With family and friends moving South to places like Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, I wonder where I might end up in my retirement. Like most good Michiganders, we typically end up moving to Florida when we get to a certain age or when we retire. A lot of people I know start out as snowbirds and transition into living in a warmer climate full-time. However, Florida is just too hot for me in the summers, but the Carolinas are not warm enough in the frigid winter months.
So that’s got me wondering what type of climate Virginia has or, more specifically, Virginia Beach. My initial thought is that it probably is somewhere in between. Let’s see what the experts have to say about the climate in Virginia Beach.
According to Virginia’s official government website, “Virginia’s weather has been described as a “Goldilocks Climate” – not too hot and not too cold – and is officially considered a humid, subtropical region due to winter frost. During the summer, it can get a bit “sticky” due to the abundant water along the East Coast with the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James rivers and their tributaries. But the air is cooler with less humidity in the mountains – on average 10 degrees cooler during all four seasons,”.
I like the “Goldilocks” reference as I usually seek out most things in life that are somewhere in the middle, not too much this way or that way – balance is the key to anything in life. It’s probably why I might consider Virginia as a potential go-to spot for when the winter gets brutal here in Southeast Michigan.
Virginia experiences all four seasons to some degree and has five distinct climate regions, which are as follows:
- Tidewater
- Piedmont
- Northern Virginia
- Western Mountain
- Southwestern Mountain
From Virginia Beach’s travel and tourism website, “Virginia Beach is pleasantly moderate all year long. We have our roller coaster of weather from September until April. But once summer hits, it is here to stay and it is awesome!
Winters can be moderate and normally spring comes sooner and fall stays longer. The average rainfall is 45.22 inches and the average snowfall is just 8.2 inches (and it nearly always melts as soon as the sun comes out).
Anywhere there is a large body of water (aka the ocean), there will be humidity. Virginia Beach is a prime example. When it is hot, it feels even hotter due to the humidity,”.
Well, the humidity won’t pose much of a problem for someone like myself who has lived through many humid summer days here in Michigan. And since we are a peninsula, we experience humidity at high levels from late May-ish through early October-ish.
Where is the cheapest place to be a snowbird?
For people like myself, my friends, and family who live in colder climates, winter is a fantastic time to head to warmer states, with some cheaper than others to snowbird in.
What is a snowbird anyway? A snowbird is a person who is retired, typically of the elder generation, who flees the cold weather to live in a warm climate during the winter months. The average age of a snowbird is between fifty and sixty-nine years old.
Florida is by far the most popular destination for snowbirds, especially for Michiganders. It offers excellent weather with temperatures rarely going below 55°F and plenty of attractions like Disney World, beaches, golf courses, and plenty of elder-accommodating amenities. The cost of living is lower when compared to other states as well.
Here are some of the least expensive states to snowbird in:
- Tybee Island, Georgia
- Pawleys Island, South Carolina
- McAllen, Texas
- Anna Maria Island, Florida
- Princeville, Hawaii
- Prescott, AZ
- Twentynine Palms, CA
In Georgia, snowbirds like Tybee Island because the winters are not too cold, and there are a lot of beachfront rentals. In South Carolina, another good option for snowbirds is Pawley Island. There are many affordable vacation homes and condos available.
For those looking for an affordable snowbird destination in Texas, McAllen is an excellent choice, too. It still offers plenty of amenities and activities, and whatever budget, there’s sure to be a perfect snowbird destination.
Some retired people become full-time snowbirds, permanently taking up residency in their second homes. However, most snowbirds return to their primary residences during the spring and summer months, which is what I plan to do as there is nowhere in the U.S. that compares to Michigan summers, at least, in my humble opinion.
What is the number 1 state for retirees?
Retirement is a time of life when many people choose to relocate, often in search of warmer weather or closer proximity to family. However, retiree status also comes with a number of financial considerations, including taxes, cost of living, and availability of healthcare. As a result, many people put a great deal of thought into choosing the right retirement destination.
Bankrate studies show the following top five places to retire based on many variables such as weather, cost of living, and healthcare, “Bankrate’s annual Best and Worst States to Retire Study found that Delaware is the best state for retirees in 2024, followed by West Virginia (2), Georgia (3), South Carolina (4) and Missouri (5).
Delaware moved from second to first place this year, and Iowa — our No. 1 state last year — dropped to ninth place. Iowa lost ground mainly due to lower scores in the affordability category, which makes up 40 percent of the ranking. The cost of living, property taxes and homeowners insurance have all risen in Iowa since last year,”.
What climate zone is Virginia in
In conclusion, Virginia offers a balanced “Goldilocks Climate,” making it an appealing option for those seeking an inviting seasonal experience without extremes. This subtropical climate presents warmer summers comparable to Michigan’s humid days and milder winters compared to northern states.
As I consider retirement destinations, Virginia could be an ideal middle ground—providing year-round moderate weather, diverse regions, and proximity to the beautiful coastlines, all while being a manageable distance from my family and friends up North as well as in the South.