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| What Homer is like for active adults |
Homer, a small fishing and resort town of about 4,000 people in Alaska, is a paradise for outdoor loving active adults 55+. Perhaps the one place in the world where there are so many unruly bald eagles that they could be satirized as pests (on John Stewart's “The Daily Show”), this town at the southwestern end of the road from Anchorage makes a beautiful and rugged retirement community. Cruise lines have Homer on their list of destinations. From here you can go the Alaskan Maritime Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses much of this area and the Aleutian Islands to the west. The Homer area offers unparalleled recreational and scenic opportunities as a retirement community for active adults looking for natural beauty and a year round climate that is generally milder than in the rest of Alaska.
The Spit, a 4.5 mile glacial moraine that juts into Kachemak Bay, is the seasonal center of Homer. It is crowded with docks, restaurants, stores, and charter outfits for fishing and adventuring. Homer is blessed with a number of good restaurants and bakeries including the Cosmic Cafe, 2 Sisters, and Sourdough Express.
Most people in Homer live on the slopes of the mountain above town. It is easy to obtain a top-notch view of the Spit, the bay, and the snow-capped mountains and glaciers on the opposite side of Katchemak Bay. Prices average in the $100's, depending on location and view. There are new condos available at the end of the Spit.
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| What is special about this community |
| • Kachemak Bay state park
• Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
• Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center
• Kachemak Bay Research Reserve with exhibits and educational programs.
• ARTrageous August
• Shorebird Festival
• Independence Day Halibut Fishing Tournament |
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| What is not special about this community |
| On the downside Homer does not have a compact, interesting downtown. While there are some interesting stores and restaurants, they are spread out over several streets; it is not possible to walk between them. Locate at the end of a more than 200 mile road from Anchorage, life in Homer can be isolating and small, particularly in winter. |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| Tourism, fishing, government |
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| Physical environment |
| Homer is on the Kenai Peninsula on the southwest coast of Alaska. The Aleutian Islands begin nearby to the west.. The Homer Spit, 4.5 miles long, forms the harbor in town. Much of the coastline including the spit was damaged in the Good Friday earthquake of 1964. View Google Map for Homer |
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| Cultural environment |
| Carl Wynn Nature Center. Pratt Museum (natural history). Kenai Peninsula Orchestra performs year round, including summer festival. Pier One theatre offers plays. There is a movie theatre. Homer Council of the Arts hosts frequent programs.. There is dance, music, galleries, and artist studios. Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College offers cultural events, as does the well supported Homer Public Library. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies field station in Peterson Bay. |
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| Medical facilities |
| The South Peninsula Hospital is in Homer |
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| Transportation |
| Anchorage International Airport is 225 miles from town by car, or a short shuttle flight from Homer. Charters and air taxis are an Alaskan way of life; people routinely hire them for sightseeing or outdoor adventures. The ferries of the Alaskan Marine Highway go through Homer. |
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Active Adult Communities in Homer |
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| Homer Active Communities |
| Facts about HOMER | | State | : AK | | Environment | : Mountains,Coastal,Small Town, | | City Population | : Less than 10,000 | | Median age of Population | : 25-44 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 21-40 | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $100,000-$200,000 | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : Less than 2000 | | Total Crime Index | : 101-110 (slightly above average) | | Cost of Living Index | : 111-120 (high) | | Culture Index | : 81-90 (low) | | State Sales Tax | : No | | State Income Tax | : No | | Name of the Guide | : |
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Vote on the Ratings for Homer |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 3.8/5 ( 4 votes cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 2.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
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