Publication names Cape Girardeau 24th best retirement community

Cape Girardeau has joined the likes of Philadelphia, Pa., Palm Springs, Calif., Louisville, Ky., Roanoke, Va., and Providence, R.I.

Money magazine ranked the Southeast Missouri town as the 24th best community in which to retire. The publication cited its downtown district, cultural opportunities with the Show Me Center and Crisp Museum, health care options and activities one can find at Southeast Missouri State University.

The magazine studied more than 1,800 communities to come up with its best 25 communities in the US in which to retire. Primary factors for selection included reasonable tax rates, recreational opportunities, weather, good medical care and the arts scene.

"To be named the 24th best city to retire in the entire USA is a huge accomplishment and one that all our citizens should be extremely proud of," Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson said. "It is my belief that we are a shining star in an otherwise depressed and ho-hum economy.

"It is also my belief that our Heartland values of church, family and community is what separates us from so many other communities that are struggling," he said. "Yes, this is exciting news and you can bet we'll leverage it for all it's worth."

Chuck Martin, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, believes such rankings reinforce the quality of life visitors and potential residents can experience in the area.

"In a big way it provides us with one more selling tool to carry the message to people that Cape Girardeau is a wonderful place to visit and live in," Martin said. "My hope is the [Cape Girardeau] Chamber of Commerce will see an uptick in the number of people inquiring about relocating to the community."

The ranking comes three months after Jackson was voted by Money magazine as one of the 100 Best Places to Live in its 2009 ranking of small towns, with a ranking of 59th.

To view the complete list of the best retirement communities visit

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0909/gallery.bpretire_top25.moneymag/24.html.