Two Northern California coastal cities are upset to rank among the joint best places to retire in the state.
It may seem like an honor, but residents of Eureka and Arcata in Humboldt County are frustrated because they say the award masks problems, such as a lack of medical care.
Another annoyance is that it encourages Southern California’s wealthiest retirees to drive up home prices for locals.
According to the Los Angeles TimesThe ranking was based on broad factors such as a high quality of life, access to nature, good health care and relatively affordable housing.
“These types of stories are a disservice to Humboldt County or the people who move here without understanding the issues,” said local Ted Pease. he said to the Puerta de San Francisco.
Eureka and Arcata (pictured) were recently named the best places to retire in the state.
90 percent of Eureka residents live within half a mile of “stunning nature or beaches.”
Pease, editor of the local newspaper Senior News, told the publication that the idea of Humboldt County as a “retirement oasis” was “very flawed” because “health care here is extremely problematic.”
“Almost everyone has to travel to the Bay Area for medical treatment,” he explained.
In fact, 57 percent of Humboldt County seniors rated the “availability of quality, affordable physical health care” as poor, in a recent survey.
More than 70 percent of respondents said getting the medical care they needed was a problem.
‘It appears that we have reached a certain minimum level of health support in the county’s major cities. We have hospitals and so on. But highly specialized care is certainly lacking,” agreed Erick Eschker, chair of the Department of Economics at Cal Poly Humboldt.
Cities have “faced challenges with health care services, which can be a legitimate concern for retirees who require constant access to health care,” Ruthie Jones, president of the Humboldt Association of Realtors, told the SF Gate .
Jones said housing affordability is also an important local issue.
“Demand for housing often exceeds available inventory, which can pose challenges for those looking to move here,” he explained.
“We see buyers from out of the area who can sell their homes in Southern California for quite a bit of money,” added local real estate agent Marci Pigg.
Arcata is surrounded by lush green spaces and has close access to the ocean.
Historic downtown Eureka has close access to the water.
Stunning Victorian architecture is an attraction in Eureka, California
The median home price in Humboldt County is $445,000, requiring a minimum annual income of $116,000 to afford it, data from the California Association of Realtors shows.
Only 22 percent of county households could afford a median-priced home, leaving 78 percent unpriced, according to the most recent data.
More housing options are “key to supporting the growth of our retirement community and maintaining affordability for all,” Jones said.
The problems facing so-called retirement ‘hotspots’ will continue to become more pressing as California’s population continues to age.
Residents 65 and older are the fastest growing age group in the Golden State.
The state’s senior population is expected to grow by nearly three million between 2021 and 2030, according to the Department of Finance.
Despite the challenges facing demographics, California towns and cities continue to rank among the best places to retire in the country.