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A Kiplinger contributor says she and her husband are likely to remain in Northern Virginia in retirement, despite the area’s higher costs. Nearby medical care, public transportation and familiar community weighed against the appeal of relocating; their plans could change if aging in place becomes impractical.
A Kiplinger contributor says she and her husband are likely to stay in Northern Virginia rather than move to a different state or retire abroad, weighing access to health care, public transportation and community against the region’s higher living costs. The account is a personal retirement decision, not a recommendation that other retirees stay put.
The writer, a former full-time staffer at Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, says years of reporting on retirement destinations—including college towns, beach communities and overseas enclaves—prompted her to imagine where she might live after retiring. Vacations also led her and her husband to consider places they enjoyed. After discussion, however, they concluded they would probably remain near Washington, D.C.
She cites living less than two miles from a major hospital center and having access to specialists in the metropolitan area. Public transport is another factor: their home is less than two miles from a Metro station, with a bus stop a block away. The writer says those options could matter if either spouse eventually stops driving.
The couple also faces trade-offs. The writer describes local living costs and property taxes as high. She says Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, while most other retirement income is taxed at a top rate of 5.75%; eligible retirees can deduct up to $12,000. The source does not detail how those tax rules apply to the couple’s finances.
Health Care and Transit Shape the Choice
The account illustrates why retirement location decisions can involve more than housing prices or scenery. Nearby hospitals, specialists and transit may help people retain access to services as their mobility or health needs change. Those considerations are specific to this couple, but they show the practical questions retirees may weigh before moving to a lower-cost or more appealing destination.
Staying can also carry financial and social costs. The writer acknowledges that Northern Virginia is more expensive than many parts of the country, while remaining near familiar services and neighbors. A move could reduce some expenses or bring relatives closer, but the source does not compare the couple’s full budget with the cost of living elsewhere.
The decision is not presented as permanent. The writer says the neighborhood could change, or aging in place could stop being practical. That qualification matters: a plan that suits a household now may need revision as health, transportation, finances or support networks change.
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What Retirees’ Moves Can Reflect
The column cites a 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey in which 62% of retirees said they remained in the home they had lived in before retiring. Among retirees who relocated, the report says 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about a third downsized, and about a quarter moved to a community with a lower cost of living. These figures describe survey respondents; the source excerpt provides no sample size or further methodology.
The writer says her own friends’ moves reflected similar priorities: one couple relocated across the country to be near adult children, others moved to the Midwest to lower costs, and another couple downsized into a 55-plus community. These examples are personal observations, not a separate survey of retirees.
Against that backdrop, the writer’s likely choice to stay is one path among several. Her comparison with her rural hometown focuses on service access: she says residents there may drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist, while public transportation is unavailable. The piece does not claim that all rural communities have the same limitations.
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How Long Staying Will Work
The couple’s decision is tentative: the writer says they will probably stay, and the source does not report a final move-or-stay commitment. It also gives no detailed household budget, health outlook or estimate of future care needs, so readers cannot determine whether the arrangement is affordable or practical for them over time.
The survey information is limited in the excerpt. It does not state the number of respondents, how the survey was conducted or the exact denominator for each relocation reason. The reported percentages should be read within the survey’s stated context, not as a prediction for all retirees.
The writer also notes that local conditions could change and that aging in place might become impractical. The column does not identify a particular trigger or timeline for reconsidering the plan.
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A Flexible Plan Close to Home
The writer says she plans to explore nearby parks, museums and other places she had little time to visit before retirement. She is also enrolling in adult education classes and making an effort to know more neighbors. Those are steps she describes for building a fuller retirement life locally, rather than a formal relocation plan.
She recounts shoveling snow for older homeowners on her street and hopes younger neighbors may help her in the future. That example points to informal mutual support, though the source does not say it can replace professional care or transport services.
The next major decision will depend on whether the couple’s circumstances or neighborhood change. The writer says she remains open to reassessing if staying becomes impractical; the column gives no date or specific milestone for that review.
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Key Questions
Why is the writer considering staying in Northern Virginia?
She points to nearby hospital and specialist care, Metro and bus access, and familiarity with the area. The choice is personal and may not suit other retirees’ needs or finances.
What drawbacks does she identify?
She says living costs and property taxes are high. She also notes that Virginia taxes most types of retirement income at a top rate of 5.75%, while eligible retirees can deduct up to $12,000; individual tax outcomes depend on circumstances.
What did the cited survey say about retirees moving?
The column reports that a 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey found 62% of retirees stayed in their pre-retirement home. Among those who moved, reported reasons included proximity to family and friends, downsizing and seeking a lower-cost community. The excerpt does not provide survey methodology or sample size.
Has the couple ruled out moving later?
No. The writer says their current plan is manageable but that they need to remain flexible. She says a neighborhood change or the practical limits of aging in place could prompt them to reconsider.
Source: rss
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