Two coastal towns in Northern California are making waves for making the list of the 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 health care.
Another annoyance is that it encourages wealthier retirees from Southern California to drive up home prices for locals.
According to the LA timesthe ranking was based on broad factors such as high quality of life, access to nature, good healthcare and relatively affordable housing.
‘Stories like this do Humboldt County and the people who move here without understanding the issues any favors,’ says 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 residents live within a half mile of “breathtaking 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 “deeply flawed” because “health care here is extremely problematic.”
“Almost everyone has to travel to the Bay Area for medical treatment,” he explained.
57 percent of seniors in Humboldt County rated the “availability of affordable, high-quality physical health care” as poor, in a recent study.
More than 70 percent of respondents said getting the health care they need is a problem.
“It appears that we are meeting a certain minimum level of healthcare support in the province’s major cities. We have hospitals and things like that. But highly specialized care is certainly lacking,” agreed Erick Eschker, chair of the Cal Poly Humboldt Department of Economics.
The cities have “faced health care challenges, which can be a legitimate concern for retirees who need consistent access to medical care,” Ruthie Jones, president of the Humboldt Association of Realtors, told the SF Gate.
Jones said housing affordability is also a top local issue.
“The demand for housing often exceeds the available stock, which can be a challenge for people looking to move here,” she explains.
“We’re seeing buyers coming from the area who can sell their Southern California homes for quite a bit of money,” added local real estate agent Marci Pigg.
Arcata is surrounded by lush greenery and has direct access to the ocean
Historic downtown Eureka has direct access to the water
Stunning Victorian architecture is a draw of Eureka, California
The average price of a home in Humboldt County is $445,000, which requires a minimum annual income of $116,000 to afford it, according to data from the California Association of Realtors.
Only 22 percent of households in the province could afford a home at the median price, leaving 78 percent underpriced, according to the latest 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 only 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 people between 2021 and 2030, according to the Treasury Department.
Despite the challenges facing its demographics, California cities are still ranked among the best places to retire in the country.