Why do people move to Harrison?
My past life in the real estate business allowed me to interact with many people from outside the Harrison area. Unlike our neighbor to the east, people who move to Harrison come from all states. We think that many move here from California, but that usually depends on the housing market.
When they see the opportunity to sell high, they will move here, pay for their house, and have funds left over to invest. Here are the main reasons they chose Harrison.
Although we are attractive to retirees, I found that the couples were slightly younger than most retirees, being mostly in their fifties and sixties. Many would still work our volunteer jobs. Without a doubt, we have about the lowest cost of living compared to other states, and in most cases, it can be huge.
Not only are our housing prices lower than most, but real estate taxes make a big difference, which is an ongoing cost. You will find that everyday expenses like food, gas, and even insurance are lower here.
They love our natural beauty. When coming from desert areas or the plains, our mountains and streams are very soothing to many. Peggy and I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, which is flat and has many cloudy days and lots of wind. Peggy hated not having a lot of sunshine.
When people get close to retiring, they want to slow down and
leave the bigger cities. They also think of safety, and let’s face
it, small towns are safer. I always find it funny that when
meeting a potential buyer at a home, they pull into the
driveway, get out, and lock their car. I can’t tell you how
opposite I am of that. When people say they leave their doors
unlocked, they mean it.
We experience four true seasons with long springs and long
falls. If you travel a hundred miles north, they get more winter
and snow; one hundred miles south, they rarely see snow.
I learned that people like to live away from their children, but
not far, and Harrison’s location in the middle of the country
allows them to be closer to many. However, once retirees move
here, the kids often follow, and now Harrison offers jobs and
careers to the younger folks, which allows the young to go away
to college and return home to work, live, and play. This was
almost impossible until recently.
One thing is for sure. Whether it is retirees or younger families,
most people who live in Harrison want the same thing: a
peaceful, safe community and we are fortunate to have that.
This is why my administration is focusing on safety, quality of
life, and our local economy.
Mayor Jerry Jackson
Jerry Jackson moved to the community in 1980 and was voted Mayor in 2018. He ran and won re-election in 2022. Email info@harrisonar.gov to contact the mayor’s office.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
