If you are thinking about retiring in Virginia this website is an excellent source of information and data on Virginia retirement communities. Active adult communities for adults over 50 in Old Dominion are being built at a very fast rate. Virginia’s lower cost of living, close location to nearby major eastern cities,( Washington DC)  and great variety of places to live make it very attractive. There are 6 regions in the state going from the Tidewater to the Blue Ridge Mountains. It also has plenty of history going back to America’s earliest days. The population was 7.70 million in 2008. The Wikipedia entry for Virginia has more facts. From the center of the state you can be in the nations capital Washington DC, The ocean, The mountains, The Northern Neck of VA and most any other place in the state within 1-3+ hours.

Virginia Climate
The Virginia climate is called humid-sub-tropical. Summers are hot and humid and winters are not as cold as in the northeast.The climate is a bit milder in the western and more mountainous part of the state.

Economy & Housing Prices
At almost $60,000, Virginia’s household income is $9000 above the national average (although that figure is probably distorted by people who live near Washington D.C). Median home prices can range greatly – in Washington and its Virginia suburbs the early 2009 median price of $279,400 is well over the national median of $169,000. Richmond’s median home price was about $200,000 in the same period. In smaller towns and many active adult communities real estate prices can be relative bargains. Prices of homes in more rural areas can be quite a bit less. Cost of living in Richmond was indexed at 99, similar to the national average of 100, whereas Washington was 140.

Virginia Taxes
Virginia’s top marginal income tax rate is 5.75%, which is reached at an income level of $17,000. State sales tax is 5.0%, and municipalities are required to collect an additional 1%. At 9.8% the total tax burden in Virginia for 2009 is above average for the nation (ranks 18th).Residents over 65 qualify for a $800 exemption. Social security benefits are exempt. For more information go to the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Best retirement communities in Virginia
Virginia is a highly desirable state for retirement. Although it has a higher than average tax burden it retains most of its own baby boomers as well as attracts northerners and “half-backs”(people from the northeast who moved to and then became dissatisfied with Florida). Virginia communities that are popular with active adults 55 and over include Virginia Beach and Colonial Williamsburg. New communities are being added all of the time. Active adults will also find information on living in Virginia’s up and coming Northern Neck or  you can live near the Atlantic Ocean in VA Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk or other Hampton Roads communities, Lexington and Charlottesville, small college towns have also  proven to be a popular places for retirement in Virginia

This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf.  John is known around the area as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market.  His websites, www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com  and   www.MrWilliamsburg.com, were created as a comprehensive resource about living in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, with the hopes of selling a house now and again.  You can reach him at 757.254.8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com.