Social Security Check: The Commonwealth of Virginia attracts retirees with its appealing tax environment, low crime rate, roughly 100 hospitals dispersed throughout the state, breathtaking scenery, and fascinating history.
Virginia will not tax your Social Security payments or require you to pay estate taxes. Seniors can deduct up to $12,000 in pension income and withdrawals from retirement savings.
Additionally, Virginia has some of the lowest rates of crime in the country.The Old Dominion has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the country (2.3%), and its burglary rates are significantly lower than the national average, according to a survey from Apartments.com earlier this year.
The state does have some affluent areas, especially in northern Virginia close to Washington, D.C., but there are a number of places that are more affordable for retirees on a tight budget.
Social Security Check
If you’re considering retiring to Virginia but only intend to live off of your Social Security income, GOBankingRates has already done some of your research. We’ve compiled a top-10 list of locations that match your degree of affordability with high livability scores by analysing data from the Social Security Administration, Zillow, Sperling’s Best Places, the U.S. Census, and the Bureau of Labour Statistics. We have taken into account that the average monthly Social Security payout for a couple today is approximately $3,580.
The state capital, both big and small towns, and the top entry—where the average monthly rent is less than $1,300—are all included in our list. Continue reading for our entire countdown and our entire process.
10 Best Places in Virginia for a Couple To Live
10. Rustburg
- Rent on average is $1,395
- $3,142 is the average monthly cost of living overall.
- Score for livability: 75
About 2,000 people live in tiny Rustburg, an unincorporated town in south central Virginia 12 miles south of Lynchburg. Here, retired couples pay roughly $381 for groceries and $362 for utilities each month. The historic Campbell County Courthouse, constructed in the late 1840s, is located in Rustburg.
9. The Petersburg
- $1,239 rent on average
- The average monthly cost of living overall is $2,938.
- Score for livability: 63
Petersburg is one of only two locations on our list where the monthly total cost of living is less than $3,000, and it also boasts the lowest monthly rent and total cost of living. Although Petersburg has a lot of historic buildings and other sites, it also has the lowest livability score. It’s situated along the Appomattox River about 20 miles south of Richmond, the state capital.
8. The Salem
- Rent on average: $1,381
- $3,145 is the average monthly cost of living overall.
- Score for livability: 77
Salem refers to itself as “Virginia’s Championship City” and is home to numerous baseball and softball events every year. Approximately 20% of the 25,000 residents are 65 years of age or older. About 20 minutes west of Roanoke, on the West Virginia border, is where you’ll find Salem.
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7. The Norfolk
- The mean rent is $1,481.
- The average monthly cost of living is $3,215 overall.
- Score for livability: 81
Of the ten cities in our ranking, Norfolk has the most inhabitants, with over 238,000. Its livability score is third-highest, but it also has the highest average monthly rent and overall cost of living on our list. Numerous museums, minor league baseball and hockey, and annual festivals are among the attractions. Southeast Virginia is home to Norfolk, which is also the location of one of the two NATO Strategic Command headquarters and Naval Station Norfolk.
6. Waynesboro
- Rent on average is $1,368.
- $3,020 is the average monthly cost of living.
- Score for livability: 72
Waynesboro is a well-liked destination for hiking, biking, paddling, and fishing because of its location at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Retirement investors on a tight budget might also find its modest monthly cost of living—just over $3,001—to be appealing.
5. The Roanoke
- The mean rent is $1,269
- The average monthly cost of living is $3,009 overall.
- Score for livability: 75
Situated in southwest Virginia, Historic Roanoke is situated beside the Blue Ridge Parkway. Popular activities there include hiking, mountain biking, and breathtaking drives. Many couples living on Social Security alone can also afford Roanoke, as average monthly grocery and utility bills are roughly $380 and $347, respectively.
4. Richmond
- Rent on average: $1,453
- The average monthly cost of living overall is $3,161
- Score for livability: 84
With a population of over 226,000, the state capital of Virginia has the second-highest livability rating on our list. Many retired couples who just receive Social Security income may also afford it. The average monthly rent in Richmond is less than $1,500, and the cost of utilities is also affordable, at less than $350. There is a lot to do here, especially if you enjoy the great outdoors or are interested in history. The location of several significant historical events, including Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, is Richmond, which was incorporated in 1742.
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3. South Hill
- Rent on average is $1,325
- $3,018 is the average monthly cost of living overall.
- Score for livability: 76
About 24% of South Hill’s 4,600 residents are over the age of 65. South Hill is a little town located roughly midway between Raleigh and Richmond. It has attractions including a farmers market and the old Colonial Centre for the Performing Arts, and it’s adjacent to two sizable lakes, Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake.
2. The Staunton
- $1,411 rent on average
- The average monthly cost of living is $3,049 overall.
- Score for livability: 78
Situated in the Shenandoah Valley, approximately 40 miles west of Charlottesville and 157 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., Staunton dates back almost 300 years. The American Shakespeare Centre, the Heifetz International Music Institute, and the presidential library of native son Woodrow Wilson are just a few of its many cultural attractions. Staunton is home to about 26,000 people.
1. Lynchburg
- The mean rent is $1,285
- $2,974 is the average monthly cost of living.
- Score for livability: 90
Lynchburg has a high livability index with a monthly average cost of living for retired couples that is less than $3,000. Separated from Lynchburg, Tennessee, which is the birthplace of Jack Daniel’s whisky, the Virginia location lies close to the state’s centre, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Of its estimated 79,000 population, 14% are 65 years of age or older. Along with a riverfront downtown, residents and visitors can enjoy easy access to a multitude of parks, trails, and historic sites. For retired couples, the monthly rent is approximately $1,285—the second lowest amount among our top ten.
