Community Corner

Best Places to Retire: Alexandria Ranks #2 in the Nation

The only negative in the survey: The cost of living.

Mary Ann Barton, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- If you're a resident of Alexandria and thinking about retiring soon, you just might want to stay put. Alexandria ranks second in the country on a list of best and worst places to retire across the nation, according to a survey by Bankrate, a finance news site.

Here's how Alexandria ranks in a number of factors in the survey:

  • Cost of living: High
  • Crime: Low
  • Well-being: Great
  • Walkability: Good
  • Taxes: Low
  • Healthcare: Great
  • Weather: Average
  • Culture: Great

Which area came in first in the ranking? Alexandria's neighbor, Arlington County.

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Do you agree with the ranking? Do you plan to retire in Alexandria? Comment on this article in the Comments box below the story.

Sources for the survey include the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; HealthView Services; Gallup-Healthways; Council for Community and Economic Research; Western States Arts Federation; the FBI; Tax Foundation; WalkScore.com; Creative Vitality Index (developed by Western States Arts Federation); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

PHOTO of farmers market by R. Kennedy for Visit Alexandria/People who come to Alexandria on Saturday mornings find themselves in a busy plaza where local farmers and artists have been selling their products since 1753. Old Town Alexandria's Market Square is thought to be one of the nation's oldest continually operating farmer's markets, serving as a primary way Alexandria residents have typically obtained their meat, dairy, fish, fruits and vegetables. George Washington sent his produce from Mount Vernon to be sold at the Farmer's Market. Today, the market offers Alexandrians a way to reconnect to the past, while participating in an ongoing local and national tradition.

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