Some great advice already here so I'll just add my experience:
Wife and I bought a great little place in a wonderful neighborhood that was perfect for:
- Kids and school (great school systems)
- Proximity to everything (she goes one way to work, I went the other way), grocery store/auto repair/home store/couple restaurants all close, only thing "missing" is a quality bar and grill (we like to go out and watch a game or two with groups vice alone at home)
- Mature trees/nice size lots etc...
THE PROBLEM
I've retired (a couple of times now) and have found that this is NOT a good neighborhood for retiring folks (I feel bad for another retired Sailor who lives on the corner, he's 100% retired and older, NOT a good idea).
The issue is that this is a GREAT "working neighborhood". Got kids, work all the time, need access to food on the way home/auto repair drop offs on your way etc... then this place works. Once retired though, you quickly realize:
- While the lots are bigger, they get small quick when you are home everyday and you can't expand as much as you might want (I want a gym/a woodshop/a sauna in the backyard, no room for any of them)
- The walk-ability is OK BUT, to walk/run/bike on the "main drag" which has a walk path, you will deal with a LOT of traffic, trying to get a quiet run requires running/walking super early or walking in the neighborhood (which isn't bad but has gotten SMALL over 15 years).
- The road/city noise is too loud here, this is super site specific, but something to keep in mind
Another very specific location thing is that leaving the Hampton Roads area almost always involves a bridge or tunnel, making it a true pain to leave ANY Friday from 1-9 PM or randomly (traffic here... sooooo random and almost always frustrating).
Bottom line, NOT a "retire to" area, maybe some INTEL there that could help.
Also, look for a reddit in the areas you are considering, there is one for my area and we discuss almost all of the above.
Good luck!