Living a Cultural Center Lifestyle in Williamsburg, Virginia

A place to discover the culture of colonial America is the quaint and beautiful Colonial Williamsburg. The town is a living representation/restoration of the 18th century colonial capital.  Almost every house is a museum dedicated to preserving that colonial heritage.  If you are a history buff and you love antiques, this is the place for you. Shops and cafes in the downtown area look like museum places but are all functional. In fact, it looks like Patrick Henry or Thomas Jefferson could be that customer at the next table. Money Magazine places Williamsburg #5 on its list of “Best Places to Live."

Additionally, Busch Gardens is only a short trip away, and the College of William and Mary offers many scholarly and cultural opportunities.

Where to Retire in Williamsburg and Home Prices

Retirees can choose to live in an antique home in the downtown, or in one of the 55+ or upscale developments nearby.  See links at top left for Williamsburg active adult communities. Real estate is very expensive in Williamsburg. According to Zillow, the median home value was $422,948 in late 2022. Property taxes are low.

What Is Special about Williamsburg

You get to live in an 18th Century Museum, and the College of William and Mary is located here, along with Busch Gardens. Residents enjoy close proximity to the beaches of Virginia and North Carolina. There are many upscale housing opportunities for retirees, including many apartments.

What Is Not Special about Williamsburg

Williamsburg is so desirable that is has become expensive, and is a tourist destination which brings traffic and crowds.

Climate and Physical Environment

Williamsburg is just inland on the coast of southern Virginia. It is flat with many waterways. The average July high is 89 degrees and the average January low is 28. July is the wettest month. For help on how to retire in Virginia or towns like Alexandria and Charlottesville.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

A lot of Williamsburg’s culture revolves around its colonial setting. History buffs will find everything they need here. The College of William and Mary has many cultural offerings. The Williamsburg Regional Library is extremely well funded and has more than 281,000 volumes. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at William & Mary (formerly the Christopher Wren Association), offers courses to members 50 and older who have a desire to continue academic learning.  

Crime

Crime rate is very low in Williamsburg.

Medical Facilities

There are at least 2 hospitals in town, including Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and Riverside Doctors' Hospital. Richmond and Hampton have additional hospitals, including the Veterans medical center in Hampton.

Transportation

Newport News/Williamsburg Airport is about 25 minutes away. Norfolk Airport and Richmond Airports are less than an hour away.

Valuable Links

Williamsburg Convention and Visitors Bureau

City of Williamsburg

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