How should you define a military retiree? Two words: refresh and life.
Though the years you stayed in the military gave you wisdom and strength, why not use those skills to this new life we call “retirement”? This kind of quality, facing the new life, should then be used to find a new place to retire. But before you decide, how about an idea?
What do you think of Syracuse, New York?
Syracuse houses a population of 138,560. The income per capita amounted to $18,353 with an average household income of $30,250. The city is the largest of the Syracuses in the entire country and the fifth most populated city in New York.
For the housing, the median value of owner-occupied homes is $125,615. And when compared to the New York State of $331,864, it is lesser by more than 50%. The median asking price for a home is $98,975 so if the homeowner decides to sell a house with the same price, there is a probability that you saved a lot. The median rent asked is $754, which is lower than the State and national averages. Currently, there are fewer owner-occupied residential homes than rental residences.
For the cost of living, Syracuse managed not to go beyond the overall average. The highest expenditures were incurred to cover energy costs and dentistry costs. Milk is among the cheapest goods other than coffee.
Vacancy level today is 14% which dictates that there are still so many houses unsold and apartments not leased. Fifty-seven percent of the vacancy level consists of the rental residences, with “for sale” houses and apartments at 15%.
Syracuse can be a busy place. The percentage of workers taking public transportation is very much higher than the national average. n Syracuse, 10.1% of workers walk to work. And lastly, 13.7% of workers use a carpool to go to work, a little higher than the national average.
The Carousel Center mall dominate the Syracuse shopping and entertainment industries. The mall has Best Buy, Macy’s, Sports Authority, Old Navy, Regal Cinemas movie complex and over 150 other stores. Other business districts for your future needs are located in Armory Square, known for its restaurants and bars, and the Hanover Square. These squares are located Downtown. But if you’d rather live in Little Italy, walk around and you’ll find bakeries, pizzerias, restaurants, services and shops. The University hill is the area for students and has 25,000 employees. There is also a wide selection of restaurants, shops and catering. Go east of University Hill to find Westcott. You’ll find good apartments and single-family houses in this place. Get around a bit and find the Westcott Theater, a bookstore, restaurants, bars and other businesses.
If you want to know more about Syracuse, why not spend a couple of days or a week in the city? Consider it a test drive to check if the city is in your liking. Visit museums and make new friends. Be acquainted and start getting used to living there because soon you may find yourself spending your military retirement pension and enjoying the life as a New Yorker.
Check out the resources below to help you through your military retirement: