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Fact text

  • The community got its name from a famous Irish racehorse once owned by the founding family, not exactly your typical neighborhood origin story.
  • Blackhawk Plaza's outdoor shopping center is built around a long duck pond, making it possibly the most scenic place to grab a movie and some retail therapy.
  • Punk band Rancid called out Blackhawk by name in their song 'Salvation' as the place 'where all the rich people are/hide', the residents probably did not disagree.
  • The Lonely Island's film 'The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience' names Blackhawk as home base for the legendary Bash Brothers.
  • Early ranch owners included the owner of Caterpillar Tractor Company and a Hawaii-based sugar and pineapple empire, quite the landlord lineup.
Your
Blackhawk
Retirement Outlook — in 90 seconds
Hosted by Michael McMillan, President of Annuities.net
Every figure mentioned is drawn from the same sourced public data shown below — and the video updates as the data does.
Stat icon
10,590
+
Total Population
Stat icon
$
166,698
Median Income
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$
1,356,500
Median Home
Stat icon
23
%
Age 65+
Retirement Suitability
How
Blackhawk
ranks for retirees?
26
/ 100

A blended, sourced view of how this city ranks for retirees across tax, affordability, healthcare, and climate.

Tax
8
Affordability
5
Healthcare
29
Climate
88

Results

Blackhawk

Suitability Breakdown

Retirement tax planning
01 - Taxes

Retirement Tax Treatment

Tax
8

California taxes income but leaves Social Security benefits untouched, a meaningful break for retirees drawing from multiple income sources.

State sales tax here runs about

7

%.

Source · Tax Foundation
8
7
Retirement tax planning
02 - Income

Annuity Rates Available Here

Affordability
5

Fixed annuity rates reach up to

7

% on 5-year terms, with most landing between

5

% and

5

%.

Source · Cannex
5
Retirement tax planning
03 - Healthcare

Hospital Access & Quality

Healthcare
29

The area has

7

Medicare-certified hospitals, averaging a

3

/5 CMS quality rating.

Source · CMS Hospital Compare
3
Retirement tax planning
04 - Climate

Weather & Comfort

Climate
88

A

Mild

climate — summers peak near

82

°F, winters dip to about

40

°F, with roughly

1

″ of snow a year.

Source · NOAA Climate Normals
Mild
Retirement tax planning
05 - Risk

Natural Disaster Risk

Risk
Very High

FEMA's overall natural-disaster risk rating for this county on the National Risk Index.

Source · FEMA National Risk Index
Very High

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does California tax Social Security income for retirees?

California does not tax Social Security benefits, which can be a meaningful advantage for retirees who also draw pension income, investment returns, or annuity payments. Because Blackhawk residents tend to have multiple income sources given the area’s high median household income of over $166,000, keeping Social Security free from state income tax helps preserve more retirement cash flow.

What are hospitals like near Blackhawk for Medicare patients?

Seven Medicare-certified hospitals serve the Blackhawk area, giving retirees reasonable geographic access to care. However, those facilities average 3.0 out of 5 CMS quality stars, which is a middling rating. Retirees relying heavily on Medicare should research individual hospital performance rather than assuming proximity equals quality care.

How expensive is housing in Blackhawk, CA for someone planning retirement?

Housing in Blackhawk is notably costly. The median home value sits at $1,356,500, which is well above national norms. For retirees evaluating whether to buy, downsize, or rent, this price level significantly affects how much equity can be converted into retirement income or how much liquid capital remains available for other financial needs.

What natural disaster risks should retirees in Blackhawk be aware of?

FEMA rates this county’s overall natural-disaster risk as Very High on its National Risk Index. That designation is worth factoring into long-term retirement planning, including decisions about homeowners insurance coverage, emergency preparedness, and whether guaranteed income products could provide financial stability if property values or living costs are disrupted by a disaster event.

Why do many Blackhawk retirees add a fixed annuity alongside their Social Security income?

Nearly one in four Blackhawk residents is 65 or older, and with California leaving Social Security benefits untaxed, many retirees here layer additional guaranteed income sources on top. A multi-year guaranteed annuity locks a fixed interest rate for a set term, so the growth is predictable regardless of market swings. That certainty helps cover essential expenses without guesswork. Because rates change constantly, check our current annuity rates page for today’s figures.

See Current Annuity Rates