Homer, Alaska

What It Is Like to Retire in Homer

Homer, a small fishing and resort town of about 4,000 people in Alaska, is a paradise for outdoor loving active adults 55+. Perhaps the one place in the world where there are so many unruly bald eagles that they could be satirized as pests (on John Stewart's “The Daily Show”). This town at the southwestern end of the road from Anchorage makes a beautiful and rugged retirement community. Cruise lines have Homer on their list of destinations. From here you can go the Alaskan Maritime Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses much of this area and the Aleutian Islands to the west. The Homer area offers unparalleled recreational and scenic opportunities as a retirement community for active adults looking for natural beauty and a year round climate that is generally milder than in the rest of Alaska.

The Spit, a 4.5 mile glacial moraine that juts into Kachemak Bay, is the seasonal center of Homer. It is crowded with docks, restaurants, stores, and charter outfits for fishing and adventuring. Homer is blessed with a number of good restaurants and bakeries including the Cosmic Cafe, 2 Sisters, and Sourdough Express. Photos in the public domain of Fog bank over Kachemak Bay, courtesy of Wikipedia and 1brownsfan and photo of Homer City Hall, located on Pioneer Avenue courtesy of Wikipedia and User:michaelh2001

Where to Retire in Homer and Home Prices

Most people in Homer live on the slopes of the mountain above town. It is easy to obtain a top-notch view of the Spit, the bay, and the snow-capped mountains and glaciers on the opposite side of Katchemak Bay. There are new condos available at the end of the Spit with prices averaging in the $100's, depending on location and view. The median listing price of a home was $305,336 in late 2021, according to  Zillow.com. 

What Is Special about Homer

Kachemak Bay state park

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters

Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center

Kachemak Bay Research Reserve with exhibits and educational programs

ARTrageous August  

Shorebird Festival

Independence Day Halibut Fishing Tournament

What Is Not Special about Homer

On the downside Homer does not have a compact, interesting downtown. While there are some interesting stores and restaurants, they are spread out over several streets; it is not possible to walk between them. Locate at the end of a more than 200 mile road from Anchorage, life in Homer can be isolating and small, particularly in winter.

Who Will Like Retirement in Homer

Homer attracts a community of retirees who want to live in a unique environment by the sea, and who like the small town feel. Use this link for explanations of the various types of retirement communities or go here for help with outdoor towns like Bellingham

Local Economy Is Driven by

Tourism, fishing, government

Climate and Physical Environment

Homer is on the Kenai Peninsula on the southwest coast of Alaska. The Aleutian Islands begin nearby to the west.. The Homer Spit, 4.5 miles long, forms the harbor in town. Much of the coastline including the spit was damaged in the Good Friday earthquake of 1964. View Google Map for Homer

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Carl Wynn Nature Center. Pratt Museum (natural history). Kenai Peninsula Orchestra performs year round, including summer festival. Pier One theatre offers plays. There is a movie theatre. Homer Council of the Arts hosts frequent programs.. There is  dance, music, galleries, and artist studios. Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College offers cultural events, as does the well supported Homer Public Library. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies field station in Peterson Bay.

Crime

Crime is about thirty percent higher than the national average.

Medical facilities

The South Peninsula Hospital is in Homer

Transportation

Anchorage International Airport is 225 miles from town by car, or a short shuttle flight from Homer. Charters and air taxis are an Alaskan way of life; people routinely hire them for sightseeing or outdoor adventures. The ferries of the Alaskan Marine Highway go through Homer.

Valuable Links

City of Homer Homer on Wikipedia