Retiring in Mississippi may well just be the best decision you make! Today we’re diving into the serene beauty of Mississippi's best retirement haven and we’re starting right now!
Hi, I’m Donna Taylor with Living in Central MS. Today we are looking at the “Certified Retirement City” of Madison MS, when it was first earned it’s designation in 2004. There are currently 13 cities in Mississippi with this designation. To be considered certified retirement, a city has to meet certain benchmarks to provide a community that meets certain safety measures, has programs for retirees, and adequate healthcare options, and is considered to have relatively low cost of living. Madison must get recertified every 3 years to maintain this designation.
For those of you not familiar with Madison, let me tell you a little about it. Madison is located just north of the city of Jackson. Madison has it’s own water systems, A Rated public schools, top notch police force enforcing a very safe city, all with a population of about 28,000 people. There’s not a lot of traffic here and with warm weather for about 11 out of the 12 months, it’s no wonder seniors love living here. Another thing that you seniors love is the southern hospitality, if you’re looking for a place that has a strong sense of community, Madison is a great option. According to the city’s website, which by the way, has a wealth of information…make sure you check it out at www.madisonthecity.com has the demographics for the city and all of their crime statistics, which touts Madison as the safest city in Mississippi for the past 3 consecutive years (2019-2021). Another thing that’s impressive about Madison is 93% of it’s residents own their own homes. Think about that for a second…that’s pretty impressive when you consider that for most towns only 66% of it’s residents own their own. Having such a high level of home ownership is a big part of what keeps our home values strong year after year. Madison also boasts that 68% of it’s residents have a 4 year degree or higher, compared to the national average of only 22%.
Another thing that many retirees want to know when relocating to a new town is what’s the healthcare options like. First, there are 4 major hospitals in Jackson, which is about a 20-30 minute drive from Madison, which are St. Dominic’s, The University of MS Medical Center, Baptist Hospital on the VA Hospital. Most of these hospitals have satellite clinics in Madison, so if you need appointment for regular doctor office visits, there are plenty of options for that right in the City!
Madison has a calendar packed with events tailor-made for retirees. Whether you're into therapeutic chair stretching, cardio classes, yoga, or line dancing, there's something for everyone. If socializing and games are more your speed, they've got Bridge, Bingo, and Bunco too! You can try out some classes for a small fee or opt for a low monthly fee once you find your groove. It's like a retirement paradise! And it’s very affordable. And for those of you that enjoy playing Golf, there are a few country club options too. There’s the very high-end Reunion Golf and Country Club that is a 18 hole par 72 course designed by Bob Cupp. It has a gorgeous Club House that was built in 2019 that is sure to impress the finickiest golfers. There’s also the Annandale Golf Course which was designed by Jack Nicklaus. Then there’s the more affordable Whisper Lake Country Club for those of you on a budget. It’s a smaller 64 par course, but joining Whisper Lake which is just a few hundred dollars, also gets you a membership at nearby Lake Caroline which is right outside the city limits of Madison, but still in Madison County.
Madison truly knows how to blend city living with nature! The parks offer a delightful escape. Strawberry Patch Park, with its picnic tables and a scenic one-mile paved walking trail circling a picturesque one-acre lake, sounds like a serene spot. And Liberty Park, boasting a longer 1.5-mile paved walking trail, must be a great place to stretch your legs and soak in the surroundings. I’ve walked these 2 parks many times and there’s always something going on at both of them.
So, what about when the time of life comes where you need some assistance? Well Madison has some of the best assisted living options too. One of which is St. Catherine’s Village which offers independent living, assisted living and full care all the way to skilled nursing home. St. Catherine’s has been serving seniors in MS for over 35 years. It truly is a well designed all inclusive continuing care retirement community located on 160 beautiful acres right in the heart of Madison. There are a few other retirement communities including Sunnybrook Estates, which is rental only option, a little smaller and not quite as high end at St Catherine’s. There’s also Madison Home Place which is a little older and less expensive then the first 2 on my list. They also offer independent and assisted living options.
Madison only has one neighborhood that is a 55 and over community. So, if you’re looking for neighborhoods that are just for seniors, you won’t find those here. But, Madison does have many varying neighborhoods where home prices start at around $300,000 and go up to around $1 million. Many of the retirees that we’ve helped relocate here over the last few years find living in a neighborhood with a diverse age group keeps them feeling young anyways. The average price on a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Madison during the last 12 months was $317,000. At this price you can expect a home that was built in the last 10 -15 years and averages around 1,800 sq feet on a quarter to half acre lots.
Madison is as small city, but there’s still lots of restaurants and shops. Some of the major retailers that you’ll find here are Home Depot, Lowe’s, CVS and Walgreens pharmacy, Walmart and Sam’s Club to name a few. There are also many more small/boutique shops for those of you that prefer to support small local business. There’s also Malco Grandview Theatre with 17 screens and reclining seats.
I get calls all the time from people (including Seniors) that are moving to the Central MS area, especially the Madison Area, which was also by the way voted the best city in Mississippi. So, reach out to me if you’re looking to by in or around the Madison area.
If you’re thinking of moving to Mississippi, be sure and check out our website www.taylorgroupms.com, it has all MLS listings in Central MS and is updated every 10 minutes. Whether you're buying or selling, our team is here to help every step of the way. Contact us today to get started.
Taylor Realty Group
601-613-9100
