Looking to Retire in Historic Town In Virginia or PA (Harrisburg: car insurance, home)

[KevinOMalley]

Although retirement time for my wife and me is still years off yet, I’d like to start thinking about eventually moving off Long Island and the metro NY area in part due to the high tax situation area. The kids will be on their own (maybe!!) by then so school systems would not have a major role in our location. We would not be concerned for any big "nightlife" either.

We both like the Shenandoah area in Virginia along I 81 as well as the southern area of PA as we’ve traveled to these spots many times and enjoy the slower pace, friendly folks & scenery. I know the cost of living varies throughout the towns but it seems less than the NY city region in regards to taxes, car insurance and other things.

Some of the things that I’d like to find in an eventual local to retire in would be:

1. Historical place – I’m a big Civil War and History buff.
2. Small town with an “Americana” look, yet close enough drive to good shopping areas and family entertainment (for the grandkids when they visit).
3. Mountain views – Always loved scenes of mountains or rolling hills to do oil paintings of.


These are the towns/cities I’ve been looking at thus far:
Lexington VA
Roanoke VA
Staunton VA
New Market VA
Sharpsburg MD
Boonsboro MD
Greencastle PA
Mercersburg PA
Lititz PA
And of course, Gettysburg PA

If anyone can give info about living in these places or suggest other great spots in these general regions to look into I’d much appreciate it.


Kevin O

[ki0eh]

Boiling Springs, PA - the old town is pretty much as it was in 1860, but only 3 miles from Target and I-81 at Carlisle, and about 15 miles to Harrisburg West Shore suburban shopping areas with Wegmans etc. I used to live there and often wish I still did. Great water system Welcome to South Middleton Township Authority with low rates. It's where the Appalachian Trail leaves the Blue Ridge amid sublime scenery yet only slightly bypassed by main roads. Less crowded by tourists etc. than Lititz and perhaps more open to outsiders. Can take quiet back roads to nearby Gettysburg or about 2 hours drive to any of Baltimore, DC, Philly.

I've always been partial to the Staunton VA area, my wife often has business there so we visit fairly frequently. The mountains near there are a good bit more mountainous than PA (4,000+ ft out both sides of town), I especially like to hike in the so-called "Pedlar District" just a little bit south of Shenandoah National Park.

[KevinOMalley]

Thanks - I'll put Boiling Springs on the list.

[Lion11]

You have to consider beautiful Bellefonte, PA. It's a small historic Victorian town with a lot of charm close to the conveniences of State College and Penn State. I could tell you a bunch about Bellefonte, but there are some great websites that probably do a better job:
Victorian Bellefonte: Old-world charm in a modern world
take a virtual walking tour: A Virtual Walking Tour of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce | About Bellefonte (http://www.bellefontechamber.org/20881010131142763/site/default.asp - broken link)

[pman]

Originally Posted by KevinOMalley

Some of the things that I’d like to find in an eventual local to retire in would be:

1. Historical place – I’m a big Civil War and History buff.
2. Small town with an “Americana” look, yet close enough drive to good shopping areas and family entertainment (for the grandkids when they visit).
3. Mountain views – Always loved scenes of mountains or rolling hills to do oil paintings of.
These are the towns/cities I’ve been looking at thus far:
Lexington VA
Roanoke VA
Staunton VA
New Market VA
Sharpsburg MD
Boonsboro MD
Greencastle PA
Mercersburg PA
Lititz PA
And of course, Gettysburg PA

you didn't mention, I don't think, whether you'd like to live IN town or a subdivision. I have to say, all things being equal, I'd prefer Gettysburg over lititz. lititz is small and cutesy (which may be fine). gettysburg is larger and has much better dining options and a larger town center owing in part to the stream of tourists that come through there. moreover, it's closer to the mountains than lititz. if getting back to ny on occasion is considered a plus, you can drive to lancaster from either lititz or gettysburg and catch the Keystone to NY (or Philly)....something you might appreciate if your tolerance for long drives goes down, as it often does as you age.
Although I haven't been, I have family retired in the state college area and they love it.
also worth noting, the towns in that area, gettysburg, hanover, and chambersburg (which sits between mountains) all have quaint town centers. RT30, in fact, runs right through the center of town for chambersburg and gettysburg. one thing that struck me about chambers burg is that if you live in town, you can drive due west and boom, you're in the country...then there's a mountain.

[CosmicWizard]

Also consider Blacksburg, VA located about 45 mins south of Roanoke. Blacksburg is the home of Virginia Tech, so it has the amenities of a university town like State College, but the weather in Blacksburg is milder, and not as cold & gray. Blacksburg is situated on a low plateau with the Allegheny mountains to the west and the Blue Ridge mountains to the east. The VA mountains tend to be higher in elevation than the PA mountains, with more of a mountain feel to me, than I experience in PA. Additionally, the VA winters are a bit milder than PA winters. I grew up in PA, lived in Virginia Beach - VA for 16 years and moved to Colorado 4 years ago. If I ever came back east, Blacksburg would be at the top of my list.

[kanling]

I think the answer is easy, especially since you said you have grandkids. Go with Virginia.

Pennsylvania has an inheritance tax that will eat up a good portion of whatever you might leave to your grandkids someday. Virginia doesn't.

Income tax in both states is reasonable.

Don't even think about Maryland. The income taxes there do not favor retired people at all and are way higher than either VA or PA.

[toobusytoday]

I agree with kanling. If you have grandkids in VA, that's what I would choose. Look at Salem, VA - right outside of Roanoke. My son just graduated from Roanoke College, located in Salem. It's a nice small town located close enough to Roanoke to make shopping, airport, etc very convenient. Great hiking in the mountains too. We lived in that area for a year and really liked it.

[pman]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

I agree with kanling. If you have grandkids in VA, that's what I would choose. Look at Salem, VA - right outside of Roanoke. My son just graduated from Roanoke College, located in Salem. It's a nice small town located close enough to Roanoke to make shopping, airport, etc very convenient. Great hiking in the mountains too. We lived in that area for a year and really liked it.

the OP is from NY, not VA

[toobusytoday]

Oh, you are right pman, I misread kanlings post to mean the Grandkids lived in PA. My mistake.