Sallisaw Ranked Among Top 5 in Senior Recreation

Sallisaw has one of the best senior social scenes in Oklahoma, according to SmartAsset, a financial technology company.

Steve Sabato with SmartAsset revealed in a press release, "Retirement presents a chance for many Americans to meet new people and create new experiences and according to a new study Sallisaw is among the best places to do it in Oklahoma. The study, by SmartAsset, ranked the cities with the most recreational and social opportunities for retirees. SmartAsset's index factors in the number of recreation centers and retirement centers available to seniors as well as what percentage of the city's population they represent."

The study put Sallisaw at the number five spot on the list for having the best and most recreational and social opportunities for retirees in Oklahoma. Grove was listed as number one in the state by SmartAsset.

Sabato said, "A happy, healthy retirement depends a lot on location. To find the best places to retire, SmartAsset gathered data on three separate regional factors that affect the quality of life for retirees. First we looked at state and local taxes, considering two types of taxes--income and sales. We calculated effective rates based on a typical retiree, earning $35,000 annually (from retirement savings, Social Security or part-time employment), and spending their disposable income on table goods. Next we determined the number of doctors' offices, recreation centers and retirement centers per thousand residents in each area. Finally, we found the number of seniors in each area as a percentage of the total population."

According to SmartAsset, Sallisaw's seniors are 17.2 percent of the city's population. "In our final analysis, we ranked each county and city on these three factors, and calculated an average ranking for each area, weighting the three factors equally," Sabato explained.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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