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Retirement Living In Elkhart County - Indiana


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Area Description

Elkhart County boasts a variety of amenities that satisfy everyone from those with more urbane tastes to those who enjoy a quieter pace. As the largest city, Elkhart boasts a variety of dining and cultural options, from fine dining to gastropubs to several family-owned Italian restaurants. The Lerner Theatre is the centerpiece of a growing arts and entertainment district. Goshen is the county seat and is also home to a liberal arts college in Goshen College. The Millrace Canal area of Goshen, adjacent to a vibrant downtown full of shops and restaurants, has seen significant growth in recent years with a farmers market, craft brewery, artisans and walking/biking trail. The rural areas of Elkhart County are home to one of the largest Amish communities in the U.S. Many Amish share the gifts of their cooking, woodworking and quilting at numerous shops in Middlebury, Nappanee and Wakarusa.

Includes Cities/Towns: Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Winchester.

Region Characteristics





Area Amenities

Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness
   The St. Joseph and Elkhart rivers traverse the area, providing many boating, fishing, canoeing and kayaking opportunities. The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is a bicycle trail reclaimed from an abandoned rail line and connects Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana. Two other major bike trails can be accessed. Elkhart's Wellfield Botanic Garden is popular with tour groups as well as its annual Taste of the Gardens fundraiser. Elkhart County has nine golf courses.

Cultural Activities
The Lerner Theatre is a 1924-vintage theater restored to its former glory and hosts concerts and plays, while the adjacent Crystal Ballroom is popular for banquets and community events. The Goshen College Music Center hosts a major performing arts series in its Sauder Concert Hall as well as the college's many talented groups. Community arts organizations are very active, from the award-winning Elkhart Civic Theatre, which calls as its home the historic Bristol Opera House, to the Elkhart County Symphony and Premier Arts. The Ruthmere Museum and Elkhart County Historical Museum document the history of the region. Encore Park in Elkhart and Linway Plaza in Goshen are the region's two major first-run movie theaters.

Public transportation
The Elkhart-Goshen area has reliable bus service, while nearby South Bend affords access to an airport and commuter rail access to Chicago.

Medical Facilities


Elkhart General Hospital and IU Health Goshen Hospital offer a full range of services.


What Will The Climate And Weather Be Like If I Retire In Elkhart County, Indiana?

For those of you that retire in Elkhart County, you will enjoy warm summers, a cool fall, a cold winter and a temperate spring!

Winter temperatures are cold with averages in the upper 20's and highs in the mid 30's. Nights are cold with lows in the low 20's. Expect a lot of rainy days in the winter, great for a day of shopping in Elkhart County! Assume some snowy days in the Winter with a lot of days with snow remaining on the ground.

If the weather in the spring is too cold for the outdoors, enjoy some indoor activities in Elkhart County such as a movie, a visit to a museum, dining, nightlife or some shopping. Spring temperatures are cold with averages in the upper 40's and highs in the upper 50's. Nights are cold with lows in the upper 30's. Expect a lot of rainy days in the Spring, great for a day of shopping in Elkhart County!

Summertime in Elkhart County is a great time to enjoy your retirement with a day at the lake, an outdoor concert, a local festival or other outdoor activity! Summer temperatures are mild with averages in the low 70's and highs in the low 80's. Nights are cool with lows in the low 60's. Humidity may feel "sticky" with muggy evenings. Expect some rainy days in the summer.

If you retire in Elkhart County, you can look forward to fall weather activities such as biking on a bike path, hiking, enjoying a walking path and more! Fall temperatures are cool with averages in the low 50's and highs in the low 60's. Nights are cold with lows in the low 40's. Expect some rainy days in the fall.

Monthly Temperature Ranges

 Month  Low  Avg  High
 Jan  17 F°  24 F°  31 F°
 Feb  20 F°  28 F°  35 F°
 Mar  28 F°  38 F°  47 F°
 Apr  38 F°  49 F°  60 F°
 May  49 F°  60 F°  71 F°
 Jun  58 F°  69 F°  80 F°
 Jul  62 F°  72 F°  83 F°
 Aug  60 F°  71 F°  81 F°
 Sep  53 F°  64 F°  74 F°
 Oct  42 F°  52 F°  62 F°
 Nov  33 F°  41 F°  49 F°
 Dec  22 F°  28 F°  35 F°

Monthly Average # of Hot and Cold Days

 Month  Days Greater Than 90 F°  Days Less Than 32 F°  Days Less Than 0 F°
 Jan  0  28  3
 Feb  0  25  1
 Mar  0  21  0
 Apr  0  8  0
 May  0  1  0
 Jun  2  0  0
 Jul  3  0  0
 Aug  2  0  0
 Sep  1  0  0
 Oct  0  4  0
 Nov  0  15  0
 Dec  0  26  1

Rain & Humidity

 Month  Rainfall  Rainy Days  Humidity
 Jan  2 "  13  19 %
 Feb  2 "  10  21 %
 Mar  2 "  10  28 %
 Apr  3 "  11  36 %
 May  4 "  12  47 %
 Jun  4 "  11  57 %
 Jul  4 "  10  62 %
 Aug  4 "  10  62 %
 Sep  4 "  9  54 %
 Oct  3 "  10  42 %
 Nov  3 "  11  33 %
 Dec  3 "  13  24 %

Snow

 Month  Snowfall  Snow On Ground Days  Snowy Days
 Jan  13 "  19  9
 Feb  9 "  14  7
 Mar  5 "  5  4
 Apr  1 "  0  1
 May  0 "  0  0
 Jun  0 "  0  0
 Jul  0 "  0  0
 Aug  0 "  0  0
 Sep  0 "  0  0
 Oct  0 "  0  0
 Nov  3 "  2  2
 Dec  12 "  12  8


Natural Disaster Areas

Cost of Living for Elkhart County, IN

Elkhart County, Indiana cost of living for Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Taxes, Utilities, etc.:

 Cost of Living

Demographics

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Age

Senior Housing Options





 Elkhart County proudly has preserved its oldest, most handsome neighborhoods while also encouraging development of modern homes with the latest conveniences on spacious lots. Many charming older and modern homes can be found in Elkhart, Goshen, Nappanee, Wakarusa, Bristol and Middlebury. The downtowns of Elkhart and Goshen have encouraged housing development and worked hard to make its cities more walkable.

Senior Assistance in Elkhart County, IN

Elkhart County, Indiana offers the following assistance for seniors:
There are several major private providers of senior services, while agencies such as the Council on Aging of Elkhart County supplements services to seniors with programs such as transport and in-home services.

What Job or Volunteer Opportunities Does Elkhart County Offer For Retirees?

The hospitals in Elkhart and Goshen welcome Red Coats volunteers, while museums such as Midwest Museum of American Art and Ruthmere Museum in Elkhart and Elkhart County Historical Museum in Bristol welcome volunteers as docents and guides.

Additional Information

Visitor Information

Relocation Information


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