Washington continues to grow as one of the neatest spots for retirees.

The city ranked No. 8 in the state as having a good social scene for seniors, according to a recent study by SmartAsset, a finance-technology company.

Factors considered in the study were the number of doctor’s offices, recreation centers and retirement centers, as well as the percentage of senior citizens.

“Anytime a resident chooses to call Washington/Beaufort County home, it is a win for our community,” said Catherine Glover, executive director of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce. “We know that someone that is looking to retire in the community typically visits two to three times before they make a decision to move. This is great for tourism.”

The retirement population is a demographic that officials in Washington seek to capture. In the past year, the city became Retire NC-certified, in an effort to draw more visitors and eventual retirees to the area.

One of the arguments in favor of drawing in this demographic (and others) is the potential financial benefit, according to Glover.

“Anytime a new resident decides to move, buy a house, purchase from our local stores, they are contributing to the tax base,” Glover said. “We welcome all ages to move to our great area and be a part of the community.”

Once those retirees are here, however, that’s when the social scene aspect kicks in. From playing music at the Turnage Theatre and volunteering at church, to attending senior dances at the Washington Civic Center, there is plenty for seniors to do. And being a retiree doesn’t always equate to being elderly.

“Looking at it financially, a vibrant senior population can bring both revenue in multiple ways towards the community, but can also be the best volunteers,” said Stephen Clayton, supervisor at the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center, adding that volunteers save money that can be used in other areas. “We want to provide a social aspect to it as we have many that we serve who may have just moved to the area and don’t know many folks, or those who have been here since birth but want to opportunity to meet those new to Washington and Beaufort County.”

Clayton said the senior center strives to offer activities for everyone, no matter the skillset, interests or physical ability of a person. It’s part of a focus on holistic living.

“When the person walks into the Senior Center for the first time, we want them to walk out thinking this is the best facility and the friendliest folks they have met,” Clayton said. “We live in a great community where the senior center is able to network with other organizations and agencies to offer a wide variety of programs, activities and services for the senior population.”