Cresswind at Lake Harris
Tavares, Florida
Yuma, Arizona
What It Is Like to Retire in Yuma
Yuma, Arizona, located in the southwest corner of the state, is considered to be the sunniest and driest spot in the U.S. The sun shines 90% of the days each year, with just over 3 inches of rain annually, which makes it a popular winter destination for snowbirds. Yuma’s population was 95,429 (2012 census), but that number swells during the winter months. Yuma, once known as Colorado City and later as Arizona City, served as a gateway during the gold rush of 1849, when thousands of fortune hunters passed through while heading west to California. The U.S. Army also found Yuma to be in a prime location along the Colorado River and used it as a supply base for Army posts. Today the Army’s presence is still important to the area as it operates the Yuma Proving Ground, a testing site of all weapon systems and equipment used by U.S. soldiers which includes helicopters, parachutes, tanks and artillery. It is also home to the Marine Corps Air Station, one of the largest employers in Yuma. Public domain photo of The warehouse at Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park in Yuma, courtesy of Wikipedia and Ed Snook, and public domain photo of Farming near Yuma in 2011, courtesy of Wikipedia and Jeff Vanuga
Where to Retire in Yuma and Home Prices
The Zillow Home Value Index in Yuma was $284,798 in late 2023. There are several RV and mobile home communities in Yuma.
What Is Special about Yuma
The sun shines most everyday, and offers a lot of outdoor recreation including golf, hiking, and bird watching. Yuma has beautiful desert scenery with wide-open spaces and the Colorado River running through it.
What Is Not Special about Yuma
Yuma's summers are very hot with temperatures reaching the high 90's and above. The town has a high unemployment rate, and the crime rate is higher than the national average. Yuma is not near a large city as San Diego, CA is 147 miles away, and Phoenix is 185 miles away.
Who Will Like Retirement in Yuma
Those who like a historical town with a warm, dry, and sunny climate would enjoy Yuma. The area is very popular with snowbirds and RVers.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Agriculture and the two premier military installations, ( Marine Corps Air Station and U.S. Army Proving Ground), are the largest contributors to the local economy.
Climate and Physical Environment
The sun shines almost everyday in Yuma, with a July average temperature of 95 degrees. The average January temperature is 58 degrees. Yuma receives about 3.36 inches of rain annually. The town is tucked into the southwest corner of the state up against California and Mexico. It is about 3 hours to the closest cities like Tucson.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Yuma has an interesting history from when it was found to be the easiest and safest place to cross the Colorado River, and the role it had in taming the Wild West. The Yuma Territorial Prison and the Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park are tourist attractions that are part of Yuma's early history; Yuma is a multicultural community and celebrates its heritage with several festivals throughout the year; The historic Yuma Theatre and the Yuma Civic Center offer a variety of stage shows and events;
Crime
Yuma's crime rate is above the national average.
Medical facilities
Yuma Regional Medical Center
Transportation
Yuma County Area Transit; Amtrak services Yuma; Yuma International Airport is shared with the Marine Corps Air Station.
Comments on "Yuma"