Should You Stay Close To Home In Retirement?

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A retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer says she and her husband expect to remain in Northern Virginia, citing nearby healthcare, public transportation and familiar community ties. A 2024 Transamerica survey found 62% of retirees stayed in their pre-retirement home, while others moved for family, downsizing or lower costs. The writer says their plan may change if staying becomes impractical.

A retired Kiplinger Personal Finance writer says she and her husband expect to stay in Northern Virginia in retirement, pointing to nearby healthcare, public transportation and social ties rather than moving to a destination popular with retirees. Their choice reflects a broader pattern: a 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey found that 62% of retirees stayed in the home they lived in before retiring.

The writer, Sandra Block, said she had spent years researching retirement destinations, including college towns, beach communities and places abroad. She and her husband considered where they might want to live, including destinations they enjoyed while traveling, but now expect to remain near Washington, D.C. Her account is a personal decision, not a recommendation that retirees should stay put.

Block said their home is less than two miles from a major hospital center, with medical specialists available in the wider metropolitan area. She also cited access to Metro rail and bus service, as well as ride-sharing apps, as ways they could get around if they eventually stopped driving. She contrasted that with her rural hometown, where she said some residents drive more than an hour to see a cardiologist and public transportation is unavailable.

The choice has financial and practical downsides. Block described the area’s cost of living and property taxes as high. She said Virginia 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 said their current plan seems manageable but acknowledged that circumstances could change.

The Trade-Offs Behind Staying Put

Where retirees live can affect access to care, mobility, housing costs and daily contact with family and neighbors. Block’s account illustrates how those factors can point in different directions: remaining near familiar services and community can come with higher housing expenses, while relocating may reduce costs or bring someone closer to relatives.

The survey figure offers a broad snapshot, but it does not show that staying is better for every retiree. A person’s health, finances, transport options and support network differ, and the practical value of remaining in one home can change over time. Block says flexibility is part of her plan, rather than treating staying in place as a permanent commitment.

What the Survey and Writer Describe

The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey cited in the report found that 62% of retirees remained in the home they occupied before retirement. Among retirees who relocated, the report says 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to an area with a lower cost of living. The source does not provide the survey’s sample size or further methodology, so those figures should be read within the limits of the information reported.

Block’s earlier work involved researching places that attract retirees, and she said reader responses often highlighted local advantages or challenged destination choices. Her own decision instead centers on the services and connections already available to her household. She also described treating retirement as an opportunity to explore nearby parks and museums, take adult education classes and get to know neighbors.

“For now, I think our plan is manageable, but I’m also aware of the need to be flexible.”

— Sandra Block

How Long Staying Will Work

Block does not say how long she and her husband expect to remain in their current home or what specific conditions would prompt a move. Their future healthcare needs, finances, transportation access and neighborhood circumstances are unknown. The report also does not provide enough survey methodology to assess how closely the 2024 figures represent all retirees or how respondents defined staying in their pre-retirement home.

A Plan That Can Change

Block says she and her husband plan to keep using local amenities and building relationships with neighbors while remaining alert to whether their home and area continue to meet their needs. She describes helping older neighbors with snow removal and hopes younger residents may provide similar assistance later. The report does not announce a move or set a date for revisiting the decision; the next step is an ongoing assessment of whether staying remains practical.

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 remained in the home they lived in before retiring.

Why does Sandra Block plan to stay near home?

Block cited nearby healthcare, Metro rail and bus service, plus familiar surroundings and community connections. She and her husband live in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C.

Why do some retirees move?

The report says surveyed retirees who relocated cited wanting to be closer to family and friends, downsizing, or moving to a place with a lower cost of living. The figures given are 36%, about one-third and about one-quarter, respectively.

Does Block rule out moving later?

No. She says their current plan seems manageable but that they need to remain flexible. She acknowledges that a change in their neighborhood or circumstances could make aging in place impractical.

Source: rss