U.S.NEWS & WORLD REPORT DEBUTS FIRST ANNUAL “BEST PLACES TO RETIRE” SPECIAL ISSUE

New Web-Based Search Tool Helps Active Retirees Identify Great Places To Spend Their Golden Years

Washington, D.C. – September 21, 2007 – U.S.News & World Report (www.usnews.com) the nation’s leading source for news analysis and service journalism, today published its first annual “Best Places to Retire” issue, featuring an in-depth look at the nation’s most attractive communities for tomorrow’s active retirees.  The special report can be found online at www.usnews.com/bestretirement and will available on newsstands beginning Monday, September 24.

The “Best Places to Retire” issue is the latest extension of U.S.News & World Report’s highly successful “Best” series which has grown to include a number popular issues including “Best Colleges,” “Best Graduate Schools,” “Best Hospitals” and “America’s Best Leaders.”  Additional “Best” issues are scheduled for publication in the months ahead.

In conjunction with the publication of “Best Places to Retire,” U.S.News & World Report has created a proprietary search engine to help America’s next generation of retirees find the best places to spend their golden years.  Using data from more than 1,000 different towns across the country, the “Best Places to Retire” search engine enables users to narrow their choices based on seven different preferences – crime rates, healthcare, cost of housing, region, recreational and cultural activities, social environment, and weather.  Once a user has ranked their preferences, the search engine will produce a prioritized list of ten different locations which meet those unique criteria.  The new “Best Places to Retire” search engine can be found online beginning today at www.usnews.com/retiresearch.

“Unlike their predecessors, the next generation of retirees will be very comfortable using the Internet to guide their decisions about retirement,” said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S.News & World Report.  “This unique online resource combines the in-depth research of U.S.News & World Report with one of the most comprehensive databases of lifestyle statistics ever compiled in one place.”

Using census data, crime statistics, demographic information and a host of other public and privately available sources, the “Best Places to Retire” search engine offers seniors and those contemplating retirement an unbiased, critical look at thousands of towns across America.  Unlike other search tools developed by real estate companies and retirement homes, the “Best Places to Retire” search engine is backed by the independent editorial staff of U.S.News & World Report and does not receive outside support or funding from any of the towns being ranked.

The “Best Places to Retire” special report also includes a detailed look at the magazine’s own picks for the top ten hot spots (listed alphabetically):

  • Bozeman, MT
  • Concord, NH
  • Fayetteville, AR
  • Hillsboro, OR
  • Lawrence, KS
  • Peachtree City, GA
  • Prescott, AZ
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Smyrna, TN
  • Venice, FL

Retirement Living TV (RLTV) will air segments on five of the 10 editors’ picks of “Best Places to Retire” beginning September 24 through September 28 on the channel’s “Daily Cafe” program.  The two-hour shows air weekdays at 2 p.m. (Eastern) and will be posted online at www.usnews.com/retirementliving after they air.

Other features available online include:

  • Best Bargain Places: U.S.News & World Report’s list of Top 10 affordable places to retire, from Dahlonega, Ga. to Yuma, Ariz. These spots offer retirees looking for a bargain a choice of mountain or beach locales, hot or cold climates and numerous recreational amenities.  www.usnews.com/retireguide
  • Budgeting Tips: It takes a lot of planning to make your retirement savings last 20 or 30 years. Financial experts offer ways to do it from tapping taxable accounts first to traveling on a budget. www.usnews.com/retirement
  • Retirement Tips for 20-somethings: It’s never too early to start planning for your golden years, even if you are just starting a career. U.S.News & World Report offers advice to consider when you begin your work life. www.usnews.com/20tips

OnBoard LLC, a New York-based information solutions firm, provided much of the underlying data used in the U.S.News & World Report’s “Best Places to Retire” issue and all of it for the corresponding search engine.  The privately-held firm worked with the magazine to refine the user experience and to select the data criteria and ranking methodology used by the editorial staff.

About U.S.News & World Report

Founded in 1933, the weekly national news magazine U.S.News & World Report is devoted to investigative journalism and reporting, and to analyzing national and international affairs, politics, business, health, science, technology and social trends. Through its annual rankings of America's Best Colleges, America’s Best Graduate Schools, America's Best Hospitals, America’s Best Health Plans and its News You Can Use® brand, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. Available online at www.usnews.com, the U.S. News website extends that brand promise and delivers the best, most accurate information on the Web, organized in a way that is accessible and easy to use.