Population: 41,425
15-year population growth: 11.6%
Median home price: $398,400
Home price 2-year forecast: 2.4%
For retirees with a serious sense of history, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is here, as is the University of Virginia and the rugged and picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, all imbued with a strong sense of colonialism and 18th-century ideals. For relaxing retirement days, there is a steady diet of serene golf courses and refreshing water sports. There's plenty of kitsch too amid the numerous bookstores and antique shops. 
