Spokane ranked among best mid-sized cities for retirement

Spokane has turned up on another national list – this time for best places to retire.

Livability.com ranked Spokane No. 7 out of 10 for affordable cities with attributes retirees would enjoy.

“Retire here and you’ll have access to an international airport (for visiting the grandkids), 33 private and public golf courses and Broadway shows, among other awesome benefits,” according to the website, which ranks small and midsize cities in the U.S.

Livability analyzed U.S. cities with populations between 20,000 and 300,000 and weeded out places with high health care costs. Crime rates, climate, air quality, number of primary care physicians and quality of hospitals were part of the assessment.

The website touted Spokane’s average mortgage cost of $1,200 per month. It also listed rehabilitation centers and hospitals, including Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, and access to events and public lectures at Gonzaga University.

With 210,695 residents, Spokane has a blend of urban amenities and natural beauty, including the Spokane River’s cascades through downtown, the website said.

Spokane has been included in several “top” lists in recent years. Those have included National Geographic Traveler putting the city on its list of best U.S. small cities in its ranking of 29 “Cities on the Rise” in January. And last year, financial product-review website MagnifyMoney.com ranked the metro area among the best places to live in the West for those earning a six-figure income.