TL;DR
A 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey found that 62% of retirees remained in the home they occupied before retirement. A Seniors Guide report by retired Kiplinger writer Sandra Block describes why she and her husband expect to stay in Northern Virginia, while noting that cost and future needs could change their plans.
A 2024 survey found that 62% of retirees were still living in the home they occupied before retiring, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. In a Seniors Guide report, retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer Sandra Block explains why she and her husband expect to stay in Northern Virginia, pointing to nearby health care and public transit while acknowledging that costs and changing needs could alter their decision.
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Block’s report describes a choice rather than a universal recommendation: after writing about retirement destinations such as college towns, beach communities and overseas enclaves, she and her husband concluded they would probably remain just outside Washington, D.C. She says their decision reflects the services available where they live and the practical challenges of moving elsewhere.
Among retirees who relocated, the survey found that 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. These are reported reasons for moving; the figures do not establish that one location or choice works best for all retirees.
Block says the couple lives less than two miles from a major hospital center and Metro rail station, with a bus stop a block away. She contrasts that access with her rural hometown, where she says residents may drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and public transportation is unavailable. The report also notes that ride-sharing services could provide another option, although their availability and cost can vary.
Health Care and Mobility Shape the Choice
Where someone retires can affect everyday access to medical care, transportation and social support, not just housing costs or scenery. Block’s account illustrates why proximity to specialists and alternatives to driving may weigh heavily for people planning for a time when they may be less able or willing to use a car.
Staying can also preserve familiar relationships and routines, but it does not automatically make a home suitable over the long term. Block notes that her Northern Virginia area has a higher cost of living than many parts of the country, as well as high property taxes. Her account presents those expenses alongside the services the couple values, rather than claiming the trade-off is right for everyone.
The survey’s relocation reasons show that retirees have different priorities: some move toward family, others seek a smaller home or lower costs. The figures can help readers understand common motivations, but they do not indicate what any individual household can afford or what services are available in a particular town.
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Survey Findings and Local Trade-Offs
The report is based on Block’s personal decision and the survey figures she cites, not a new national analysis of retirement locations. Block says that years of researching destinations and hearing reactions from readers made her consider where she would want to live after retirement. The couple’s decision to stay is still described as a likely plan, not an irrevocable commitment.
Block also gives details specific to Virginia. She says the state does not tax Social Security benefits, while most other retirement income is taxed at a top rate of 5.75%; eligible retirees may deduct up to $12,000. She reports that rising home values have contributed to high property taxes in her area. Those details are not a full accounting of a household’s tax liability, and the report does not compare total expenses across possible destinations.
For now, Block describes retirement as an opportunity to explore nearby parks, museums and adult education classes and to build relationships with neighbors. She says she and her husband recently shoveled snow for older residents on their street, an example of the informal help they hope will be available to them later.
“I’m viewing retirement as an extended staycation.”
— Sandra Block, describing her outlook in the Seniors Guide report
Plans Depend on Future Needs
The report does not say whether Block and her husband will remain in Northern Virginia permanently. She says their plan is manageable for now but that they need to stay flexible if the neighborhood changes or aging in place becomes impractical. It does not provide a timeline or a specific trigger for moving.
The survey figures cited in the report do not include enough detail here to determine how results vary by income, health, location or other characteristics. They also do not show whether retirees who stayed were satisfied with their choice or how many later moved. The report offers no like-for-like comparison of housing, taxes, health care and transportation costs across retirement destinations.
Access can change over time: an existing transit route, nearby medical service or informal support network may not always meet a person’s needs. The account does not assess the couple’s future care requirements or give a detailed financial projection for staying versus relocating.
Reassessing Home as Needs Change
Block does not announce a planned move or a specific next milestone. She says the couple intends to keep using local amenities, take adult education classes and build ties with neighbors while their current arrangement works. Her stated approach is to revisit the decision if their neighborhood changes or remaining at home becomes impractical.
For readers weighing a similar choice, the report points to issues to compare: access to health services, the ability to get around without driving, housing and tax costs, and proximity to family or other support. The article does not prescribe a decision or offer personalized financial advice; each factor depends on a household’s circumstances and on services available locally.
Key Questions
How many retirees stayed in their pre-retirement home?
The 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey cited in the report found that 62% of retirees were living in the home they occupied before retirement.
Why did some retirees move?
Among those 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 community with a lower cost of living.
Why does Sandra Block expect to stay in Northern Virginia?
Block cites nearby hospital and specialist access, Metro rail, bus service and ride-sharing options. She also says the area’s high cost of living and property taxes are drawbacks.
Does the report recommend that retirees stay close to home?
No. It presents Block’s personal decision and survey findings, not a recommendation for every retiree. The report describes different reasons people stay or move and notes that plans may change as health, finances or local conditions change.
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