Bowling Green, Ky. ­ Geographer Warren Bland recently ranked Bowling Green fourth on his list of top 10 value towns for retirees in 2007.

Bland is a professor at California State University and has authored several books on this topic, including "Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada."

Bland used 12 criteria to rank the towns: landscape, climate, quality of life, cost of living, transportation, retail services, health care, community services, cultural activities, recreational activities, work/volunteer activities and crime.

Bowling Green was the only city in Kentucky to make the list.

Bland's list of top value towns is below, from the least to most expensive:

1. Hot Springs, Ark.

2. Winston-Salem, N.C.

3. Fayetteville, Ark.

4. Bowling Green, Ky.

5. Lawrence, Kan.

6. Columbia, Mo.

7. Pittsburgh, Pa.

8. Gainesville, Fla.

9. San Antonio, Texas

10. Colorado Springs, Colo.