Retired couple considering Virginia (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: health insurance, house, safe neighborhood)

[jbowman09]

My spouse and I are considering Virginia as a retirement locale. Neither of us have yet been there, but we plan several scouting trips this year. We'd appreciate some initial input to get us started in the right direction, because so many places in Virginia sound great!

As mentioned, we're both retired, solvent with good health insurance, and would like to keep our house budget to 500K maximum. Would like to be in a smaller city or town (100,000 or less) that emphasizes geographical beauty, nice architecture, zoning, and a bit of history and culture. Would prefer a slightly newer home (2000 or newer), +- 2000 sf, in a quiet, safe neighborhood. Half an acre would be desirable but isn't a firm requirement. Not close to areas that flood, and a slightly sunnier locale (if there are such).

Any advice on which areas and cities/towns we should consider is appreciated.

[LynchburgLover]

As long as you stay out of Northern Virginia, there’s lots of small,lovely cities to choose.

I’m always curious — why Virginia, if neither of you have been before?

[jbowman09]

LynchburgLover, we're considering Virginia because we've heard for many years about the state's remarkable beauty, lovely cities and towns, rich historical sites, temperate (to us) climate, and overall culture. We've spent the last few decades in two U.S. locales that are raw, brash, stiflingly hot and, geographically, unremarkable at best. It's time for a welcome change.

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by jbowman09

LynchburgLover, we're considering Virginia because we've heard for many years about the state's remarkable beauty, lovely cities and towns, rich historical sites, temperate (to us) climate, and overall culture. We've spent the last few decades in two U.S. locales that are raw, brash, stiflingly hot and, geographically, unremarkable at best. It's time for a welcome change.

It is beautiful. We were in Loudoun County for 18 years

If you search and read about each of the cities, you can repost in that forum to get more specific info. Your inquiry is a little vague about what you’re seeking and Virginia is a very large and diverse state.

If you stay in any of the cities along I-81, you’ll find slightly cooler climates in the summer but there will be cold, snow and ice because of the mountains. Start with Winchester and go down the Valley.
Obviously, I love Lynchburg although we are now in SC. (Our kids were in school there when I picked the screen name and considered it for retirement). Winchester is wonderful — and close to DC for day trips. Your budget gives you tremendous flexibility as long as you’re not too close to DC.

Best of luck.

[Piney Creek]

There are many charming small towns that fit your description, although I'm not sure we have the geographic beauty you're seeking. Virginia is extremely pretty, but I wouldn't call it dramatically beautiful in the way California is. Definitely pretty, though, especially if you like lush, green, and lots of gardens. If you want a place as sunny as Arizona you might not like Virginia. On the other hand, we're a lot sunnier than places in the midwest or NE. A trip to check it out would definitely help. FWIW we moved here from California and love it. Come check it out and see if it might be a place you'd love, too.

I would use the search function for this forum and type in words like "retirement", "historic", "charming", etc. That should lead you to quite a few detailed threads about towns you might like.

Some things to decide include how small of a town you're looking for, how important it is to have a top quality hospital nearby, and whether or not you want more of a coastal town or a mountain town. I wouldn't worry too much about flooding, unless you're looking around Virginia Beach or Norfolk. And even then you can always find a house on higher ground.

I totally agree that you'll want to stay away from Northern VA. It's too frantic and too career oriented to be appealing to retirees. The rest of Virginia is very appealing to retirees. We retired to Williamsburg, and if that's interesting to you, you can find several threads I've written about it. I'd guess maybe 60-70% of the people who live here are retirees from the NE, Midwest, and California.


Good luck with your quest!

[slowlane3]

Williamsburg is popular and has numerous special retirement communities such as Kingsmill and Ford's Colony, along with what's probably the foremost restored living-history site attraction in all the world (Colonial Williamsburg)....the (voted as) prettiest theme-park in the USA (Busch Gardens Old Country)....and the prestigious 2nd-oldest college in America. Williamsburg is between two metropolitan areas, and fairly close to veterans hospitals and military commissaries. A downside is that I-64 can have busy traffic at times, and is one of the few ways in and out.

Charlottesville, with its sophistication, is ranked on many lists as one of the best small cities to live in, or retire to in all the USA, but is high-priced. U-VA there, is one of the most prestigious public state universities in the USA. The horse farms and wineries just east of Charlottesville are really gorgeous to drive past. Its hospital is highly ranked.

