TL;DR
A retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer says she and her husband expect to remain in Northern Virginia, citing nearby health care, public transportation and familiar surroundings. A 2024 Transamerica survey found 62% of retirees stayed in the home they lived in before retirement; the report also highlights cost and changing needs as reasons to keep plans flexible.
A retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer says she and her husband expect to stay in Northern Virginia rather than move for retirement, pointing to nearby hospitals, public transit and ties to their community. Her account, published by Seniors Guide, puts a personal decision alongside a 2024 Transamerica survey in which 62% of retirees said they were still living in the home they occupied before retiring.
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The writer, Sandra Block, said access to health care is a major reason for staying. Her home is less than two miles from a major hospital center, and the Washington, D.C., region has numerous specialists. She contrasted that access with her rural hometown, where residents may drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and finding general practitioners has become harder, according to her account.
Transportation is another factor. Block said a Metro station is less than two miles away, a bus stop is a block from her home, and ride-hailing services could provide another option if she and her husband eventually stop driving. She said her hometown has no public transit, where getting a ride may depend on help from someone in the community.
Staying also has financial drawbacks. Block described Northern Virginia’s cost of living as higher than in many parts of the country and cited high property taxes after her home’s value rose. She said Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, while most other retirement income is subject to a top state income-tax rate of 5.75%; eligible retirees can deduct up to $12,000, according to the report.
Health Care and Transit Shape the Choice
The account shows that retirement location is not only a lifestyle decision: it can affect access to medical care, transportation and daily support. Remaining in a familiar area may make it easier to reach specialists, use public transit and maintain social connections, particularly if driving becomes difficult. Those advantages do not settle the question for every household, since local services, health needs and finances vary.
The survey offers a broader snapshot: 62% of retirees surveyed by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies in 2024 said they remained in their pre-retirement home. Among retirees who relocated, the report says 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a lower-cost community. The figures describe reported reasons and choices; they do not establish which option produces better outcomes.
For readers weighing a move, Block’s experience highlights the trade-offs to examine: housing and tax costs on one side, and health-care access, transit and community ties on the other. Her plans remain provisional, not a recommendation that retirees should stay where they are.
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What the Survey and Writer Report
Block said she spent years researching retirement destinations while working as a staff writer and editor at Kiplinger, including college towns, beach communities and places abroad. She also considered locations during vacations. After discussions with her husband, however, the couple leaned toward staying in the Northern Virginia area where they already live.
The 2024 Transamerica survey, as summarized in the Seniors Guide report, found that staying put was common among respondents who were retired. Those who moved described different motivations, including family, downsizing and lower costs. The report does not provide the survey’s sample size or further methodological details in the supplied material, so the results should be read as a survey finding rather than a complete account of all retirees’ decisions.
Block also described a community dimension to aging in place: she and her husband have helped shovel snow for older neighbors and hope younger residents may help them in the future. She plans to explore local parks, museums and adult-education classes during retirement, treating time at home as an opportunity to engage more with the area.
““For now, I think our plan is manageable, but I’m also aware of the need to be flexible.””
— Sandra Block
Costs and Future Needs Could Change
Block said it is not yet clear whether aging in place will remain practical. The neighborhood could change, or she and her husband could decide their needs require a move. The report does not give a detailed household budget or compare the couple’s total costs with those of a potential destination, so the financial balance of staying versus relocating cannot be assessed from the account alone.
The survey summary also does not include its sample size or full methodology in the source material provided. Its results indicate what surveyed retirees reported, but they do not show that staying or moving is preferable for retirees generally. Individual access to care, transit, family support, taxes and housing costs can differ substantially by location.
A Plan That Can Adapt
Block said she and her husband currently expect to remain in Northern Virginia while making greater use of nearby parks, museums and adult-education classes and building relationships with neighbors. She did not give a timetable for reassessing the decision. Her stated approach is to remain open to a move if costs rise, the area changes or aging in place becomes impractical.
For households facing a similar decision, the report points to practical factors to compare: proximity to clinicians and hospitals, transportation without a car, housing and tax costs, and access to family or community support. The article does not provide a formal decision tool or claim that one location is right for everyone; the next step in Block’s case is to see whether the current arrangement continues to meet the couple’s needs.
Key Questions
What did the 2024 Transamerica survey find?
The report says 62% of retirees surveyed were still living in the home they occupied before retirement. Among those who moved, common reported reasons included being closer to family and friends, downsizing and seeking a lower cost of living.
Why does Sandra Block plan to stay in Northern Virginia?
She cites nearby health care, public transportation and familiarity with the area. Her home is close to a major hospital center, Metro rail and a bus stop, according to her account.
What are the downsides of staying where she lives?
Block points to a higher cost of living and high property taxes. She also notes that Virginia taxes most other types of retirement income at a top rate of 5.75%, while eligible retirees may claim a deduction of up to $12,000.
Does the report say retirees should stay close to home?
No. Block describes a decision based on her household’s circumstances, not a universal recommendation. The report presents reasons people stay or move and says her own plan could change if aging in place becomes impractical.
Source: rss
