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A Kiplinger writer who had researched retirement destinations says she and her husband expect to remain in Northern Virginia, citing nearby healthcare and public transportation. Their choice reflects a broader pattern: a 2024 Transamerica survey found 62% of retirees stayed in their pre-retirement homes, though costs and future needs could change the couple’s plan.
A Kiplinger writer who spent years reporting on retirement destinations says she and her husband expect to stay in Northern Virginia, near Washington, D.C., rather than move to a more affordable or appealing location. She cites access to healthcare and public transportation as central reasons, while acknowledging that high local costs and changing needs could eventually make staying impractical.
The writer said that while covering college towns, beach communities and overseas destinations, she often imagined where she might want to retire. Travel with her husband also prompted thoughts about living in places they enjoyed visiting. After discussing the choice, however, the couple leaned toward remaining in their current home. The report does not identify them by name.
The couple live less than two miles from a major hospital center and from a station serving the region’s Metro rail system; a bus stop is a block away. The writer said these services could help them remain mobile if they eventually stop driving. She contrasted that access with her rural hometown, where, she said, patients may drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and public transit is unavailable.
Staying has financial drawbacks. The writer says the cost of living and property taxes in their area are high. She notes that Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, while most other retirement income is subject to state income tax, with a top rate of 5.75%; eligible retirees may claim a deduction of up to $12,000, according to her report. She describes the current plan as manageable but says it may need to change.
Healthcare and Transit Shape the Choice
The account highlights that retirement location decisions are not only about housing prices or scenery. Access to medical specialists, hospitals and transport can affect how practical it is to stay in a home as residents age, especially if driving becomes difficult. The writer’s comparison with her rural hometown illustrates the trade-off: lower costs in some areas may come with longer trips for care and fewer ways to get around.
Her experience is also relevant to readers weighing a move abroad or across the country. Relocation may bring lifestyle or cost advantages, but it can mean giving up familiar services and routines. In this case, the source does not present a universal recommendation; it describes one couple’s priorities and the conditions they are using to judge whether staying remains feasible.
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Most Retirees Stay Put
The report cites a 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey that found 62% of retirees remained in the home they had occupied before retiring. Among retirees who moved, 36% said they wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a community with a lower cost of living. The source does not provide further survey methodology or details about how those responses were collected.
The writer also describes acquaintances who made different choices: one couple moved across the country to be near adult children, friends relocated to the Midwest for lower costs, and another couple downsized into a 55-plus community. These examples show that family proximity, housing size and affordability can pull in different directions from the healthcare and transit factors informing the writer’s own decision.
For now, she is treating retirement as an opportunity to explore where she already lives. She plans to visit local parks and museums, take adult education classes and get to know neighbors. She recounts shoveling snow for older homeowners on her street and hopes younger neighbors may help her in the future.
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Whether Staying Will Remain Practical
The report does not say how long the couple expect to remain in their home or what specific changes would prompt a move. The writer says the neighborhood could change and that aging in place may stop being practical. Future healthcare needs, mobility, housing costs and local services could all affect that decision, but the source does not quantify those risks or set out a timetable.
The survey figures offer a snapshot of retirees’ reported choices, not a prediction of what any individual household should do. The account also does not compare the couple’s total retirement expenses with the cost of moving elsewhere or abroad.
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Local Plans, With Room to Reconsider
The couple’s immediate plans are to remain in Northern Virginia, explore nearby parks and museums, enroll in adult education classes and build stronger ties with neighbors. The writer says they will stay alert to whether the area and their needs continue to support aging in place. No move or other change has been announced; the next step described is to carry on with the current plan while remaining open to revising it.
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Key Questions
Why did the writer decide against moving for retirement?
She and her husband value nearby hospital care, specialist access and public transit. They have not ruled out moving later if staying becomes impractical.
What did the cited survey find about retirees’ housing?
A 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey found that 62% of retirees stayed in the home they occupied before retirement. Among those who moved, common reasons included being closer to family, downsizing and finding a lower-cost area.
What are the disadvantages of staying in Northern Virginia?
The writer points to a high cost of living and high property taxes. She also notes that most retirement income other than Social Security is taxed in Virginia, subject to the rules and deductions described in her report.
Has the couple ruled out moving in the future?
No. The writer says the plan is manageable for now but could change if the neighborhood or their circumstances change, or if aging in place is no longer practical.
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