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Retirement Living In Fairfax County - Virginia


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Area Description

Fairfax County, a thriving business center located just west of Washington, D.C., is a great
place to live, work and do business. Fairfax County is a diverse and thriving urban county. As the most populous jurisdiction in both Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the county's population exceeds that of eight states and the District of Columbia.

The median household income of Fairfax County is one of the highest in the nation and over half of its adult residents have four-year college degrees or more educational attainment. Fairfax County is also home to numerous attractions ranging from George Washington's Mount Vernon to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Includes Cities/Towns: Alexandria, Annandale, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Dunn Loring, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Falls Church, Fort Belvoir, Great Falls, Herndon, Lorton, Mc Lean, Merrifield, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, Vienna.

Region Characteristics





Area Amenities

Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness










   With 50 square miles of public parks, Fairfax County has some of the finest urban green space anywhere. The county is home to several national, state and regional parks, including Great Falls National Park, Pohick Bay Regional Park and Mason Neck National Wildlife refuge, America’s first sanctuary for Bald Eagles.

The Fairfax County Park Authority operates 420 park facilities on more than 23,000 acres, featuring public golf courses,colonial-era homes, a working farm and grist mill, extensive wildlife preserves, garden and nature centers, more than 300 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, recreation centers, a skate park, ice-skating rink, and nearly 800 playgrounds, lakes, campgrounds and athletic fields.

Some of the best shopping on the east coast is in Fairfax County, which has three of the Washington region’s largest and busiest retail centers: Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Galleria, Mosaic District, Fair Oaks Mall, Reston Town Center and Fairfax Corner.

Local communities are well-served by the county’s more than 200 neighborhood, community and regional shopping centers, with stores and services available for every need and budget. Fairfax County features a wide array of dining establishments. With nearly 4,000 restaurants to visit in the county,residents can enjoy everything from burger joints to fine dining, and sample a delicious range of ethnic cuisines.


Cultural Activities





Fairfax County offers a remarkable wealth of cultural and recreational resources. No matter how you like to spend your free time, there’s plenty to see and do here. Home to the renowned Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, America’s only national park for the performing arts, Fairfax County offers an extraordinary mix of music, visual, theatrical and other arts opportunities.

Several national heritage treasures, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens,Woodlawn Estate and Gunston Hall, are all in Fairfax County. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport offers a stunning collection of rare and famous space and aviation artifacts, as well as special events, tours and lectures.

Public transportation




Dulles International is the region’s main airport for international travel, cross-
country travel and cargo transport. It is located 12 miles (19.3 km) from Tysons
Corner and 21 miles (33.8 km) from downtown Washington. Close to the nation’s capital, Reagan National offers (with some exceptions)nonstop flights to and from destinations less than 1,250 miles from Washington. Reagan National is located 11 miles (17.7 km) from Tysons Corner
and two miles (3.2 km) south of Washington. Fairfax County has excellent interstate highway connections. Interstate 95, the major east-coast highway artery,meets Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, in the county. Interstate 66 also meets the Beltway in the county. Together this network offers superb access to the Washington region. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(Metro) operates the Metro system, a regional rail and bus network. The Metrorail system is over 110 miles long and has 91 stations. 10 Metrorail stations on four Metro lines are in Fairfax County. Virginia Railway Express operates two commuter rail lines. The lines originate in Manassas and Fredericksburg and pass through Fairfax County on the way to Union Station in Washington. Five
stations are located in Fairfax County and all have park-and-ride lots. Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service from Union Station in Washington to dozens of destinations nationwide. One Amtrak line stops at the Virginia Railway Express station at Burke in Fairfax County. The Auto Train, a nonstop auto ferry service, takes passengers and cars from Lorton in Fairfax County to Sanford, Fla.

