Atlanta, Boston Named Top Places To Live

WASHINGTON -- AARP The Magazine Monday unveiled its annual list of the top places to live in the U.S. with Atlanta, Boston's Beacon Hill area, Chandler, Ariz., Milwaukee and Portland, Ore. nabbing the top honors.

The magazine also named the top four cities to watch -- Austin, Texas, Traverse City, Mich., Burlington, Vt., and Mankato, Minn. -- in its September/October issue which takes an in-depth look at why these areas rank highest and are ideal for older residents.

"The cities we chose are ahead of the curve in providing services for empty nesters, active retirees, and everyone in between and we’re thrilled to recognize them for their efforts," said Steve Slon, editor of AARP The Magazine. "City living may cost a bit more, but urban communities also deliver peak value in the form of culture, work options, mass transit and fitness opportunities, and this year’s selections really cover the spectrum."

The selections were based on specific criteria for what makes a community livable: new urbanism, smart growth, mixed-use development, and easy-living standards.

AARP The Magazine’s selections focus on livable community characteristics in each city including mass-transit systems so residents can drive less, expanded sidewalks to encourage walking, better health care, and a wide range of mixed use housing.

The 50-plus age group spends more than $2.2 trillion on goods and services each year, according to the AARP, and is expected to grow in size by 32 percent in the next 15 years.