Birchwood at Brambleton
Brambleton, Virginia
Gladstone, Michigan
What It Is Like to Retire in Gladstone
Located on the shores of Little Bay de Noc in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Gladstone is a small town that calls itself a "Year Round Playground". With a population of a little over 5,000, the town backs up the moniker by offering many outdoor recreation opportunities which includes parks, a beach, a harbor with boat slips, and it's own city-owned campground. Photo of Welcome sign with Little Bay de Noc in the background, and photo of Gladstone City Hall courtesy of Wikipedia and Bobak Ha'Eri, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/
Where to Retire in Gladstone and Home Prices
The small town is divided into different areas which include the downtown, the Buckeye on the western side of the city, and the Bluff which includes residential expansion and the high school. Zillow reports the median home value to be $94,402 in mid-2020. Realtor.com reports the median list price to be about $140,000.
What Is Special about Gladstone
Gladstone is a small and picturesque town surrounded by water and State Forests with lots of outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, boating, golfing and a sports park that offers winter snowboarding and skiing.
What Is Not Special about Gladstone
Winters are bitter cold and can last from November to April; If you don't enjoy the outdoors, the town may feel too small and isolated, the closest large city is Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 200 miles away.
Who Will Like Retirement in Gladstone
Retirees who want a small and pretty coastal town that offers an abundance of outdoor exercise choices, a very low crime rate, and a low cost of living would enjoy living in Gladstone. There is a library, senior center, great Walleye fishing, a golf course and health care.
Local Economy Is Driven by
There are several manufacturing companies and businesses located in Gladstone, and a paper mill in nearby Escanaba is the area's largest employer. Before Interstate 75 was built, tourism was important to Gladstone, then the town was bypassed by a 4-lane expressway which hurt the economy. Today there are still some tourists who come to enjoy the beaches, and fishing.
Climate and Physical Environment
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is beautiful, but it is cold during the winter months. The average January temperature is about 17 degrees with July's average at 77 degrees. Gladstone receives about 50 inches of snow each winter.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
There are restaurants, deli, and bar and grill located here, and Gladstone has a Farmers Market and a summer concert series along with other events. For the cultural scene nearby Escanaba features a performing arts center and festivals along with historic sites. There is no large cultural center nearby, with Milwaukee the closest city and about 4 hours away.
Crime
The crime rate here is very low.
Medical facilities
OSF HealthCare is located here.
Transportation
Delta County Airport is 11 miles away with Sawyer International Airport in Marquette about 50 miles away.
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