National Magazine Says Hagerstown Best Place to Retire
By: Sujata Khandelwal
Updated: January 4, 2013
HAGERSTOWN, MD- From Antietam's rich history, to parks, to shopping, city officials say Hagerstown is a wonderful place to call home.
"We have more parks, we have more museums, we have great shopping, and if you're a retiree on a fixed income and you're looking for a bargain well this is great news for you," says Tom Riford, the president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors.
And it was great news for "Where to Retire", a national publication.
It recognized the city of 40,000 as one of eight top places to retire in the country. The selection was based on current housing prices across 1500 cities.
"We're getting an awful lot of calls from people who want to come and visit and also perhaps want to buy a home here," says Riford.
"As far as affordability, here is the greatest time to buy a house in Washington County," says Clarence Horst of Coldwell Innovations.
Horst says beyond the real estate, the quality of life in Hagerstown is very good.
"State-of-the-art health care, a new hospital, a lot of assisted living facilities, those types of things really meld well together for a great community for senior living," says Horst.
He says Hagerstown has always ranked number one for him.
"I think its a great place to live, to work, to worship, to raise your children, and the aspects that we have in this county other people on the outside are starting to realize this is a great place to live," says Horst.
While Hagerstown was rated the most inexpensive city in Maryland, Riford says Bethesda was rated the most costly.
"We have more parks, we have more museums, we have great shopping, and if you're a retiree on a fixed income and you're looking for a bargain well this is great news for you," says Tom Riford, the president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors.
And it was great news for "Where to Retire", a national publication.
It recognized the city of 40,000 as one of eight top places to retire in the country. The selection was based on current housing prices across 1500 cities.
"We're getting an awful lot of calls from people who want to come and visit and also perhaps want to buy a home here," says Riford.
"As far as affordability, here is the greatest time to buy a house in Washington County," says Clarence Horst of Coldwell Innovations.
Horst says beyond the real estate, the quality of life in Hagerstown is very good.
"State-of-the-art health care, a new hospital, a lot of assisted living facilities, those types of things really meld well together for a great community for senior living," says Horst.
He says Hagerstown has always ranked number one for him.
"I think its a great place to live, to work, to worship, to raise your children, and the aspects that we have in this county other people on the outside are starting to realize this is a great place to live," says Horst.
While Hagerstown was rated the most inexpensive city in Maryland, Riford says Bethesda was rated the most costly.
