If your retirement requirements involve hiking through the Appalachian Mountains, soaking up the sun at Virginia Beach, and paying less in taxes, then Virginia is for you.
That’s right. Virginia is not only for lovers. It’s also for people looking to spend their retirement years in safe, affordable cities with plenty to do.
To determine Virginia’s best places to retire, we looked at several important factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent, and the distance to the closest national airport for every place with over 10,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 37 cities.
The competition for Virginia’s best place to retire was fierce. It’s not lost on us that many cities on this list are also the state’s safest places and some of the best places in Virginia to raise a family. And there must be something super special about Poquoson and Falls Church.
They keep showing up on all of Virginia’s best of the best lists.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Virginia For 2025
What’s the best place to retire in Virginia for 2025? The best place to retire in Virginia is Martinsville according to the most recent data.
If you choose to live in one of Virginia’s best places to retire, you could be strolling the Dan Daniel Memorial Park in Danville or rubbing elbows with Staunton’s finest on the greens at The Club at Ironwood. And if you play your cards right, you could just become a permanent resident of Virginia’s best place to retire.
Why did Martinsville take the top spot? And where are Virginia Beach and Chesapeake?
For more Virginia state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Virginia For 2025
/10
Population: 13,584
Median Income: $42,434
Median Home Price: $92,500
Median Rent: $784
Distance to Closest Airport: 81 miles
More on Martinsville: Data
/10
Population: 25,765
Median Income: $62,586
Median Home Price: $239,300
Median Rent: $993
Distance to Closest Airport: 102 miles
More on Staunton: Data
/10
Population: 10,151
Median Income: $80,441
Median Home Price: $423,500
Median Rent: $1,512
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Warrenton: Data
/10
Population: 22,944
Median Income: $48,681
Median Home Price: $165,100
Median Rent: $1,085
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Hopewell: Data
/10
Population: 42,239
Median Income: $42,778
Median Home Price: $110,200
Median Rent: $808
Distance to Closest Airport: 59 miles
More on Danville: Data
/10
Population: 12,556
Median Income: $120,919
Median Home Price: $403,000
Median Rent: $1,634
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Poquoson: Data
/10
Population: 22,574
Median Income: $56,364
Median Home Price: $236,600
Median Rent: $972
Distance to Closest Airport: 94 miles
More on Waynesboro: Data
/10
Population: 15,564
Median Income: $70,206
Median Home Price: $393,200
Median Rent: $1,361
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Williamsburg: Data
/10
Population: 15,152
Median Income: $64,025
Median Home Price: $284,900
Median Rent: $1,133
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Front Royal: Data
/10
Population: 14,593
Median Income: $154,734
Median Home Price: $1,005,400
Median Rent: $2,205
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Falls Church: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Old Dominion for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Virginia to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Old Dominion — 593 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 37 places from across the state.
For these 37, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 37, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Martinsville, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Virginia.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Virginia Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Virginia goes to Martinsville.
The best places to retire in Virginia are Martinsville, Staunton, Warrenton, Hopewell, Danville, Poquoson, Waynesboro, Williamsburg, Front Royal, and Falls Church.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Manassas
- Blacksburg
- Fredericksburg
For more Virginia reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsville | 13,584 | $42,434 | $92,500 | $784 |
| 2 | Staunton | 25,765 | $62,586 | $239,300 | $993 |
| 3 | Warrenton | 10,151 | $80,441 | $423,500 | $1,512 |
| 4 | Hopewell | 22,944 | $48,681 | $165,100 | $1,085 |
| 5 | Danville | 42,239 | $42,778 | $110,200 | $808 |
| 6 | Poquoson | 12,556 | $120,919 | $403,000 | $1,634 |
| 7 | Waynesboro | 22,574 | $56,364 | $236,600 | $972 |
| 8 | Williamsburg | 15,564 | $70,206 | $393,200 | $1,361 |
| 9 | Front Royal | 15,152 | $64,025 | $284,900 | $1,133 |
| 10 | Falls Church | 14,593 | $154,734 | $1,005,400 | $2,205 |