Fredericksburg, Virginia

What It Is Like to Retire in Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is a fast growing old town near the Rappahannock River in Virginia. The area is extremely popular as a retirement community with many active adult communities either recently or in the process of being built.There is a 40-block national historic district in the city's downtown area that contains more than 350 buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Fredericksburg is closely associated with George Washington, who was born nearby. During the Civil War Fredericksburg was extremely important as a strategic objective. Close by Fredericksburg to the southeast is the Northern Neck area of Virginia, another very popular area for active adults. Watch this short Youtube video presented by Fredericksburg VA Economic Development and Tourism

Where to Retire in Fredericksburg and Home Prices

There are some active adult and 55+ communities here as Washington D.C. area retirees look for retirement places nearby. Zillow.com lists the median home value at $463,000 in early 2025 - about $100,000 more than the national figure. See our list of Fredericksburg active communities here.

What Is Special about Fredericksburg

350 historical buildings. George Washington was born nearby. University of Mary Washington College is in Fredericksburg. There are military battlefields here and in nearby Spotsylvania.

What Is Not Special about Fredericksburg

Many of Fredericksburg's residents commute somewhere else to work. Traffic can be very busy from both commuters and the over 1.5 million tourists who come here each year.

Who Will Like Retirement in Fredericksburg

History buffs, active adults in retirement, and many working people who commute elsewhere.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Tourism and retirement are 2 of the mainstays of the Fredericksburg economy.

Climate and Physical Environment

Fredericksburg is 50 miles south of Washington and 55 miles north of Richmond. I95 cuts through town and the Rappahannock River is just to the east.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

There are a number of museums and National Military Parks in the area, many of them related to the civil war or George Washington.The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is 38 miles to the east. The James Monroe Law Museum is another attraction. A museum of slavery is set to open in the future.

Crime

Crime rate is slightly above average in Fredericksburg.

Medical facilities

Mary Washington Hospital is located in Fredericksburg.

Transportation

I95 goes through Fredericksburg; The Washington Airports of Dulles and Reagan are within 50 miles and there is an AMTRAK station. Fredericksburg has average walkability when compared to other towns.

Valuable Links

Fredericksburg VA Guide to Virginia retirement communities Wikipedia entry for Fredericksburg

Comments on "Fredericksburg"

Admin says:

March 12, 2025

Dave provided us with this great link. Here are his comments (thanks Dave):

My wife and I have been in this area - about 15 miles west in Spotsylvania – for about 20 years. The article is quite accurate, but with the realization of this area being so good, It’s being rapidly overdeveloped. Road infrastructure is not keeping up with demand. Traffic congestion is a big turn-off, but manageable once you get to know alternative routes. Many residents in the area work in DC, so we don’t know yet how DOGE may impact the daily rush hours. With three hospitals within easy reach, the availability of medical services and specialty practices is quite good. And if you can’t find it here, UVA (Charlottesville) and VCU (Richmond) are roughly a 2 -hour drive. If you’re a Foodie, you can find anything you want here (Alice’s Restaurant? ?)

My wife and I are still planning on downsizing – but we can’t quite bring ourselves to move into a 55+ ‘cookie cutter’ community. And then there are the challenges of distance from family members and the annoying hidden costs of golf, which we don’t play. ‘We’ll see what happens’.
https://www.islands.com/1804922/situated-between-washington-dc-richmond-virginia-fredericksburg-colonial-sites-monuments-historically-rich-city/