Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine says New Orleans is the country's best city for retirees.

That's got to be a matter of pride for New Orleans' Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who actively promoted Louisiana as a great state in which to retire when he was the Lieutenant Governor.

Now, his city tops a list as the best place for those in their golden years to settle down.

Kiplinger's says retirees are finding a lot to like here...affordable health care, low property taxes and tax breaks for retirees.

And, apparently, they're willing to put up with the high humidity and an occasional hurricane.

"Overall, it's a very favorable climate. No snow to deal with which is very high on many retirees' lists," says Kiplinger's Senior Editor Mark Solheim.

He says they were well aware of the city's bad reputation for crime.

"But, we looked a little more closely and decided that the high murder rate is, in fact, something that most of the population doesn't deal with. And property crimes track close to the national average."

Solheim says what retirees do want to deal with are the numerous festivals in the area and some of the country's best food.

And, they have the means to enjoy those things.

"Wherever they come from, they bring their income with them. They'll bring their social security, their pensions and spend that money in the area."

Solheim says retirees already living here also cite the friendliness of the people and the ease of getting to where they want to go.

Apparently that applies to the entire metro area.

"There are some retirees who are going to the French Quarter. Not a lot. Some are going to the Garden District. But, we looked at the whole metropolitan area, so that includes Metairie and the Northshore," says Solheim.

And, he says the resident retirees tell him that New Orleans is just a fun place to be.

Kiplinger's says "Seven years after the monster hurricane and levee breaches, N'awlins has bounced back. The rebounding population has helped spawn a building boom of newly constructed and refurbished homes, as well as new infrastructure."