The College Town Advantage: Affordable Living, Walkable Communities, and Cultural Gems for Retirees

When you ask someone where they think the best place to retire, the answer you get back will be as varied as the people you ask. Some seniors like big cities because they have a wide range of shopping, dining, cultural and entertainment options. However, they can also be pricey. Some like the affordability small towns offer, but quickly discover their extracurricular options can be quite limited.
For seniors who are looking to balance opportunity with affordability, a college town could be just the answer. There are a variety of college towns located in relatively small towns and cities in inexpensive states but offer a wider variety of cultural attractions for their smaller size. Here are some reasons choosing a college town to retire in, like Holland, Michigan home to Hope College, could be right for you.
Reasons to Retire in a College Town
Lots to do: It’s easy to get involved with college sports from baseball, football, volleyball, basketball, track, swimming and so many more. You can also check out student showcases from the theater, dance and art departments or go see any of the on-campus concerts, speakers and comedians. There’s also a variety of student groups you can check out and local businesses are sure to pull in a variety of other entertainment option.
Diverse culture: Colleges and universities enroll students and hire staff and faculty from all over the world. That’s why college towns are more likely to recognize and celebrate holidays outside of the traditional American celebration calendar. College towns are also more likely to have international restaurants and their grocery stores will usually offer a more diverse selection of food items.
Improved health and wellness: Access to quality health care becomes increasingly important as we age and it’s not always easy to find in small, rural or isolated communities. However, even if they’re small in size, college towns are much more likely to have great clinics, hospitals and specialists, especially if they have a medical school. They’re also more likely to have people out and about who are walking, running, riding bikes, playing pickleball, frisbee and any other number of activities.
Youthful energy: By living in a college town, you’ll have a front-row seat to the youthful energy of its student body. There’s sure to be plenty of wild fan celebrations, first dates at coffee shops, students celebrating the last day of classes and freshman enjoying their first extended time away from home. It’s also a good way to surrounded yourself with people who may see the world differently than you and experience their creativity and enthusiasm.
Volunteer opportunities: Colleges are always looking for volunteers at events, mentors for about-to-graduate students, advisers for their organizations and guest speakers for their classes. There are countless ways to get involved in the college or community.
Lifelong learning opportunities: Choosing to retire in a college town means you’re also sure to be surrounded by college alumni and former faculty. At Freedom Village, many of our residents went to and, or taught at Hope College. However, just because they’ve retired, their passion for learning hasn’t diminished. That’s why our lifestyle features so many clubs and interest groups that hold educational classes and lectures.
Love Learning? You’re Sure to Love Holland, MI
You don’t have to go back to school to experience all the joys of college life. To see what mean, schedule your personal visit by using our Community Assistant chat feature or contacting us here.