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Home
Vol VI Issue 40
May 31, 2011
Previous Issues
Understated
Elegance with a Bit of a Collegiate Atmosphere, American Colonial
History and Plenty of
Golf are Just a Few Reasons Why Retirees Come to Welcoming Williamsburg, Virginia
Cost of Living: Above the National Average
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Located in southeastern Virginia, along with Yorktown
and Jamestown, Williamsburg (population 13,000) is part
of the state's Historic Triangle. The center of town,
the restored, 173-acre Colonial Williamsburg, is one of
the largest tourist attractions in the country, drawing
nearly four million visitors a year. Originally
Middleton Plantation, a 1632 fortified settlement,
Williamsburg was named Virginia Colony's capital in 1698
after Jamestown burned down. It soon became a
center of pre-Revolutionary War activities, and today,
the non-touristy part of town attracts professionals,
families, students (the College of William and Mary is
located here) and retirees seeking an understated
elegance combined with a collegiate ambiance. Of course,
for early American history buffs, there is hardly a better place to retire
than Williamsburg (and nearly 25% of residents are age 45 or better).
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The cost of living is high,
roughly 40% above the national average, but living here gives residents
easy access to the beach (Virginia Beach is an hour east), the
mountains (snow skiing is just three hours away) and the cultural amenities
of Washington, D.C. (two hours north). Homes come in all
shapes and sizes, but the average house has four bedrooms, 2,500 square feet and sells in the
low-$400,000s. Stately historic
dwellings and homes built to look as though they date from the 1600s
and 1700s (beautiful brick Georgians, Colonials, etc.) start in the $500,000 and up range.
Some condos and town homes are available for
less than $200,000, as are some single-family homes, although
inventory starts to open up in the mid-$200,000s.
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Williamsburg also has a number of beautiful planned
developments. Colonial Heritage is an elegant active adult community
with town homes, carriage homes and single family homes priced from the
mid-$200,000s. Governor's Land at Two Rivers is a private golf community
with homes from $600,000 to $3 million. Kings Mill is a resort
development on the James River and has homes starting at around $225,000. The
most well known of all of Williamsburg's planned communities is probably
Ford's Colony, often noted as the best planned development in the U.S., with
three 18-hole golf courses (which have won Golf Digest's highest award)
and homes priced from the high-$200,000s and into the millions of dollars.
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Real estate is assessed at 100% of fair market
value, and the tax rate in the city of Williamsburg is roughly
$0.50 per $100 of market value. The annual tax on a $415,000 home is approximately
$2,100 (higher in the county). When it comes
to retirement taxes, an exemption of $930 is allowed for each
filer, plus filers age 65 or better receive an additional
exemption of $800. Depending on age, taxpayers may also
claim an extra $6,000 to $12,000 deduction. This amount may be reduced when
annual income exceeds $50,000 (single) or $75,000 (married).
Long term care insurance is deductible, and Social Security is
not taxed.
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This is an interactive map.
Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and
click on the +/- signs (more than once if necessary) to zoom
in and out.
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Williamsburg is really two towns. The central district, Colonial
Williamsburg, is all about
historical tourism and is a
magnificent living history museum. Costumed re-enactors
stroll through lush grounds, 80 original structures and dozens of
reconstructed 18th century buildings, vividly bringing the past to life. But neighborhoods to the west, into which tourists rarely
venture, are safe, quiet and prim. Streets are lined with
trees, and a hint of exclusivity hangs in the air.
Adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg, Merchants' Square is a delightful 18th-century retail village with more than forty shops and restaurants.
Rsidents mingle with tourists and enjoy summer evening concerts and dining at
quaint outdoor cafes. Other shopping venues include a large selection of outlet stores, another reason tourists come to
Williamsburg. Even Colonial Williamsburg, which never closes, is a pleasant place for an evening stroll back in time.
The locals say that Christmas is a truly magical time, with horse drawn carriages
and homes tastefully decorated for the event. And while this
is a southern destination, residents have a unique Tidewater accent, "inherited" from early
English settlers.
In addition to its cozy charm and rich heritage, retirees are attracted
to Williamsburg for its golf. Within a short radius, twenty or
more public and private golf courses are scattered about, and Golf Digest has named the
area as one of the top 50 greatest golf destinations in the world.
The elite college of William and Mary (chartered by King William III and Queen
Mary II in 1693) has a large presence here, and attending its football and
basketball games is a stimulating way to spend an afternoon or evening.
The Williamsburg Regional Library is a gem, with concerts, a bookmobile,
lectures, workshops, book discussions, public computers and even books.
The Williamsburg Winery
(Virginia's largest), the Williamsburg Botanical Garden and Busch Gardens are
great spots to take the grandkids (okay, maybe not the winery). Camping
and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains and boating on the James and York
Rivers are further fun diversions.
The Christopher Wren Association, sponsored by the College of
William and Mary, offers classes to people of all ages who have a desire
to continue academic learning (but most members are well seasoned). Currently, 1,600 people belong to
the Association, and the membership fee is $85 or $35 per semester. Classes are
taught by current and retired College of William and Mary professors, as well
as others, and include such titles as "The End of
Colonialism and the Cold War," "Greeks in the Western
Mediterranean" and "Fall in Love with Italian Opera."
There are no tests or grades, but these classes are not for
slackers.
Williamsburg Area Transit provides public bus
service and connects with the more extensive Hampton Roads Transit to provide
adequate coverage of the area. Para-transit is available, and there is a
trolley (but it is geared more for tourists). Amtrak services the
city, with trains heading east, and the Newport News/Williamsburg
International Airport, which is not actually an international airport, is 20
miles away. Richmond International Airport is 50 miles away.
The Historic Triangle Senior Center is located in the
James City/Williamsburg Community Center and offers fitness programs, socials,
boat trips, bridge games, dance classes, art classes, health screenings and
more. Non-emergency transportation is available to anyone age 55 or
better and to the disabled.
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical
Center is a new facility and has 145 beds. It is fully accredited,
award-winning for patient safety and specializes in heart care, nephrology, minimally invasive
surgery, cancer care and orthopedics. This facility is patient-centered
and all rooms are private with
overnight accommodations for family. It accepts both Medicare and
Medicaid patients. Eastern State Hospital, also accredited by the Joint
Commission, is here, too, and accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients. Further medical care can be
found in Newport News (30 miles) or in Richmond (50 miles). For
military retirees, both Richmond and Hampton (35 miles) have a VA hospital.
Summers are hot and
humid (daytime temperatures can reach the 90s but average in the low 80s), and winters
are relatively mild (temperatures are usually in the 30s and 40s). The
area receives about six inches of snow and nearly fifty
inches of rain annually. On the comfort index, a combination of humidity
and temperature, the area ranks below the national average. The sun shines
210 days of the year. Both the air quality and the water
quality are above the national averages.
Williamsburg has a few drawbacks as a retirement spot.
It is experiencing growing pains, and traffic is sluggish, particularly near
the center of town. Dining options are not overwhelming, and most
restaurants cater to families and kids. Nightlife is
practically non-existent. Jobs are few (many are taken by college students),
and wages are low. Sometimes it gets a little noisy around
the William and Mary campus. Tourists come by the bus load (but with a
little inside knowledge, they can be avoided).
Despite the downsides, retirees who live in Williamsburg seem to love
it. Its history, collegiate flavor and quiet affluence create an
appealing place to call home. It may not be a perfect place, but many people think its comes close.
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