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                  Vol V   Issue 23                  June 7, 2010

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Below Average Cost-of-Living


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Active Adult Living

 

 

 

 

Master Planned Retirement Development

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engaging Columbia, Missouri Invites Retirees to Enjoy its Affordability, Small Town Ambiance, Plentiful Cultural Amenities, Excellent Health Facilities and High Quality of Life

Cost of Living:  Below the National Average

Once the stomping grounds of Daniel Boone, leafy Columbia, Missouri (population 100,000) is located roughly half way between Kansas City and St. Louis and started out as a stage stop along the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails.  Early town leaders, though, had bigger plans in mind and set aside land for a state university.   In 1840, the University of Missouri (population 30,000) was established, and it was the beginning of Columbia becoming an education hub.  Two more colleges opened, including the first women's college west of the Mississippi, and at one time, Columbia's population was larger than that of St. Louis.  Today, this pleasant city, with a mix of Southern sensibilities and Midwestern common sense, often lands on lists of the best places to live.   The population is educated (50% have an undergraduate or graduate degree), and Columbians, as they are known, have a reputation for friendliness.  A lower-than-average cost-of-living, plentiful cultural activities and outstanding health care add to Columbia's appeal.  Of the population, 25% is age 45 or better.

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The median home price in Columbia is $172,000, below the national median but higher than the Midwest's median.  The city is growing, nearly 12% in the last ten years, but the overall cost-of-living remains 15% below the national average.   Homes are readily available and come in all shapes and sizes, including single-family homes, condominiums, town homes, apartments and manufactured homes.   There are older neighborhoods closer into campus and newer subdivisions, particularly on the north and south edges of town.  The median price will purchase a very comfortable, 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes in one of the newer subdivisions.   More modest but well-maintained homes in older neighborhoods can be found for less than $100,000.   Brand new, brick homes with 2,500 square feet, cathedral ceilings, granite countertops and marble foyers are available in the $300,000 range.   TigerPlace is an independent living community with patio homes and cottages for lease.

When it comes to property taxes, residents pay roughly $6.52 per $100 assessed value, and property is assessed at 19% of fair market value.   The taxes on a $172,000 house would be approximately $2,130 per year.    The Homestead Preservation Credit gives qualified senior citizens a credit on their real estate property tax if those taxes increase 2.5% in a non-reassessment year or 5% in a reassessment year.   Regarding retirement income taxes, residents age 62+ with Social Security benefits and private retirement benefits receive deductions for those benefits on their state income tax return.   The sales tax in Columbia is 7.35%, and overall, Missouri has the 9th lowest tax burden of all 50 states.

 

Columbia, Missouri


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This is an interactive map.  Click on the arrows in the upper left hand corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click (more than once if necessary) on the +/- signs to zoom in and out.

The slightly bohemian downtown area is known as The District and is ringed by three colleges.  It has an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, art galleries, boutiques, sidewalk cafes, jazz clubs, movie houses and coffee shops.  The Twilight Festivals in June and September attract thousands of people  for food, fun and entertainment.  Columbia is a youthful, left-leaning place, and the University gives it a definite energy.  It has a lovely 1,350 acre campus, and with more than 5,000 trees and 650 varieties of plant life, it is a great choice for an afternoon picnic or stroll.

The University of Missouri Tigers give sports fans plenty of events and competitions to attend, particularly in the fall when football season arrives. Columbians also enjoy three private golf courses and three public courses, as well as 47 parks and greenbelts; outdoor-minded retirees particularly take to the MKT Nature Trail, a 5 mile urban walking trail through dense woods.   Finger Lakes State Park, Rock Bridge State Park and Grindstone Nature Area are all close by and provide quiet spots for hiking, camping and fishing.   There are a number of shopping malls, including Columbia Mall which has a Dillards, a Penny's, a Sears, a Barnes and Noble and 140 other stores.     The Daniel Boone Regional Library receives great reviews for its beautiful building, helpful staff, expansive book collection and cozy cafe.   It also has public computers and free wifi Internet access.  Columbia has 90 houses of worship, and the crime rate meets the national average.

Columbia may have a small town feeling, but it has a taste for culture.  The Missouri Art Gallery is home to limited-edition prints and sculpture from internationally known artists.  The University of Missouri Museum of Art and Archeology houses 13,000 works of art and artifacts.  The Walters-Boone County Historical Museum features fine art and a genealogical research library.  Art in the Park is an annual (June) art fair that draws more than 90 painters, sculptors and potters.  The yearly Columbia Festival of the Arts (each September) is a celebration of literary, visual and performing arts.  The True False Film Festival each February is a celebration of film with screenings, parties and workshops by filmmakers and critics.  The Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival, and the Heritage Festival, featuring exhibits honoring Lewis and Clark’s legacy, are also fun.   More music festivals, fairs and holiday celebrations throughout the year make Columbia a lively spot.   It is a friendly place, gaining in sophistication, and it is an easy place to live.  Town leaders also know that managing growth is essential to maintaining the quality of life and they have instituted a growth management plan.

City traffic is not bad, and bicycling is easy, but Columbia has a good bus system and a "curb to curb" service for disabled residents.  Bus fares are $1 for adults (up to age 64) and $.50 for seniors.  For those who want to leave town, but not by bus, Columbia Regional Airport has daily flights to Kansas City and St. Louis.

The first Columbia hospital opened in Dr. William Jewel's home in 1822.    Nearly two hundred years later, Columbia has six major hospitals and is second only to Rochester, Minnesota, in patient capacity per capita.   One in six residents works in a health-related profession, and the physician density is three times the national average.  Of the six hospitals, University of Missouri Health Care operates four of them (Columbia Regional Hospital, University of Missouri Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and University of Missouri Children’s Hospital).  Boone Hospital, not associated with the University, is an award-winning facility (Distinguished Hospital Award - Clinical Excellence for 2010) and beats or exceed national averages in nearly all specialty areas.  There are ten residential care facilities and nine skilled nursing care homes, as well as the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veteran's Hospital.  

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The Columbia Senior Center provides many community services and activities, including dances, card games, movies, health screenings and reasonably-priced meals.  The Boone County Council on Aging is a referral agency and helps retirees find local services and programs.    Opportunities to volunteer are in abundance and include working with kids through the Parks and Recreation Department, assisting with various Neighborhood Watch programs or working with the Columbia Hospitality Corps.    The University of Missouri also has a program called Easy Access which lets people, including seniors, study part-time in a number of University departments if they are not interested in actively pursuing a degree.

This region of the country has four seasons and receives 3 to 4 inches of precipitation per month, including several inches of snow each month from December to March.  Summer temperatures reach the low-90s, and it can get sticky.  Winter temperatures dip into the 20s and 30s.    The sun shines 192 days of the year.  Air quality meets the national average and water quality beats the national average.

Columbia has its drawbacks.  The number of students and the fact that many businesses cater to them is not everyone's cup of tea.  The city is somewhat isolated - it is a two hour drive in either direction to reach a large metropolitan center, and air service is rather limited.   The humidity is high.    Apartments are generally not available because most are continually rented by students.   Urban sprawl is evident despite city plans to control it.   The city has a 60% greater than average chance of being hit by a tornado.  Despite an economy being tied to higher education and health care, the unemployment rate is above the national average.

Even with these negatives, Columbia has a lot to offer and at a reasonable price.   For retirees seeking a friendly small Midwestern city with a good selection of affordable housing and a lively cultural scene, Columbia is worth a look.


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