When the time comes to pick a place to retire, you want to make it a good one. After all, retirement is the prize at the end of a lot of long years of hard work. So what are the factors that go into picking that magical place?
The perfect place will be a little different for everyone depending on finances, family and, of course, preferences. But for the most common factors – cost of living, safety, healthcare, activities and climate – Virginia comes out on top time and again.
BankRate.com, a financial analysis website, recently published their list of the 10 Best States for Retire, ranking Virginia as #5 in the nation. We did a little more digging to find out what particular cities and towns have been recognized as top spots…and here’s what we found. Keep in mind, these aren’t in any particular order as they have all been recognized by various organizations and publications, but not analyzed side-by-side.
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In 2014, Forbes named Blacksburg as the #1 place in the nation to retire. This quaint mountain town is home to Virginia Tech University and offers a cost of living 7% below the national average, plenty of activities and groups, affordable housing and low crime rates.
This gem of a town in Northwest Virginia about 75 miles from Washington, DC. comes in on the AARP's Top 10 Affordable Cities to Retire list with median house prices at around $180,000. Packed with history and a quaint downtown with plenty of shopping and conveniences, Winchester is also near the Skyline drive and Shenandoah National Park, ensuring plenty of activities, indoors and out.
Recognized by MarketWatch for its ample activities, from the beachfront and beyond, Virginia Beach is an attractive place for retirees. While the cost of living is slightly higher than average (median home cost is $228,900), the city boasts shopping, cultural actives, historical sites and plenty of outdoor fun in the sun.
Bloomberg Business ranked Richmond as their #2 most affordable city in which to retire. With beautiful neighborhoods and an abundance of cultural attractions like art museums, opera, theater and ballet, Richmond has no shortage of activities, Add to that a rich history, beautiful parks and good healthcare, and Richmond is a prime place to spend your golden years.
This small city in Central Virginia has been ranked as a top spot by MarketWatch, Top Retirements and Best Boomer Towns. Known for its history and beauty, the city is built around the University of Virginia - but is much more than just a college town. With outstanding healthcare, historic homes and sites aplenty, easy access to hiking and walking trails and plentiful shopping and culture, Charlottesville makes up for its slightly higher than average cost of living.
Like Virginia Beach, Newport News is a urban center with plenty of outdoor living. As one of Virginia's larger cities, Newport News offers a variety of neighborhood options with the benefit of a decent cost of living. Bankrate ranks Newport News as one of their top 100 retiree cities due to low crime and good healthcare.
According to Livability and Where to Retire Magazine, Abingdon is a growing center for retirees. Located in the majestic mountains of Southwest Virginia, Abingdon is known for its heritage, history and charm. Offerings like the College for Older Adults at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, cultural attractions like the Barter Theater and outdoor activities like the Virginia Creeper Trail only increase this town's popularity for the 55+ crowd.
Ranked within WalletHub's Top 100 Places to Retire, Norfolk is a bustling seaside city with more than enough to keep the retired crowd busy. Cultural actives, outdoor activities, shopping and healthcare are plentiful, and high scores in affordability and quality of life combine to make Norfolk a great place to be at any age.
While it may seem strange to combine these two, Bankrate made the Arlington/Alexandria area their #2 choice for best places to retire. Yes, the cost of living is very high, but low crime, high levels of well-being, walkability, decent tax rates and good healthcare help to tip the scales in favor of this Northern Virginia locale. Retirees will thrive amongst the cultural activities, shopping convenience and beautiful historic neighborhoods.
For retirees looking for the best of the city and the country, Roanoke offers the perfect solution. Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Roanoke has been recognized by MarketWatch for its retirement amenities including outdoor activities, cultural offerings and ample neighborhood associations and retirement communities.
As one of four cities in the eastern part of the state recognized for retirement advantages, Chesapeake gets high marks for affordability, activities and healthcare from WalletHub. With an ideal blend of urban amenities and acres of coastline, forest and wetlands, Chesapeake provides the right balance of convenience and fun for those looking to settle down in their later years.
Whether you’re looking to be closer to the grandkids or just want a certain lifestyle, Virginia has more than enough options. If you’re retired, or thinking about retiring soon, we would love to hear about your experiences. Are there some great retirement cities of towns that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land.
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