Retirees seeking southern hospitality, mild weather and an affordable cost-of-living might want to consider Cookeville, Tennessee as a retirement spot.   This town of 27,000 people is located in the Upper Cumberland region of middle Tennessee, about 80 miles east of Nashville, and is surrounded by placid lakes and wooded terrain.  City leaders strive to attract retirees and they are succeeding;  18% of the residents are age 45 to 64, and 14% are age 65 or better.  Cookeville offers low cost housing, friendly residents, an excellent quality of life and an escape from hectic city living. Retirees seeking southern hospitality, mild weather and an affordable cost-of-living might want to consider Cookeville, Tennessee as a retirement spot.   This town of 27,000 people is located in the Upper Cumberland region of middle Tennessee, about 80 miles east of Nashville, and is surrounded by placid lakes and wooded terrain.  City leaders strive to attract retirees and they are succeeding;  18% of the residents are age 45 to 64, and 14% are age 65 or better.  Cookeville offers low cost housing, friendly residents, an excellent quality of life and an escape from hectic city living.

 

 

Residents will also find local Cane Creek Park, a lovely 262-acre community park, Dogwood Park, a verdant downtown oasis, the well-equipped Putnam County Family YMCA, a softball complex, 12 golf courses, five rivers and three major lakes nearby.  In fact, the lakes are what primarily attract many to this area.  Cordell Hull Lake, Center Hill Lake and Dale Hollow Lake are surrounded by lush vegetation, little development and are quite peaceful during the week but become more crowded on weekends, attracting water skiers, fishermen and sailors. Nearly all religious faiths are represented here (Cookeville has 137 churches), although we were unable to locate a synagogue.  There is also no public bus system, so residents will need a car or a good friend with a car to attend church. Cookeville is home to roughly 105 restaurants, covering nearly all cuisines, from Mexican to Cajun (no vegetarian or French restaurants, though).   Shopping is adequate but not spectacular.  Most items can be found in town, and the Cookeville Mall has 35 specialty stores (and is the only indoor mall in the Upper Cumberland area), but this not a shoppers' Paradise.   Downtown Cookeville is, however, undergoing a major renovation that is being overseen by a non-profit group called CityScape, and this is bringing new business ventures to this southern community.    Retirees will find two senior centers, the Algood Senior Citizen Center and the Putman County Senior Center.  Both offer social, recreational and educational classes and activities.  Cookeville also has numerous ways to volunteer in the community.  The local YMCA seeks people to teach preschool classes, coach teams and cook for bake sales, among other things.  The Putnam County Habitat for Humanity is always looking for those handy with a hammer and a nail gun, although they also welcome those with no building experience.  CASA is a non-profit group that works with the courts and needs people to advocate for neglected children in the Cookeville area. With warm summers, mild winters, and breezy falls, Cookeville's weather is seasonal but without many extremes.   January temperatures average 37 degrees and July sees averages of 88 degrees.  Five to six inches of precipitation fall each month but very little of it is snow.   Humidity averages 68% and the sun shines roughly 50% of the time.   Please read articel about Reverse Mortgage more.........