VA Community Ranked Best Place To Live For Older Adults

ARLINGTON, VA — Several communities in Virginia are among the best places to live for older adults, according to new analyses of factors affecting quality of life.

The AARP released its 2025 rankings of the top communities in the country for older adults, considering factors such as affordable housing, job market and walkability, and one Virginia city was named the best large city for seniors nationwide.

In all, five Virginia communities made this year's rankings, which were separated into four categories by population size.

Arlington County took the top spot in the large category for the second year in a row, directly followed by the city of Alexandria at No. 2. One of Arlington’s strengths is its ADA-compliant bus system, which accommodates people with limited mobility, according to the ranking.

Other top cities in each category were San Francisco (very large); Cliffside Park, New Jersey (medium); and Great Neck Plaza, New York (small).

For each location, AARP's Livability Index platform measured 61 indicators across seven different categories of livability: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement and opportunity.

"There isn't one size or one type of community that fits all," said Rodney Harrell, one of the creators of the index and AARP's vice president of family, home and community. "It's about knowing how well your community will work for you today and into the future."

Fairfax County came in at No. 5 in the very large communities category — places with a population of more than 500,000.

Two cities in Virginia were represented in the small communities category for places with a population from 5,000 to 24,999, including Falls Church at No. 2 and Vienna at No. 24.

No places in the Commonwealth made the list of midsize communities for places with a population from 25,000 to 99,999.

See the full rankings.