Two coastal towns in northern California are annoyed at being listed as the joint best places to retire in the state.
It might seem an honor, but residents of Eureka and Arcata in Humboldt County are frustrated because they say the accolade hides problems – such as a lack of healthcare.
Another annoyance is that it encourages richer retirees from southern California who push up house prices for local people.
According to the LA Times, the ranking was based on broad factors such as a high quality of life, access to nature, good healthcare, and relatively affordable housing.
‘These kinds of stories do Humboldt County or the people who move here without understanding the issues no favor,’ local Ted Pease told the San Francisco Gate.
Eureka and Arcata (pictured) were recently named the best places to retire in the state
90 percent of Eureka’s residents living within a half-mile of ‘breathtaking nature or beaches’
Pease, who is the editor of the local Senior News newspaper, told the publication the idea of Humboldt County as a ‘retirement oasis’ was ‘majorly flawed’ because ‘health care here is extremely problematic.’
‘Almost everyone has to travel to the Bay Area for medical treatment,’ he explained.
Indeed 57 percent of Humboldt County’s elderly rated the ‘availability of affordable quality physical health care’ as poor, in a recent survey.
Over 70 percent of respondents said getting the health care they need was a problem.
‘We seem to meet a certain minimum level of health care support in the main cities in the County. We have hospitals and such. But certainly highly specialized care is lacking,’ Erick Eschker, the chair of the Cal Poly Humboldt Department of Economics, agreed.
The towns have ‘faced challenges with health care services, which can be a legitimate concern for retirees who require consistent access to medical care,’ Ruthie Jones, the president of the Humboldt Association of Realtors, told the SF Gate.
Jones said housing affordability is also a top local issue.
‘The demand for homes often exceeds the available inventory, which can pose challenges for those looking to relocate here,’ she explained.
‘We see buyers coming from out of the area that can sell their homes in Southern California for quite a bit of money,’ local real estate agent Marci Pigg added.
Arcata is surrounded by lush green space and has close access to the ocean
Historic downtown Eureka has close access the the water
Stunning Victorian architecture is a draw of Eureka, California
The median price of a home in Humboldt County is $445,000, which requires a minimum annual income of $116,000 to afford, data from the California Association of realtors shows.
Only 22 percent of the county’s households could afford a median-priced home, leaving 78 percent priced out, according to the latest data.
More housing options is ‘key to supporting the growth of our retirement community and maintaining affordability for all,’ Jones said.
The issues facing so-called retirement ‘hotspots’ will only continue to grow more pressing as California’s population continues to age.
Residents 65 and over atre 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 issues facing the demographic California towns and cities continue to be ranked among the best places to retire in the country.
