Thaindian News

Sep 15 (THANIDIAN NEWS) Among CNNMoney.com’s “25 Best Places to Retire” was a few surprises, including Durham North Carolina, Huntsville Alabama, and Hanover New Hampshire. Two of these states are southern, with warmer climates, and more sunshine, that comes along with more humidity, and New Hampshire, of course, is a Northern state with gorgeous snow topped mountain ranges and crystal lakes.

Retirees who choose to settle in Durham, North Carolina will enjoy the fact that the state actually enjoys all four seasons, but none of them are extreme. The city’s population of 223,284 has a quarter of it’s residents over 50 years of age. Durham also boasts of a 33 year old senior learning center, which offers over 100 courses each term.

Those who like the small town atmosphere may choose to live in Hanover, New Hampshire. Their population is only 8,516 people, and is the home of Dartmouth College with a senior learning program that is twenty years old. This charming village sits near the Connecticut River, where those who enjoy the outdoors can kayak. Hiking along the White Mountains is also a favorite activity of the area.

Since winter in Hanover brings a usual 94 inches of snow, there is definitely going to be a white Christmas, and five ski hills are within an hour;s drive of the quaint little town. There is no sale tax, and the state does not require retirees to pay for retirement plan withdrawals.

Huntsville Alabama is 8th on the list, and has a population of 176,645. The town is also known as “Rocket City” since the Marshall Space Center was the original “NASA” and it still has a big part in both government and civilian rocketry and spacecraft. The University of Alabama boasts of a lifelong learning program which is in it’s 17th year.