A recent study conducted by SmartAsset.com has named Picayune as the third best retirement destination in the state of Mississippi.
The study used a variety of factors to rank ten cities throughout the state based on statistical evidence. The city of Columbus in northeast Mississippi was ranked first overall with Corinth and Picayune rounding out the top three.
“Our location is one of the key draws to the area,” said City Retirement Director Christy Goss, adding that Picayune’s proximity to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are key factors in the city’s success and continuing growth as a retirement community.
SmartAsset.com examined three factors in their research, beginning with local and state taxes. The study focuses on sales and income taxes in the area.
The number of doctors’ offices, recreation centers and retirement centers per 1,000 residents was also factored into each city’s total “Retirement Index,” along with the percentage of seniors within the population. The combined average of all three factors was gathered for each city and county to create the retirement index, which is the key number used in the rankings.
Picayune excelled in the medical and recreational elements of the study, earning a top five ranking in each category. They also tied for first with a number of other cities in the tax burden category.
Picayune is followed in the top 10 rankings by: Ocean Springs, Natchez, Amory, Flowood, New Albany, Booneville and Tupelo.
On a national level, nine of the top 10 retirement locations in the United States are located in Florida, with the one exception being the city of Seaford, Del. Stuart, Fla. was ranked as the best place to retire in the country.