Surry Business

TopRetirements.com, “where active people 55-plus can find the best place to retire,” ranks Mount Airy among the nation’s 180 best communities for active retirees. Asheville (No. 1) and Winston-Salem (No. 10) top the list. Among all states, only North Carolina and Arizona have two Top 10 communities; North Carolina alone has 13 on the 180-city list.

TopRetirements.com’ reviewer writes, “If your idea of retirement living means a small friendly town with a downtown you can easily walk around and greet your neighbors, Mount Airy, North Carolina, might be the retirement community for you….

“Mount Airy, located in northwest North Carolina, has a lot to attract active adults 55+…. Tourist attractions like the mountains and the Andy Griffith connection, combined with North Carolina’s moderate climate, have contributed to a strong economy. There is plenty to do and see. The tourism industry provides a source of jobs for retirees who are interested.

“Real estate might strike many as a bargain in Mount Airy. According to Yahoo Real Estate, the MLS median asking price of 167 homes offered for sale in late 2006 was $129,900. There were 15 homes listed in real estate classifieds with a median price of $145,000.”

Speaking of real estate, the National Association of Realtors’ magazine, “On Common Grounds,” featured Mount Airy in its Winter 2006 issue. “Micropolitans: The Best of Both Worlds” described the advantages of living in places like the Mount Airy Micropolitan Area. “Micropolitan” is a U.S. Census Bureau designation for a population cluster of 10,000 to 50,000 people around a central city or town.