Willow Valley Communities'
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Lancaster, Pennsylvania Ranked #1 “Best Place to Retire” by U.S. News & World Report

June 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Willow Valley Communities Offers Reasons Why

Lancaster, PA — Lancaster, Pennsylvania tops the list as the Best Place to Retire in 2019 as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, a recognized American media company that publishes news, opinion, consumer advice, rankings, and analysis. The rankings offer a comprehensive evaluation of the country’s 100 largest metropolitan areas based on how well they meet Americans’ expectations for retirement, with measures including housing affordability, desirability, health care, and overall happiness. Number one ranked “Lancaster, Pennsylvania,” the Report states, “offers a balance between natural and commercial spaces that residents appreciate. Expansive farms rub elbows with manicured suburbs, which lead right into the bustling city.”

Willow Valley Communities, a premier 55-plus senior living community in Lancaster, has seen this sentiment played out for over 30 years. Visitors from across the nation, those who have chosen Lancaster as a retirement destination, as well as those originally from Lancaster, all agree on Lancaster’s benefits:

• Drivable distance to major cities like Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Conveniently located airport, bus station, and train station.

• Four distinct seasons

• Low cost of living

• Diverse residents

• Culturally rich downtown with live theater, art, shopping, and wide variety of restaurants

John G. Swanson, CEO of Willow Valley Living, the management and development company for Willow Valley Communities, commented on the U.S. News & World Report article and remarked that the “Best” ranking for Lancaster retirees was not surprising. “Visitors to Willow Valley Communities often speak about Lancaster’s uniqueness; its beautiful countryside, along with a vibrant downtown, make the decision to retire here an easy one.”

Willow Valley Communities also enjoys strong interest from seniors because it is the only exclusively Lifecare senior living community in Lancaster County. Lifecare is a unique and financially smart type of contract that means a resident’s fees will not increase because personal care, skilled nursing care, or memory support is needed in the future.

The measures used by U.S. News and World Report were selected and weighted based on a public survey of pre-retirees (age 45-59) and retirement-age (age 60+) individuals across the U.S to find out what matters most when considering a place to retire. Data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as U.S. News rankings of the Best Hospitals.

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Quick Facts

Please always refer to us as Willow Valley Communities. We are a 55+ plus senior living community, not a retirement home, a nursing home, or a facility.

  • 2600 residents
  • 1400 team members
  • 210 acres

Willow Valley Communities’ has two campuses: Manor and Lakes:

  • Manor Campus includes: Manor, Manor North, Providence Park, The Vistas, North Garden Apartments
  • Lakes Campus includes:  Lakes Manor, Spring Run, Willow Gables, Mid-Rise, Lakes Villas, SouthPointe at Lakes

Willow Valley Communities’ supportive living communities include Meadow Ridge (Personal Care), The Glen (Personal Care and Nursing Care), Lakeside (Nursing Care), and Cedar Brook at the Glen (Memory Support).