Medical Facilities


Fairfax County residents have access to top-quality medical care at the area’s fully accredited hospitals and medical centers. These include the INOVA Health System which runs 5 hospitals and two HealthPlexes in the county, HCA Virginia Health System which operates 2 surgical centers in the county, and Kaiser Permanente which operates 6 medical centers in the county.


What Will The Climate And Weather Be Like If I Retire In Fairfax County, Virginia?

Fairfax County is blessed with a temperate climate, moderate rainfall, and a rich and varied topography. Although August sometimes feels unbearable in its humidity and January can seem endless with its ice and snow storms, these extremes ensure that Virginians may enjoy all four seasons of the year. Who would trade Virginia’s glorious and extended spring and fall seasons for anything else? These conditions also present you with an extensive plant palette. Without the January freeze, no apple trees would thrive. Without the warmth of the remaining seasons, camellias, cantaloupes, and persimmons would be lost.

Monthly Temperature Ranges

 Month  Low  Avg  High
 Jan  25  34  43
 Feb  27  37  46
 Mar  34  44  55
 Apr  44  55  67
 May  53  64  74
 Jun  63  73  83
 Jul  67  77  87
 Aug  66  76  85
 Sep  58  68  78
 Oct  46  57  67
 Nov  37  47  57
 Dec  29  37  46

Monthly Average # of Hot and Cold Days

 Month  Days Greater Than 90 F°  Days Less Than 32 F°  Days Less Than 0 F°
 Jan  0  24  0
 Feb  0  20  0
 Mar  0  14  0
 Apr  0  3  0
 May  1  0  0
 Jun  5  0  0
 Jul  9  0  0
 Aug  7  0  0
 Sep  2  0  0
 Oct  0  2  0
 Nov  0  9  0
 Dec  0  21  0

Rain & Humidity

 Month  Rainfall  Rainy Days  Humidity
 Jan  3 "  10  23 %
 Feb  3 "  9  25 %
 Mar  4 "  10  31 %
 Apr  4 "  11  41 %
 May  4 "  12  52 %
 Jun  4 "  11  62 %
 Jul  4 "  10  66 %
 Aug  4 "  9  65 %
 Sep  4 "  9  59 %
 Oct  4 "  8  47 %
 Nov  4 "  9  37 %
 Dec  3 "  10  28 %

Snow

 Month  Snowfall  Snow On Ground Days  Snowy Days
 Jan  7 "  6  3
 Feb  7 "  6  2
 Mar  2 "  1  1
 Apr  0 "  0  0
 May  0 "  0  0
 Jun  0 "  0  0
 Jul  0 "  0  0
 Aug  0 "  0  0
 Sep  0 "  0  0
 Oct  0 "  0  0
 Nov  1 "  0  0
 Dec  3 "  3  1


Natural Disaster Areas



Cost of Living for Fairfax County, VA

Fairfax County, Virginia cost of living for Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Taxes, Utilities, etc.:

Cost of Living

Demographics

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Age

Senior Housing Options





Fairfax County and the Washington, D.C., area boast a broad variety of homes, communities and housing prices. Single-family homes and townhomes are plentiful, as are high-rise apartments and condominiums. Planned residential communities, developed by some of the nation’s premier home builders, offer housing with cutting-edge amenities.

Upscale residences, whether executive and estate homes or villa-style homes on smaller parcels, are abundant throughout the county. Incorporated towns within Fairfax County (Clifton, Herndon and Vienna) offer a blend of old and new, with housing that surrounds historic, small central business districts distinguished by quaint boutiques and restaurants.

Senior Assistance in Fairfax County, VA

Fairfax County, Virginia offers the following assistance for seniors:


A variety of services are offered to senior residents of Fairfax County including multiple transportation, wellness and caregiver options.

What Job or Volunteer Opportunities Does Fairfax County Offer For Retirees?

Fairfax County's Volunteer Solutions provides meaningful volunteer opportunities to improve the lives of older adults while also contributing to the quality of life for our residents.

Additional Information

Visitor Information

Relocation Information


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