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Living in California is not cheap. The Golden State is known for being one of the most expensive states in America and there are good reasons why: the weather, the culture, the natural majestic beauty, and the endless activities to keep you entertained and occupied. If you are thinking of spending your senior years in California just be aware that it is one of the worst places to retire in the United States due to the high cost of living that tends to put a strain on retirees' finances.
Putting that aside, there are other factors to consider when you are retiring and safety is a big one. For those in retirement, knowing that where you live is secure and safe can take a lot of worry and pressure off having to spend additional amounts of your limited budget on protection. For those who have their heart set on retirement in Southern California, it's worth looking into Carpinteria, a town to the south of Santa Barbara that WorldAtlas pointed out has beaches that can be described as quiet, serene, and peaceful.
Read more: 12 Items Retirees Will Instantly Regret Buying
The cost of living safely in Carpinteria if you are retired
There is no one way to do retirement, but ultimately it's your lifestyle during retirement that determines how much you can afford on your wishlist, as well as how you want to live, including the place you want to call home. CityRating noted that cost of living in Carpinteria comes in under the average cost of living for the rest of the state of California, as well as the nationwide average in big cities, even if Zillow has the average price of homes over a million dollars. So while it's not inexpensive to spend your retirement in Carpinteria, it certainly is more affordable than other popular destinations in California.
Citytistics echoed this by rating Carpinteria with a livability score of 66 out of 100 with the cost of living getting a C- rating. On the other hand, the site's safety rating of the town came in as a straight A due to the total crime rate averaging only 12 per 1,000 people, with property crime at 11 per 1,000 people and violent crime at 0. All of these safety ratings can make you feel safe in retirement and worth the high expense of living in a beautiful beach town.
The best that Carpinteria has to offer during your retirement
The Los Angeles Times called Carpinteria one of the last great beach towns in all of California. That's because it has something for everyone, particularly if you are easy going and laid back. For those who love the outdoors, Carpinteria State Beach is a delightful place to kick back during retirement with friends, family, and neighbors. Home chefs will appreciate all of the fresh produce, spices, and craft-made products that the Carpinteria Farmers Market has to offer. There are plenty of fine dining options to indulge in, as well as places like the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center to enjoy some culture and entertainment in your own backyard.
If you are looking to clock out of the workforce in the near future, you'll want to do research about the best ways to make sure that you are not spending money on purchases you will instantly regret in retirement or living above your means on a fixed income. Taking all those factors into account, if you want to live in Southern California and can afford to do so, Carpinteria could be the perfect place to call home.
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