Study: Best Cities to Grow Old in Virginia

From the sandy beaches of the coast to the majestic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia serves up the best of both worlds to retirees. Summers lack the sweltering heat of Florida and the winters aren't quite as bracing as they are further north. There are major metropolitan cities mixed with quaint small towns and miles of gorgeous countryside in between. If you're on the hunt for a place to retire, these are the cities we recommend in the Old Dominion State.

10 Best Cities to Retire in Virginia

Study Methodology

To get our top 10, we first began by gathering U.S. Census data for all of Virginia's incorporated cities that have a population of 10,000 or more. From there, we assigned each city a ranking based on how it scored across the five categories listed below. The cities that made it into our final rankings are the ones that rated the best overall in terms of the following:

1. Senior Population
   
2. Housing
   
3. Income
   
4. Recreation
   
5. Healthcare/social assistance

Part of settling in to a new city means getting out and making friends but it can be difficult when there aren't many seniors around. We measured the percentage of people aged 65 and older in each city so you'll know where the largest retiree communities are.

Owning a home is a major financial accomplishment but it can also be a burden in retirement if you can't handle the cost or the upkeep. For many retirees, moving to an apartment community or townhome is the better choice. Our rankings took into account the percentage of multi-unit housing structures in each city to give you an idea of what's available.

Every retiree's financial picture looks different; some seniors may rely solely on Social Security while others are able to tap a personal nest egg. We looked at the median household income for seniors 65 and over in each city so you can see how much your peers are bringing in.

One of the biggest challenges of retiring is figuring out what to do with all your free time. If you're worried about finding enough ways to keep busy, take a look at how each city ranks based on the number of people versus art, recreation and entertainment establishments.

Moving to a new town usually means leaving your doctor, dentist or other healthcare providers behind. Finding appropriate services is a priority, particularly if you have an ongoing health condition or you need access to programs for seniors. Our final ranking criterion is based on the ratio of people in each city to the number of healthcare and social assistance establishments.

10. Martinsville

• Population Over 65: 19.5%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 26.5%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $24,505
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,056.4
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 114.4

Martinsville is a good fit for retirees who seek a low-key, affordable lifestyle. Just under 14,000 people live in the city, of which nearly 20% are seniors. Housing prices are a bargain and residents enjoy the third-best access to healthcare. It also ranks well for entertainment and the Martinsville Speedway is the most recognizable attraction. The Virginia Museum of Natural History is close by and you're less than 20 miles from Fairy Stone State Park.

Did You Know: The Martinsville Speedway is not only NASCAR's shortest track, it's also one of the oldest.

9. Alexandria

• Population Over 65: 9.3%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 62.8%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $64,280
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 3,251
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 368.5

The city of Alexandria is the most populous location in our study, with over 146,000 residents. While its close proximity to Washington, D.C. makes it highly desirable for working professionals, there are also a number of retirees who've settled down in the area. Alexandria has a substantial renter population and there are numerous multi-unit housing communities to choose from. The median payday for seniors isn't too shabby, at just over $64,000 and you're just minutes from sites like the Smithsonian and the Washington Monument.

Did You Know: Gadsby's Tavern in the Old Town District is famous for having served the first five U.S. presidents.

8. Charlottesville

• Population Over 65: 9.3%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 40.3%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $39,695
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,221
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 231.3

Home to the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Charlottesville has a reputation for attracting a younger crowd, but there's also a growing population of seniors. There's a good amount of multi-unit housing to be found, with close to a dozen communities just for seniors. The UVA Medical Center is one of the top-ranked healthcare facilities in the country and the city is teeming with things to do and places to visit, like the historic Michie Tavern.

Did You Know: Monticello bears the distinction of being the only home in the U.S. to be designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

7. Staunton

• Population Over 65: 19.6%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 28.3%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $28,318
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,594.7
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 246.6

Staunton's vibrant arts and cultural scene sets it apart from some of the other cities on our list, but that's just one of the reasons it ranks in the top 10. The city has the highest percentage of senior residents of any spot on our list and multi-unit housing is never in short supply. Staunton's location in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley makes it ideal for getting back to nature and there are plenty of museums, galleries and antique shops to discover.

