For Hub City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Wood County has been listed as No. 1 “best place to retire” for Wisconsin by 24/7 Wall St., a Delaware company that publishes online financial news and opinion content.

To select the finalists in each state, the company used an index consisting of 17 health and economic facets, considering counties that showed growth among the 65 and over population consistent with the nation rate.

Health factors included the number of health professionals and social institutions, as well as factors that promote healthy living. Economic factors include median home value, cost of living, and tax burden.

The report ranks Wood County 28th of 72 counties in 65 and older population, with 19.2 percent. The number of primary care physicians in the county is reported at 168.4 per 100,000. Estimated monthly living expenses for two people is $3,754.34 – 51st among Wisconsin counties – and the median home value is $127,700.