10 great Republican and Democratic communities

Democrat: Dearborn, Mich.

President Truman's presidential limousine is on display at Dearborn's Henry Ford Museum. After a visit to the museum, putting through a 212-acre eco-friendly golf course, or picnicking in one of 43 public parks, retirees can relax in one of five city-owned high-rise apartments for seniors with low and moderate incomes or the higher-end Henry Ford Retirement Village. Scholars sharing the hometown of Henry Ford can also take classes at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Republican: Cincinnati

Sen. John McCain speaks at a campaign rally at Hamilton County Memorial Hall. Ohio could swing either way in the current election, but Cincinnati is one of the most solidly Republican areas of the state. As larger cities go, it's one of the most conservative in the country. Fiscally conservative Republicans will appreciate that Cincinnati has won 22 annual awards for its financially responsible budgeting and purchasing.

Democrat: Chicago

Then-Senator Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, greet supporters while on the way to Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School to vote in the Illinois presidential primary. Obama's home base has 570 parks, 70 museums, 10 major-league sports and 31 beaches offering views of Lake Michigan. The city of 3 million has 198 unique neighborhoods, and ample public transportation helps retirees get about town at any age.

Republican: Ogden, Utah

Ogden is nestled between mountains featuring three downhill ski areas and the 2,000-square-mile Great Salt Lake, which is perfect for swimming and boating. Other popular amenities include Weber State University, four golf courses, an extensive trail system, a minor-league baseball team and a historic business district.

Democrat: Maplewood, N.J.

Maplewood is just a 30-minute train ride from New York City, the largest and most Democratic city in the country. But the slower suburban pace offers a respite from the frantic pace of the city, a walkable downtown and more affordable housing. The township of Maplewood is currently implementing plans for a citywide 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2015.

Republican: Hoover, Ala.

Meg Pruitt of Helena, Ala., holds up a sign showing her support for President Bush as she and others greet his motorcade as it passes through Hoover. Retirees in this Republican stronghold only 10 miles from Birmingham have also been known to stimulate the economy by shopping at the mammoth Riverchase Galleria shopping center, with more than 200 stores. Many venture outside to explore nine golf courses, a botanical garden or the Moss Rock preserve. An 8,000-square-foot senior center opened in January 2007, where those over 60 can get daily lunches for only a $1 donation.

Democrat: Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Murray Hirsh joins a Memorial Day anti-war protest staged on a local street corner in Pembroke Pines. Broward County residents once overwhelmingly supported Richard Nixon for president. But the former Republican stronghold is now solidly Democratic and voted overwhelmingly for John Kerry over George W. Bush in 2004. It was also one of the counties involved in the now infamous 2000 election recount.

Republican: Idaho Falls, Idaho

This college town located along the Snake River is overlooked by the Teton mountain range and only a two-hour drive from Yellowstone National Park. A reasonable cost of living, property-tax reductions for retirees and tax-free Social Security benefits in Idaho make this waterfall-laden town affordable, even on a fixed income.

Democrat: San Mateo, Calif.

I.T., a creation by Michael Christian, is on display at the Bay Area Makers Faire in San Mateo, an annual event celebrating do-it-yourself engineering, craft and design. There are also plenty of opportunities to get back to nature in this suburb of San Francisco near Silicon Valley, where certain types of trees are protected by law. A property owner cannot remove or even prune a heritage tree without a permit. The central park has the spoils of this law on display in an arboretum and a Japanese garden.

10 great retirement spots for Democrats and Republicans