AARP: Columbus is good place to retire

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) - The lesser-known city of Columbus surprisingly ranks eighth in the nation under “dream towns” for retirement.

AARP’s list of the 10 most affordable cities for retirement includes well-renown places such as the historical district of Winchester, Va. as well as the waterfronts of Portland, Maine. Who would have thought the Midwest city of Columbus would appear on the same list? Little do we know residents love this tiny city’s “under-the-radar charm,” the AARP says.

The AARP touts that Columbus is less than an hour south of Indianapolis and east of Bloomington. The city’s innovative architecture ranks right up there with Chicago’s and San Francisco’s. The city possesses dozens of buildings and pieces of public art by such big names as I. M. Pei, the Saarinens, and Henry Moore. Columbus also offers 19 miles of paved People Trails past wildflower gardens, modernist monuments and quaint neighborhoods. The area has more than its share of recreational shopping, too, such as the Exit 76 Antique Mall — one of the largest in the region — as well as the bargains at the nearby outlet mall.

Aside from these perks, Columbus is in fact quite affordable. The city’s median housing price rests at a mere $124,200, they do have state tax on pensions, but do not on Social Security, and the sales tax rests at 7 percent.

If ever tired of Columbus and ready for a “larger culture fix,” Bloomington is an easy 35-mile drive to the west, offering a large state university and entertainment.