Frederickskburg Among Best Virginia Retirement Spots: Report

FREDERICKSBURG, VA—Fredericksburg is many things to many people, what with the eclectic makeup of its downtown area, its many historical landmarks and its prime location halfway between the DC area and Richmond. Well, a new ranking suggests it's also an ideal spot to retire.

SmartAsset, a financial planning website, ranked Fredericksburg the best fifth-best place to live in Virginia. The site compiled places that not only offer parks, healthcare access, retirement-based recreation centers and other attractions for retirees to enjoy, but financial benefits to get the most out of retirement income and savings. No. 1 is Fairfax County.

The state overall is tax-friendly for retirees, especially since Social Security benefits aren't taxed. "Though the state is generally a good place for retirees to put down stakes, some locations are better than others," the study stated.

The study cites Fredericksburg's "40-block national historic district nestled in its downtown area," but also its healthcare access and many retirement communities.

"According to our research," SmartAsset wrote, "the region has considerably more hospitals than all the top-ranking places to retire in Virginia."

Here are the top ten places for retirees in Virginia:

1. Fairfax County
2. Falls Church
3. Williamsburg
4. Bedford
5. Fredericksburg
6. Vienna
7. Woodstock
8. Winchester
9. South Boston

See the full study here.

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