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A Seniors Guide report by retired Kiplinger writer Sandra Block describes her decision to remain in Northern Virginia, citing nearby medical care and public transportation while acknowledging high housing and tax costs. A 2024 Transamerica survey cited in the report found 62% of retirees stayed in the home they lived in before retirement; the figures describe survey responses, not a recommendation for where others should live.
A Seniors Guide report by retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer Sandra Block describes her decision to remain in Northern Virginia after retiring, weighing access to doctors and transit against high housing costs and taxes. The article also cites a 2024 Transamerica survey in which 62% of retirees said they were staying in the home they had lived in before retirement, offering a snapshot of retirees’ choices rather than a rule for where others should live.
Block says she and her husband considered retirement destinations while she researched places such as college towns, beach communities and overseas locations for Kiplinger stories. After discussing the options, they concluded they would probably stay in the Washington, D.C., area. She says the decision reflects practical considerations as well as familiarity with the place where they already live.
One central factor is health care access. Block says their home is less than two miles from a major hospital center and that the metropolitan area has many specialists. She contrasts that with her rural hometown, where people may drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and access to general practitioners is becoming harder to find. These are her observations about the two places, not a broad comparison of medical access across all rural and urban communities.
Transportation is another consideration. Block says a Metro rail station is less than two miles from her home, a bus stop is a block away, and ride-hailing services are available. Those options could help if she and her husband eventually stop driving. She also notes the trade-offs: living costs are higher than in many parts of the country, and rising home values have pushed up their property taxes. In Virginia, she writes, Social Security benefits are not taxed, while most other retirement income faces a top rate of 5.75%, with a deduction of up to $12,000 for eligible retirees.
The Trade-Offs Behind Staying Put
The report shows why deciding whether to move in retirement involves more than choosing a preferred climate or community. Medical access, transportation, taxes, housing costs and nearby support can affect whether a location remains workable as a person’s needs change. Staying put may preserve familiar routines and services, but it does not guarantee that expenses or access will remain manageable.
Block’s account also underlines that the answer can change over time. She says she and her husband are open to reconsidering if their neighborhood changes or aging in place stops being practical. That flexibility matters because a decision that suits a household now may not fit later if health, mobility, finances or family circumstances shift. Her experience is one example, not a universal prescription.
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What Retirees Said About Moving
The report cites a 2024 survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, which found that 62% of retirees were staying in the home they had lived in before retiring. Among retirees who moved, the article says 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a lower-cost community.
Those stated reasons point to different priorities: maintaining family connections, reducing the demands of a larger home, or managing expenses. Block also describes friends who moved near adult children, relocated to a less expensive region, or downsized into a 55-plus community. The report does not provide further survey methodology or details about how the respondents were selected, so the figures should be read as the survey’s reported results.
Block’s own plan is to make more use of her current area. She describes exploring local parks and museums, taking adult education classes and getting to know neighbors. She says she and her husband shoveled snow for older homeowners on their street and hopes younger neighbors may help them in the future. That community connection is part of her reasoning, alongside services and costs.
“For now, I think our plan is manageable, but I’m also aware of the need to be flexible.”
— Sandra Block, describing her plans in the report
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Costs and Needs May Change
The report does not establish whether staying close to home will be financially or practically sustainable for Block and her husband over the long term. She says their plan is manageable for now but could change if their neighborhood changes or aging in place becomes impractical. It gives no detailed household budget, future care needs or timetable for a possible move.
The survey details presented in the article are also limited: it does not include the survey’s sample size, field dates or full methodology. The reported percentages therefore show what the cited survey found, but they do not explain why every respondent made a particular choice or predict what retirees generally will do in the future.
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How the Couple Will Reassess
Block does not describe a planned move or a specific next decision date. She says she and her husband intend to stay for now while remaining open to changing course if costs, neighborhood conditions or their ability to age in place shift. In the meantime, she plans to explore local attractions, take classes and build relationships with neighbors.
For readers weighing a similar choice, the report offers factors to examine rather than a prescribed answer: proximity to health services, transportation without a car, ongoing housing and tax costs, family connections and the availability of practical help. The article does not compare particular destinations or provide personalized financial guidance.
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Key Questions
How many retirees in the cited survey stayed in their pre-retirement home?
The report says a 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey found that 62% of retirees were staying in the home they lived in before retiring. The article does not give the survey’s sample size or full methodology.
Why does Sandra Block plan to stay in Northern Virginia?
Block cites nearby medical care and public transportation, as well as familiarity with the area and opportunities to connect with neighbors. She says the couple’s plans could change if staying becomes impractical.
What drawbacks does the report identify?
Block says the area costs more to live in than many other parts of the country and that rising home values have increased their property taxes. She also describes state tax rules for retirement income, including a deduction for eligible retirees.
What are common reasons retirees move, according to the report?
Among retirees who relocated, the report says 36% wanted to be nearer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a lower-cost community. These are figures cited from the 2024 survey.
Does the report recommend that retirees stay near home?
No. It presents Block’s personal reasoning and survey results, not a general recommendation. The factors she discusses include health care, transportation, costs, family and whether a home remains suitable over time.
Source: rss
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