‘Tacoma, be better’: Spike calls out the city after it ranks 7th worst for retirement in new study

Tacoma ranked near the bottom of WalletHub’s annual “Best & Worst Places to Retire” ranking, finishing 176th out of 182 cities, ahead of only Stockton and San Bernardino, California; Newark, New Jersey; Fresno, Rancho Cucamonga, and Bakersfield, California.

The study evaluated 182 cities across 45 metrics in four categories: affordability, activities, quality of life, and healthcare. Tacoma ranked 175th for affordability and 150th for quality of life. Orlando, Florida, topped the list, followed by Miami, Tampa, Scottsdale, and Casper, Wyoming.

Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, broke down why Tacoma scored so low and shared where they’d actually want to spend their retirement.

Jake says taxes and policing are dragging Tacoma down

Jake pointed to Washington’s high death tax, the state’s broader tax environment, and its ranking as the worst in the country for per-capita law enforcement as key factors behind Tacoma’s poor showing.

“Tacoma, because it’s in a very tax-unfriendly state in Washington. We have a really high death tax, which is not something you want to consider, but it is something that factors into people’s lives,” Jake said.

Spike added that the lack of organized community activities and the distance from medical care are also hurting the city.

“Those kinds of things come into play. But Tacoma, be better. Come on,” Spike said. “Not a lot of community. It’s a lot of isolation in single homes. No organized events; distances from medical care. All those things are factors, man.”

Spike dreams of the ocean, Jake dreams of golf in Wyoming

The ranking led both hosts to map out their own retirement plans. Spike said he’d head back to the East Coast specifically near the ocean.

“I want to watch the ocean. I want to listen to the waves. I want to sit on a beach,” Spike said. “I always hearken back to the most romanticized and cherished memories of my life, when life was just wonderful.”

He described trips back to Ocean City, Maryland, where childhood friends have settled, and the pace of life slows down.

“Just put my feet in the sand. My wife loves for me to go do this, just reconnect with who I am,” Spike said. “That’s so important: being happy in life is knowing who you are and honoring that.”

Jake said he doesn’t need the ocean, just affordable golf, water nearby, and a quiet place to wake up naturally for the first time in 12 years.

“I do love golf, so I think as long as I can keep my body moving, a place that has golf, but it’s got to be affordable,” Jake said. “Wyoming seems very appealing to me. I need water nearby; lakes and rivers are the water I like.”

When asked whether Tacoma was on his retirement list, Spike laughed.

“I don’t know if I can afford Tacoma,” Spike said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3