Where is a great city to retire? (just ask Kiplinger)

Charlottesville, Va.

City Population: 41,225
Metro Population: 196,766
Cost-of-Living Index: 107.5 (national average = 100)
Median Household Income: $56,833
Income-Tax Exemptions: No state tax on Social Security benefits; income deductions of up to $12,000 for residents 65 and older, subject to income-eligibility limits
Proximity to Airport: Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (10 miles from downtown)

Home of Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville is a charming Southern city with an impressive array of cultural draws. Several prime art museums and a pedestrian mall can be found in the city’s neo-Classical downtown, while the Monticello Wine Trail and Shenandoah National Park are close by. It’s also two hours from Washington, D.C.