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A retired Kiplinger 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 their pre-retirement homes, but the writer’s account is personal reporting, not a universal recommendation; costs and future care needs may change the decision.
A retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer says she and her husband plan to stay in Northern Virginia rather than move to a popular retirement destination, citing nearby medical care, public transportation and familiarity with their community. Their experience, published by Seniors Guide, sits alongside a 2024 Transamerica survey finding that 62% of retirees remained in the home they lived in before retirement.
The writer says access to health care is a major reason for staying. Their home is less than two miles from a major hospital center, and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has a range of specialists. She contrasts that with her rural hometown, where residents may drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and general practitioners are becoming harder to find, according to her account.
Transportation is another consideration. The couple lives near a Metro rail station and a bus stop, and the writer says ride-hailing services could provide another option if they eventually stop driving. She describes her hometown as having no public transit, where getting a lift to the grocery store may depend on help from someone in the community.
Staying also has financial and practical costs. The writer cites the higher cost of living in Northern Virginia and high property taxes following an increase in the value of the couple’s home. She says Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, while most other retirement income is taxed at a top rate of 5.75%; eligible retirees can deduct up to $12,000, according to the report. The couple’s current plan is manageable, she says, but may need to change.
Health Care and Mobility Shape the Choice
The account illustrates how a retirement move involves more than choosing a pleasant place to live. Medical access, transportation and social ties can affect whether an older adult can manage daily life as needs change. Staying near established services may reduce travel burdens, particularly for people who no longer drive, though the report does not establish that remaining at home is the best choice for all retirees.
The financial trade-off is also personal. A higher-cost location may offer services and transit that are limited elsewhere, while a move could lower housing expenses or bring someone closer to family. The writer’s decision reflects her household’s circumstances; readers would need to compare their own housing costs, income, health needs and support networks before drawing conclusions.
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Survey Data and Relocation Reasons
The 2024 survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, as cited in the Seniors Guide report, found that 62% of retirees were still living in the home they occupied before retiring. Among retirees who had moved, the report says 36% 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 writer’s professional background included researching retirement destinations such as college towns, beach communities and overseas locations. She says that work—and vacations in places she enjoyed—prompted her to consider relocating. After discussions with her husband, however, they expect to remain where they are for now. The survey offers a snapshot of reported choices, while the writer’s article describes one household’s reasoning.
“For now, I think our plan is manageable, but I’m also aware of the need to be flexible.”
— Sandra Block
Whether Staying Will Remain Practical
The couple’s plans are provisional. The writer says their neighborhood could change or aging in place could become impractical, but the report does not specify what future health, mobility or financial circumstances would prompt a move. It also does not give detailed survey methods, sample size or field dates for the 2024 Transamerica findings, so the cited figures should be read as reported survey results rather than a full account of how retirees make housing decisions.
The article does not compare the couple’s total expected retirement costs with those of alternative locations, nor does it assess their individual health outlook. Whether nearby services outweigh higher housing and tax costs will depend on each household’s situation.
Plans May Change With Needs
For now, Block says she and her husband intend to make more use of their current area by visiting local parks and museums, taking adult education classes and getting to know neighbors. She also describes helping older homeowners on their street by shoveling snow, with the hope that neighbors may support them in turn as they age.
The report names no planned move or specific decision date. The couple’s next step is to continue living locally while staying open to reassessing whether their home and community remain workable as their needs change.
Key Questions
How many retirees stayed in their pre-retirement home in the cited survey?
The 2024 Transamerica survey, as reported by Seniors Guide, found that 62% of retirees were living in the home they had occupied before retirement.
Why does the writer plan to stay in Northern Virginia?
She cites proximity to hospital care and specialists, access to Metro rail and buses, and familiarity with the area. The report presents these as reasons for her household, not a recommendation for every retiree.
Why do some retirees move, according to the report?
Among retirees who relocated, the cited survey found that 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a lower-cost community.
What could make the couple reconsider staying?
Block says their neighborhood could change or aging in place could become impractical. She does not identify a specific trigger or timetable for moving.
Source: rss
