News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

Hard upon Business Week's recognition of Durham's downtown as a "great buying opportunity," Black Enterprise magazine has ranked the Bull City No. 1 on its first-ever list of "20 Best Places to Retire."

The magazine, which has a paid circulation of 525,000, ranked cities on the bases of housing prices, public schools, crime rates, healthcare services, taxes, climate and leisure-time opportunities.

"Durham’s lineup of prestigious educational institutions and world-class medical facilities includes Duke University and Duke University Hospital," the magazine says. "Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Atlantic Ocean beaches and three hours from the Great Smoky Mountains, Durham is home to more than 300 restaurants and more than 40 annual festivals. A must-see is the annual Bimbé Festival, a lively weekend celebration of African American culture."

After Durham, Black Enterprise's top five are Charlottesville, Va.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Lexington, Ky.

Ranked six through 10 are Roswell, Ga.; Columbia, Mo.; Johnson City, Tenn.; Virginia Beach, Va.; and Indianapolis, Ind.