But any of the other small cities in the Shenandoah Valley along I-81, or in the Piedmont area, are good alternatives. Winchester, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Blacksburg. All of them have universities with the accompanying culture and performing arts. I-81 does have an excess of tractor-trailer traffic, more so than other interstates.

Some people who want more rural isolation choose lakefront or bayfront homes such as at Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Gaston, Clarksville, Lake Anna.....or around Kilmarnock, Gloucester, or Deltaville in the east.

[jbowman09]

These are great replies, and very helpful. Though the mountain areas look especially beautiful, we'd like to be in a warmer, sunnier locale. We're not looking for Southwest-type sun; in fact, we want to escape blast-furnace heat and sun we've experienced in Arizona and Texas. Soft, green prettiness and seasonal change is exactly what appeals! My spouse is an organ transplant recipient, so we'd need to be near (2 - 3 hour drive max) a city with top-notch medical facilities. No rural setting, just a nice, well-kept town or city under 100,000. Also, we'd prefer to stay away from areas that are heavily evangelical. Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

[Piney Creek]

Originally Posted by jbowman09

These are great replies, and very helpful. Though the mountain areas look especially beautiful, we'd like to be in a warmer, sunnier locale. We're not looking for Southwest-type sun; in fact, we want to escape blast-furnace heat and sun we've experienced in Arizona and Texas. Soft, green prettiness and seasonal change is exactly what appeals! My spouse is an organ transplant recipient, so we'd need to be near (2 - 3 hour drive max) a city with top-notch medical facilities. No rural setting, just a nice, well-kept town or city under 100,000. Also, we'd prefer to stay away from areas that are heavily evangelical. Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

Williamsburg or Charlottesville for the hospitals. Both these towns also have some nice churches, but aren't heavily evangelical. Charlottesville may be bigger than what you want, but there are other towns within an hour's drive that might appeal (Gordonsville, Staunton or Orange, for example). That way you could live in a charming, laid back small town and still take advantage of the UV Hospital. These smaller towns are where you will find a stronger evangelical population; the best bet is to visit for yourself and see what feels comfortable. One exception is Floyd, which is more of an artsy town. Also Gloucester Courthouse and Kilmarnock don't strike me as being overly evangelical.

It sounds like Williamsburg might be your best bet. Visit in the summer, to see if it feels too hot for you. It does get hot but I think all the water nearby tempers it. YMMV, however.

[Piney Creek]

Best Neighborhoods in Williamsburg for retirees or those without children


Hospitals in Williamsburg


Williamsburg Real Estate taxes


Williamsburg/Coastal VA for Retirees



Williamsburg VA or West Neck Area VB for retirement


Here are a few threads that might be helpful to you, if Williamsburg sounds interesting. There are lots more, and Charlottesville even has its own forum.

[Piney Creek]

Great review! A few little notes to supplement:

Originally Posted by slowlane3

Williamsburg is popular and has numerous special retirement communities such as Kingsmill and Ford's Colony,

Those are two great communities, but they aren't retirement communities (although you might think so, since a high percentage of people living in both of them are 55+). Ford's Colony actually has quite a few families, and about 100 or so kids live in the community

Originally Posted by slowlane3

fairly close to veterans hospitals and military commissaries. A downside is that I-64 can have busy traffic at times, and is one of the few ways in and out.

Don't forget the award winning Senatara Medical Center and the Riverside complex. BTW, if you live here you rarely take 64 (unless you're in a rush or driving to Norfolk, LOL). 60 and 5 will get you to the same places and are so much more pleasant.

Originally Posted by slowlane3

But any of the other small cities in the Shenandoah Valley along I-81, or in the Piedmont area, are good alternatives. Winchester, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Blacksburg. All of them have universities with the accompanying culture and performing arts. I-81 does have an excess of tractor-trailer traffic, more so than other interstates.

Some people who want more rural isolation choose lakefront or bayfront homes such as at Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Gaston, Clarksville, Lake Anna.....or around Kilmarnock, Gloucester, or Deltaville in the east.

These are all great little towns! Also, Tappahannock, Matthews, Gwynn Island, Montross and Hayes are worth considering. Some of these smaller towns might be a little too evangelical for the OP, though. It's hard to gauge what another person might feel is too mcuh when it comes to things like that.