TL;DR
A Seniors Guide report by retired Kiplinger writer Sandra Block describes her decision to remain in Northern Virginia and weighs healthcare, transportation and local ties against higher living costs. It cites a 2024 Transamerica survey in which 62% of retirees said they stayed in the home they lived in before retirement; the report does not establish that staying is best for everyone.
A report on retirement housing choices says 62% of retirees surveyed in 2024 were still living in the homes they occupied before retiring, while its author, retired Kiplinger writer Sandra Block, describes why she and her husband expect to remain in Northern Virginia. Their decision reflects access to hospitals, specialists and public transportation, balanced against higher housing and living costs—trade-offs that vary by household and location.
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Block’s report, published by Seniors Guide, draws on her experience researching retirement destinations and her own planning. She says she and her husband had considered places they visited and destinations featured in retirement coverage, but now expect to stay near Washington, D.C. She presents the choice as a personal decision, not a recommendation that every retiree should remain where they are.
The report attributes the survey figures to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. In addition to the 62% who remained in their pre-retirement home, it says that among retirees who relocated, 36% wanted to be closer to family and friends, about one-third downsized, and about one-quarter moved to a lower-cost community. The report does not provide further survey details such as sample size or field dates.
For Block, proximity to care is a major consideration: she says the couple lives less than two miles from a major hospital center and near a range of specialists. She also points to nearby Metro rail and a bus stop, with ride-hailing services as another option. These advantages matter to her because driving may become difficult later, while her rural hometown has limited medical access and no public transportation, according to her account.
The Trade-Offs Behind Staying Put
Retirement location can affect access to care, mobility, finances and social support. Remaining in a familiar area may preserve connections with neighbors and make it easier to reach health services or travel without a car. For people whose family, friends or services are elsewhere, however, staying may not provide the support or affordability they need.
Block’s account also shows why the decision can change over time. She says the couple’s current plan feels manageable but acknowledges that neighborhood conditions or their own needs could make aging in place impractical. Her example is a case study, not evidence that one location strategy produces better outcomes for retirees overall.
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What the Survey Reports
The 2024 Transamerica survey figures cited in the report distinguish between retirees who stayed and those who moved. The stated reasons for relocation include family and friends, downsizing, and lower costs. These categories describe reported motivations; the source does not say they are mutually exclusive or give a detailed breakdown of how respondents were surveyed.
Block also notes the financial costs of her preferred location. She says Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits, while most other retirement income is taxed at a top rate of 5.75%, with a deduction of up to $12,000 for eligible retirees. She describes local property taxes as high after her home’s value rose. Those details are her account of the couple’s circumstances and do not determine the tax position of every Virginia retiree.
“We’ll probably stay where we are – in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.”
— Sandra Block, retired Kiplinger staff writer and report author
When Staying May Stop Working
The report does not establish whether staying close to home leads to better retirement outcomes than relocating. It offers Block’s experience alongside survey figures, but provides no detailed information on the survey’s sample, methodology or the circumstances of individual respondents. The reasons retirees choose to move may also overlap.
Block says it is not yet clear whether she and her husband will be able to remain in their current home long term. Their health needs, finances, neighborhood conditions and access to help could change. The report does not specify a threshold for when aging in place becomes impractical, and individual decisions depend on housing, care and support needs.
Planning for Changing Needs
Block says she intends to keep building ties locally by getting to know neighbors, taking adult education classes and visiting nearby attractions. She also describes helping older residents on her street by shoveling snow, with the hope that others may assist her and her husband in the future.
Her account leaves open whether they will ultimately stay in their home or move. For readers weighing a similar decision, the report points to practical factors to evaluate—medical access, transportation without driving, housing costs, taxes and nearby support—while underscoring that circumstances may require revisiting the plan.
Key Questions
How many retirees in the cited survey stayed in their pre-retirement home?
The report says 62% of retirees in a 2024 Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey were living in the home they occupied before retirement. It does not give the survey’s sample size or field dates.
Why does Sandra Block plan to stay near Washington, D.C.?
Block cites nearby hospital and specialist care, Metro rail, bus service and ride-hailing options. She also values local connections, but recognizes that living costs and property taxes are high.
Why did some retirees in the report move?
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 a lower-cost community. It does not give further survey methodology.
Does the report recommend that everyone stay in their current home?
No. It presents Block’s choice as a personal example and does not show that staying is better for everyone. Health access, transportation, affordability and family support differ by person and location.
Could Block change her mind later?
Yes. Block says she wants to remain flexible and acknowledges that aging in place could become impractical if her needs or neighborhood conditions change. The report does not say when or whether the couple will move.
Source: rss
