The Question Buyers Ask Too Late: Which County?
Richmond’s 55+ market spans five counties with meaningfully different tax rates. On a $450,000 home, the gap between the cheapest county (Goochland) and the most expensive (Chesterfield) is $1,710 per year — or $17,100 over a decade. That’s before HOA fees even enter the conversation.
Most buyers pick a community they like, then discover where it sits on the tax map. We recommend reversing that sequence: understand the county math first, then find the right community within your tax comfort zone.
Virginia Income Tax: What Out-of-State Buyers Miss
Virginia is not a no-income-tax state. Social Security income is fully exempt from Virginia income tax — that part is buyer-friendly. But IRA distributions, 401(k) withdrawals, and most pension income are taxed at Virginia’s graduated rate of 2% to 5.75%. Buyers relocating from Florida or Texas, where retirement income faces no state income tax, can see their annual tax bill increase by several thousand dollars after a Richmond-area move.
The partial offset: Virginia offers an age deduction of up to $12,000 per person for residents 65 and older (phasing out at higher income levels), and military retirement receives up to $40,000 in exemptions. Run the math with your actual income mix before assuming Virginia is cheaper than where you are now.
Communities: Large (200+ Homes)
Communities in this tier get full coverage: hub page, true cost guide, and comparison content.
CrossRidge — Glen Allen, Henrico County
The largest and most established 55+ community in the Richmond metro. 400-acre historic site, indoor and outdoor pools, 24-hour staffed gate. The HOA promise of “exterior maintenance included” deserves scrutiny — what’s actually covered matters more than the headline.
Colonial Heritage — New Kent County
The golf community of the Richmond market, 25–35 minutes east of downtown via I-64. New Kent County offers the second-lowest tax rate in the metro. The location is a genuine trade-off — closer to Williamsburg than downtown Richmond.
Mosaic at West Creek — Goochland County
Goochland County’s $0.53 rate is the standout tax advantage in this market — $17,100 less than Chesterfield over 10 years on the same home price. StyleCraft builds here, but HOA does not cover exterior maintenance. Buyer responsibility for ~$1,800/yr in upkeep is the number most buyers don’t model.
Chickahominy Falls — Hanover County
Working farm, community kitchen, orchard, beehives — an entirely different concept in Richmond 55+ living. Multi-phase community: not all phases carry HOPA age-restriction certification. Verify per phase before purchasing if strict age restriction matters.
Traditions of America Chesterfield
The resort-tier option in Chesterfield. Betsy Ross floor plan (1,536–2,170 sq ft) is the anchor model. Full-time Lifestyle Director, pickleball, tennis, bocce. HOA runs higher than smaller communities — confirm current fee and what it covers before buying.
Communities: Mid-Size (50–200 Homes)
Each has a dedicated page with real cost math. Hub-only for the smallest.
Smaller Communities & 55+ Sections
10-Year Cost Reality: County Makes the Difference
Same $500,000 home, same lifestyle, different county. Here’s what the math looks like when you run property tax over a decade:
| County | Rate per $100 | Annual on $500K | 10-Year Tax Total | vs. Goochland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goochland | $0.53 | $2,650 | $26,500 | — |
| New Kent | $0.79 | $3,950 | $39,500 | +$13,000 |
| Hanover | $0.81 | $4,050 | $40,500 | +$14,000 |
| Henrico | $0.87 | $4,350 | $43,500 | +$17,000 |
| Chesterfield | $0.91 | $4,550 | $45,500 | +$19,000 |
This table doesn’t account for assessed value changes, senior exemption programs, or HOA fee differences between communities — all of which can move the real number significantly. Use this as the starting frame, not the final answer.
What Northern Virginia Buyers Ask
The Richmond market pulls a steady stream of buyers relocating from NoVA — people selling $800K–$1.2M+ homes and arriving with significant equity. The core question is usually: “What does the same money buy here?”
The short answer: substantially more house and substantially lower property taxes. A Henrico County home at $0.87 per $100 compares to Fairfax County’s $1.11 rate — on a $500,000 home, that’s $1,200/year less in Henrico, every year. And Richmond’s 55+ communities offer resort-tier amenities that don’t exist in most NoVA active adult inventory.
The trade-off is real: Richmond is not Northern Virginia. Traffic is manageable, but the cultural and economic gravity is different. Most NoVA buyers who move here do so intentionally — they want out of the pace, not just the price.
Which Richmond County and Community Is Right for You?
We can model the full 10-year cost with your price range, income mix, and likely HOA tier. No obligation — just the math.
Talk to a Richmond Advisor