Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Pasadena, California
Tucked in Sunny Southern California, Pasadena Not Only Has a Famous Parade but Tree-Lined Neighborhoods, Golf Courses, a Fun Old Town and More
Encircled by the San Rafael Hills and the Angeles National Forest in southern California, sun soaked Pasadena is about 10 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is affluent and suburban with a rich quality of life and is best known for the Rose Bowl and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
The city is also home to Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Lab and Pasadena City College. The Norton Simon Museum and the USC Pacific Asia Museum are here, too, and have world-class reputations. The city hosts a wealth of small theatre companies and performing arts venues. The Pasadena Symphony has several concerts each season. Walkable Old Town Pasadena is full of upscale retail venues, nightclubs and restaurants. There are no fewer than six major golf courses in the area, and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center includes two Olympic-sized pools, a warm water pool, and a weight room. Nearby hiking options include Eaton Canyon and Mount Baldy.
Neighborhoods have quiet, tree-lined streets with homes in ranch rambler, bungalow and Spanish Mission styles. Charming Bungalow Heaven is a testament to Pasadena's place in the Arts and Crafts home design movement.
Population: 135,000 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 35%
Cost of Living: 149% above the national average
Median Home Price: $1.2 million
Climate: The city has a perfect Mediterranean climate. Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures are in the 40s, 50s and 60s. On average, the area receives 20 inches of rain each year. The dry, warm Santa Ana winds come in the fall and often stay until spring.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? Yes
At Least One Hospital Accredited by the Joint Commission? Yes
Public Transit: Pasadena is served by its own rapid transit system and LA light rail.
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Very liberal
College Educated: 52%
Is California Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? No
Cons: The earthquake risk is well above the national average.
Notes: This is a nice city, and residents love living here. The sewers do back up occasionally, though. The population has remained steady during the last decade, but home prices have increased 9% since last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
California:
Thanks to the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, the Golden State became a U.S. territory in 1847. Soon after, gold was found at Sutter's Mill. The land crowded with fortune seekers, and, shortly thereafter, California entered the Union as its 31st state in 1850.
California has 900 miles of coastline and claims the highest and lowest point in the continental U.S. Its terrain varies dramatically - from sandy beaches to rugged mountains, deserts to fertile farmland. Landmarks like Hollywood, Disneyland, and the Golden Gate Bridge play a large part in the nation's history and imagination.
Although Texas and New York have tried to close the gap, California's economy continues to be nation's largest. Agriculture, manufacturing, biotechnology, and tourism are some of its leading industries.
Cities of the Golden State have put some odd laws on the books. It's illegal to molest a monarch in Pacific Grove. Want to throw a frisbee on an L.A. County beach? Better ask a lifeguard first. What about bowling on the sidewalks of Chico? Strictly forbidden!
Webwerxx, Inc. Copyright (c) 2006-2024. All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written consent of Webwerxx, Inc. Reproducing any original part of this publication without written permission from Webwerxx, Inc. is plagiarism. Numerous attempts were made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this website, but some information may have changed since each article and/or report went online, and Webwerxx, Inc. is not liable for inaccurate information contained in its articles and/or reports.