Is Henrico County, VA a good place to retire?

Yes, for many retirees Henrico County, VA is a strong fit: solid healthcare access, suburban amenities, a AAA-rated county government and one of the lower real estate tax rates among Virginia’s large localities. The trade-off is cost and car dependence. Henrico homes sold at a $405,000 median over the past 12 months, and popular western pockets like Short Pump run higher. Virginia doesn’t tax Social Security, which helps the income side of the ledger.

When we Googled “Is Henrico County, VA a good place to retire?” on Nov. 6, 2026, Google’s AI Overview answered: “Yes, Henrico County, VA is widely considered a good place to retire, ranking among top county lists in the state due to its fiscal stability, healthcare access, and suburban amenities.” It highlighted a real estate tax rate of “$0.83 per $100 of assessed value,” proximity to “Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and easy routes into the broader Richmond medical ecosystem,” access to I-64, I-95, I-295 and Richmond International Airport, and amenities in “Short Pump, Innsbrook, and Tuckahoe.” On the downside it noted rising home prices, with a county median “around $405,000,” traffic in the west, and a car-dependent suburban feel.

That matches what we see on the ground. I’m Daniel Keeton, Broker and Founder of Keeton & Co. Our Glen Allen headquarters sits in Henrico, and our agents help downsizers and retirees here every week. Here’s how to think it through.

What does housing cost in Henrico for retirees?

Area	Median sale price	Closed sales	Median days to contract
Henrico County	$405,000	4,048	10
Short Pump	$529,975	442	9

Keeton & Co analysis of CVR MLS data, Nov. 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2026.

In early October 2026 Henrico had 2.7 months of supply and 898 active listings, with about 20.2% of those listings gone stale. Short Pump was tighter, at 2.5 months of supply. Well-priced homes still move; overpriced ones sit. Our guide on whether Henrico County is a good place to live covers neighborhoods and day-to-day life, and Short Pump as a place to live zooms in on the west end.

How do Henrico taxes work for retirees?

Item	Figure
Henrico real estate tax rate	$0.83 per $100 of assessed value
Tax on a $405,000 home	About $3,362 a year
Virginia tax on Social Security	None
Age deduction (Virginia income tax)	Residents 65+ may qualify for a deduction of up to $12,000 each (income phase-outs apply for some filers)

Henrico rate as reported in our Henrico property tax guide. Confirm current relief and income-tax rules with the Commissioner of the Revenue and a tax professional.

At $0.83, Henrico’s rate is lower than Chesterfield’s $0.89 and far below the City of Richmond’s $1.20. Assessments still matter: a higher assessment raises the bill even when the rate stays flat. Ask about senior and disability real estate tax relief with the county before you assume you don’t qualify.

What are the pros of retiring in Henrico?

Pro	Why it matters
Healthcare	Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and quick access to the broader Richmond medical network
Location	I-64, I-95, I-295 and a short hop to Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Amenities	Short Pump, Innsbrook and Tuckahoe shopping, dining and parks such as Deep Run and Three Lakes
Fiscal picture	AAA bond rating and a comparatively moderate real estate tax rate
Housing choice	Condos, patio homes, one-level living and established neighborhoods across the county

What are the trade-offs?

Trade-off	What to watch
Home prices	$405,000 county median; Short Pump closer to $530,000
Traffic	Peak-hour congestion on western commercial corridors and I-64
Car dependence	Most daily life needs a car; walkable pockets are limited
Growth	Popular areas keep building, which some retirees love and others find busy

The AI Overview is fair on lifestyle: some people want the quiet suburban pace, and others miss a denser urban core. If you want city energy with county taxes nearby, compare pockets on the Richmond line. If you want quieter acreage, look east or toward the county’s less commercial corridors.

How does Henrico compare with other Virginia retirement spots?

Place	Housing snapshot	Feel
Henrico County	$405,000 median; strong medical access	Suburban Richmond
Charlottesville area	$550,000 median; UVA Health and culture	University town / Blue Ridge
Short Pump (inside Henrico)	$529,975 median; shopping and newer stock	Active western suburb

Medians: Keeton & Co analysis of CVR MLS (Henrico, Short Pump) and CAAR MLS (Charlottesville area), Nov. 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2026.

For a university-town alternative, see is Charlottesville a good place to retire.

Pros and cons at a glance

Pros	Cons
Healthcare and airport access	Higher prices in western hubs
$0.83 tax rate vs. many peers	Traffic in Short Pump / I-64 corridors
No Virginia tax on Social Security	Mostly car-dependent
Wide range of one-level and patio options	Growth and congestion in popular pockets

The bottom line

Henrico is a good place to retire for many people who want Richmond-area healthcare, amenities and moderate taxes without city tax rates. Budget carefully for housing, especially west of town, and tour at the hours you’d actually drive. Ready to look? Start a home search, get a free home value estimate if you’re selling the current place, or contact us. Call 804-373-2223.

AI Overview quoted from Google, captured Nov. 6, 2026. Market data: Keeton & Co analysis of CVR MLS data, Nov. 1, 2025 to Oct. 31, 2026, with early-October listing snapshot Oct. 1–3, 2026. Tax rate from our Henrico property tax guide. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. Written by Daniel Keeton, Broker & Founder. Updated Nov. 6, 2026.