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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

 

 

 

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).

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. 

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.

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.

Williamsburg, Virginia


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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.

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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