AARP says Charlottesville a great place to retire

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: July 23, 2008

AARP the Magazine has ranked Charlottesville the seventh-healthiest city in which to retire.

According to AARP, Charlottesville’s focus on medicine sets it apart from other cities across the country. The magazine states that the primary reason for the city’s ranking is the University of Virginia’s medical school and teaching hospital, which contains 572 beds.

The city also places fourth among U.S. metropolitan areas in the number of physicians per capita.

Charlottesville boasts the happiest residents and healthiest eaters as well. Residents are most likely to state that they are satisfied with their lives, according to the magazine. And with an average of 219 sunny days per year and the city’s proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and many nature trails paralleling the Rivanna River, it is easy for senior citizens to exercise outdoors.

AARP evaluated more than 20 different criteria to rank America’s healthiest cities, including cholesterol, alcohol use, access to affordable healthcare, stress index and state legislation for smoke-free public areas.

Ann Arbor, Mich., ranked as the healthiest city, with 86 percent of residents exercising daily and 580 physicians per 100,000 people.