the lowest tax burden that you'll find in Nevada, as well as 0.35 retirement communities for every 1,000 residents, which is the highest number per capita that you will find in Nevada. Close to 25 percent of the population here is senior citizens. Laughlin is another great place to retire in Nevada. Almost 40 percent of the permanent residents here are senior citizens, which is a higher proportion than you'll find anywhere else in Nevada. Other great places to retire in Nevada include Boulder City, Mesquite, Pahrump, Incline Village, Silver Springs, Carson City, Fallon, and Las Vegas. Cons of Retiring in Nevada Despite all of the advantages of living in Nevada, there are disadvantages as well. In fact, Nevada was reported as the ninth worst state in the United States in terms of retirement. This does not necessarily exclude it from consideration for anyone, but there are factors that you need to consider before you decide to spend your retirement there. High Cost of Living Even though the taxes are low, the cost of living in Nevada is somewhat more expensive than the average for the rest of the United States. For example, the median cost of a home in Nevada is a little bit more than $275,000, compared to $216,000, which is the national average. People in Nevada also pay more than the majority of Americans for transportation and groceries. Part of the reason why transportation is so expensive in Nevada is that there is no public transportation. Additionally, utility bills are very high because people in Nevada run their air conditioners throughout the majority of the year. However, it is worth noting that figures for the cost of living in Nevada are skewed somewhat upward by the big cities, such as Reno and Las Vegas. High Crime Rates Nevada is also not the best state in which to live if you consider the crime rates. The rates are higher than the national average in terms of both property crime and violent crime. Fifteen percent of people in Nevada have reported experiences of violent crime within the past year, compared to 12 percent in the rest of the United States. Nevada's most prevalent property crime is larceny/theft, while the most prevalent violent crime in Nevada is aggravated assault. However, this doesn't mean that you are doomed if you move to Nevada. You can choose one of the relatively safe areas within the state, and you can also take additional measures to protect your home, such as purchasing a security system. Poor Healthcare One major reason why Nevada was considered one of the worst states to retire was poor healthcare. In 2019, Nevada came in at 48th in the United States for overall healthcare. Nevada was number 50 in terms of access and affordability and 51 in terms of prevention and treatment. Because healthcare and associated costs are very important areas of concern for senior citizens, who are more susceptible to illness, this could be a very important factor to consider. Conclusion If you're looking for a good place to retire, Nevada just might be it. With low taxes, many things to do, and a warm climate, many people would see Nevada as a retirement paradise. However, you should keep in mind that there are also factors that leave the state with a lot to be desired. At the end of the day, it's up to you where you want to spend your golden years. Some people might find Nevada to be a great choice, and others may not. Just weigh the pros and cons to make the best decision for you. Sources Top Retirements: Nevada Retirement Guide New Home Source: The 10 Best Places to Retire in Nevada Smart Asset: Best Places to Retire in Nevada Bankrate: These are the best and worst states for retirement Reno Gazette-Journal: Nevada named one of worst states to retire — again National Cash Offer: The Average Cost of Living in Nevada SafeWise: The State of Safety in Nevada 2020 NewsTalk 840 KXNT: Nevada Ranks Poorly In "Best States To Retire" Survey The Nevada Independent: Nevada ranks near last in overall health care despite gains in the number of insured adults, children