Did You Know: Staunton is the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States.

6. Williamsburg

• Population Over 65: 13.4%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 41.8%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $52,128
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 3,791.8
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 329.7

If you're looking for a smaller town with lots of historic appeal, Williamsburg fits the bill. You'll pay a little more for housing but seniors also earn more, pulling in a median household income of over $52,000. Approximately 13% of the city's 15,000 residents are over 65 and the Historic Triangle Senior Center is a great place to connect with other retirees. Colonial Williamsburg offers a first-hand look at what life was like for the early settlers and you can get up close and personal with native species at the Virginia Living Museum.

Did You Know: Williamsburg served as capital of the Virginia colony from 1699 to 1780.

5. Colonial Heights

• Population Over 65: 19.4%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 19.1%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $41,169
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 2,184.9
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 208.1

Colonial Heights, a small independent city that sits just outside of Petersburg, is a good choice for retirees who are looking to save on housing costs. With about 17,500 residents, it's almost half the size of its larger neighbor but it's certainly not lacking in terms of amenities. There are over 80 healthcare and social assistance facilities in the city and hundreds more just 25 miles away in Richmond.

Did You Know: Violet Bank, an historic home turned museum, served as headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee during the siege of Petersburg.

4. Fredericksburg

• Population Over 65: 10%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 47.7%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $39,311
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,437.2
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 128.8

Fredericksburg sits along the banks of the Rappahannock River, roughly halfway between Richmond and Washington, D.C. There are a little over 27,000 people residing in the area and seniors account for a tenth of the population. You'll find a significant number of multi-unit housing options, although some of them are geared towards students attending the University of Mary Washington. Whether you're in the mood to play a round of golf, visit a Civil War battlefield or go on a late-night ghost tour, Fredericksburg has it all.

Did You Know: Fredericksburg is where you'll find Ferry Farm, the boyhood home of George Washington.

3. Winchester

• Population Over 65: 13.7%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 31%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $37,589
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,680.1
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 113.9

Also located in the Shenandoah Valley region, Winchester is one of Virginia's northernmost cities. Close to 27,000 people make their home here and nearly 14% are seniors over 65. Winchester earns the second best rating in the healthcare category and also fares well in terms of multi-unit housing. There are several vineyards in the area if you'd like to try some local wines or you can sample homemade apple butter and hot cider at the Marker-Miller Orchards and Farm Market.

Did You Know: Winchester has hosted the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival for almost 90 years.

2. Falls Church

• Population Over 65: 10.4%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 44.1%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $70,152
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 1,889.9
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 131

Falls Church sits less than 10 miles west of the nation's capital but you'll find the city of 13,000 residents offers a much slower pace. Some of the things that helped push Falls Church to a second place ranking include its high percentage of multi-unit housing and low ratio of people to healthcare and social assistance providers. It also doesn't hurt that seniors earn the highest median income out of all 10 cities. You have convenient access to some of the D.C. area's best attractions, but you can always check out Birch House and Cherry Hill if you want to stay closer to home.

Did You Know: The first Roy Rogers restaurant opened in Falls Church in 1968.

1. Fairfax

• Population Over 65: 13.8%
  
• Multi-unit Housing Structures: 24.9%
  
• Median Household Income 65 and Over: $68,750
  
• People per Art, Entertainment and Recreation Establishment: 868.9
  
• People per Healthcare and Social Assistance Establishment: 106.2

Fairfax not only comes in at number one overall on our list, it also takes top honors in the entertainment and healthcare categories. Over 23,000 people live in this affluent community and almost 14% are 65 or older. Seniors earn the second-highest median household income, which is a boon since housing tends to be a little pricier. There's a dedicated senior center that offers regular social and sightseeing activities, including outings to nearby Washington, D.C. The city also holds regular events throughout the year, including the Chocolate Lovers Festival each February and the Fairfax Irish Folk Festival.

Did You Know: "Seabiscuit" author Lauren Hillenbrand and actor Jason Sudeikis were both born in Fairfax.

Several of Virginia's larger cities like Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond also have healthy senior populations and there's a lot to like about each of them. In terms of our five study criteria, however, the cities that made it into our top 10 painted the most favorable retirement picture for both newcomers and current residents...