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A retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer says she and her husband expect to stay in Northern Virginia, citing nearby healthcare, public transit and familiar community ties. A 2024 Transamerica survey cited in the report found 62% of retirees remained in their pre-retirement homes; cost, family and changing needs can shape whether that remains practical.
A retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer says she and her husband expect to stay in Northern Virginia rather than move to a popular retirement destination, citing nearby medical care, public transportation and community ties. The decision reflects a pattern reported in a 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey: 62% of retirees said they were staying in the home they lived in before retiring.
The writer, Sandra Block, describes having spent years researching retirement destinations, including college towns, beach communities and places abroad. After considering where she and her husband might want to live, they concluded they would probably remain near Washington, D.C. She presents the choice as a personal decision, not a recommendation that all retirees stay put.
Block says their home is less than two miles from a major hospital center and close to specialists. A Metro station is also nearby, with a bus stop a block away. She says those options could help them get around if they eventually stop driving. She contrasts that access with her rural hometown, where some residents drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and public transportation is unavailable.
The report also identifies costs as a drawback. Block says Northern Virginia is more expensive than many parts of the country, property taxes are high, and most types of retirement income in Virginia are taxed at a top rate of 5.75%, with a deduction of up to $12,000 available to eligible retirees. She says the couple’s current plan seems manageable but may need to change.
Healthcare and Transit Shape Staying Put
Whether a familiar home remains workable can depend on more than attachment to a neighborhood. Access to doctors and transportation may affect how easily retirees can manage daily life, particularly if driving becomes difficult. Block’s account illustrates how proximity to services can weigh against moving to a lower-cost area or closer to relatives.
The trade-offs are personal and can shift over time. Staying may preserve relationships and routines, but high housing costs or a change in health, mobility or the neighborhood could alter the calculation. The report does not establish that remaining at home is financially or practically better for retirees overall; it offers one writer’s experience alongside survey results.
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Survey Offers a Snapshot of Retirees
The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey cited by Seniors Guide found that 62% of retirees stayed in their pre-retirement home. Among retirees who relocated, 36% said they wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third moved to a smaller home, and about one-quarter moved to a community with a lower cost of living.
Those figures describe the reasons reported in that survey; they do not show that one option produces better outcomes or explain every retiree’s circumstances. Block also recounts acquaintances who moved across the country to be near adult children, relocated to the Midwest for lower costs, or downsized into a 55-plus community. These examples underline the range of choices rather than establish a broader trend.
“For now, I think our plan is manageable, but I’m also aware of the need to be flexible.”
— Sandra Block
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Future Needs Could Change the Plan
Block does not say that she and her husband have made an irreversible decision. She writes that they will probably stay and that their plan is manageable for now, while recognizing that aging in place may stop being practical. The report does not specify what financial, health or neighborhood changes would prompt a move.
The survey information is a snapshot from 2024. The supplied report does not give the survey’s sample size, methodology or the full range of respondents’ circumstances, so the figures should not be treated as a complete account of retirees’ housing decisions. Individual costs and access to care and transit also vary by location.
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How the Couple Plans to Adapt
For now, Block says she is exploring local parks and museums, signing up for adult education classes and getting to know more neighbors. She also describes helping older homeowners on her street by shoveling snow, and hopes younger neighbors may provide similar support as she ages.
The report gives no scheduled move or other specific next milestone. Block says she and her husband will need to reassess if their neighborhood changes or their home becomes difficult to manage. For readers weighing a similar choice, the account points to practical questions—care access, transport, costs and local support—without claiming there is one right answer.
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Key Questions
What did the cited survey find about retirees staying in their homes?
The 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey cited in the report found that 62% of retirees were staying in the home they lived in before retirement.
Why did Block and her husband decide to stay near home?
Block cites nearby hospitals and specialists, Metro rail and bus service, and familiarity with the community. She says these are factors in their personal decision, not a general rule for retirees.
Why do some retirees relocate, according to the report?
Among retirees who moved, the survey figures cited in the report say 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter sought a lower cost of living.
Does the report say staying in place is always the better choice?
No. Block describes advantages and drawbacks, including access to care and transit as well as high living and property costs. She says circumstances may change and that staying could eventually become impractical.
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