Why People Are Moving to Ford’s Colony and Williamsburg: What 105 New Residents Told Us
Every once in a while, a survey comes along that confirms some of what you already suspected — and completely changes the way you look at the rest.
The 2026 Ford’s Colony New Resident Survey is one of those surveys.
The Ford’s Colony Marketing Committee heard from 105 new residents about why they chose Ford’s Colony, what mattered when planning their move to Williamsburg, which other communities they considered, how they researched their move and, perhaps most interestingly, what surprised them after they got here.
As someone who has spent more than 20 years helping people buy and sell homes in Williamsburg, I found the results fascinating.
And a few genuinely surprised me.
People Are Choosing Williamsburg First
One of the biggest takeaways is that many buyers appear to be making their decision at the city and community level before focusing on the broader region.
When planning their move, 80% of respondents said Williamsburg was an important consideration, while 70% specifically weighed the Ford’s Colony community. Only 48% cited the broader Southeast Virginia area.
That is a pretty powerful distinction.
People aren’t necessarily saying, “We want to move to southeastern Virginia. Now let’s find a neighborhood.”
Many appear to be saying, “We want Williamsburg.”
Then the search for the right community and the right house begins.
Why Williamsburg? The top reasons were area attractions and history at 57%, being close to family and friends at 55%, and climate at 46%.
Economics and taxes came in at just 24%.
To me, that’s important. The Williamsburg story isn’t primarily a tax story or a cost-of-living story.
It’s a lifestyle story.
Why Are Buyers Choosing Ford’s Colony? Beauty Beats Golf
Perhaps the survey result that surprised me most came when residents were asked why they chose Ford’s Colony.
The number one answer — by a mile — was community appearance and beauty at 86%.
The landscaping, common areas and overall look and feel of the community clearly matter.
Security and the gated community came in second at 65%, followed by the variety of activities and clubs at 62%. Finding the right house or lot was cited by 57%, amenities such as pools and tennis by 54%, and the variety of custom homes by 31%.
Golf?
25%.
For years, many people have thought of Ford’s Colony first and foremost as a golf community. The people actually moving there are telling us something a little different.
Golf is certainly an important amenity, but it isn’t necessarily the primary reason people choose to live in Ford’s Colony.
They are choosing the beauty, security and lifestyle.
If you’re researching the community, I’ve put together a more detailed Ford’s Colony neighborhood guide with information about homes, amenities and life inside the community.
Ford’s Colony vs. Kingsmill: The Competition Is Clear
The survey also gives us a remarkably clear picture of which other Williamsburg communities Ford’s Colony is competing with.
When new residents were asked what other local communities they considered, one name towered over the rest: Kingsmill.
Of the 89 people answering that question, 77 considered Kingsmill.
Governor’s Land was second with 55, followed by Greensprings at 32, Colonial Heritage at 27, Powhatan Secondary at 22 and Stonehouse at 21.
I’ve seen this play out with Williamsburg home buyers for years. People considering Ford’s Colony very often look at Kingsmill as well.
They’re both established, gated Williamsburg communities with strong identities and significant amenities. The survey simply makes that head-to-head competition crystal clear.
Ford’s Colony isn’t competing equally with every neighborhood in Williamsburg.
Its biggest head-to-head competitor is Kingsmill.
How People Find Ford’s Colony Has Changed
How buyers actually discover Ford’s Colony is another interesting part of the survey.
The largest group — 51% — first heard about the community while visiting the Williamsburg area. Friends and family accounted for 34%, real estate agents and expos accounted for 32%, and internet searches were right behind at 31%.
Paid advertising accounted for just 1%.
Think about that for a minute.
Discovery is overwhelmingly organic.
People visit Williamsburg. They talk with friends and family. They work with Realtors. And they search online.
The digital side of the survey may have been the biggest personal surprise for me. Among the 99 respondents who used the internet during their home search, 73 used Zillow and 51 used Realtor.com.
My own website, Mr. Williamsburg, was used by 25 respondents.
I have to admit, seeing that number stopped me in my tracks.
Roughly one out of every four online shoppers surveyed used Mr. Williamsburg during their search.
Ford’s Colony’s own community website was used by 20.
For someone who started writing about Williamsburg neighborhoods and telling the stories of local homes years ago, that was incredibly rewarding to see. But it also reinforces something I’ve believed for a long time:
People want local information before they’re ready to call a Realtor.
They want to explore. They want to understand neighborhoods. They want to compare communities. And increasingly, they’re doing a tremendous amount of homework before they ever raise their hand and say, “I’m ready to look at houses.”
What Are People Searching Before Moving to Williamsburg?
The survey even asked what people were actually typing into search engines.
The top term wasn’t “Virginia retirement” or “low taxes.”
It was simply:
Williamsburg.
“Ford’s Colony” and variations of the community name were another major group of searches.
Buyers also searched for gated communities, golf communities and specific home features, including lot size, first-floor primary bedrooms, single-family homes, four-bedroom homes and condos.
Lifestyle terms such as walking trails, yards and community also appeared.
Once again, buyers are telling us exactly how they think:
Williamsburg first. Community second. House features third.
And if you’re still trying to figure out which community is right for you, you can search and explore neighborhoods from Virginia Beach to Richmond on my website. I’ve spent years building these neighborhood resources for buyers who want to do their homework before narrowing their search.
What Residents Love About Ford’s Colony After Moving In
Perhaps my favorite part of the entire survey asked residents what they love about Ford’s Colony that they didn’t know before moving there.
The number one response was friendly neighbors and a sense of community.
It was mentioned 28 times.
Residents talked about warm welcomes and how friendly people were.
The second-biggest surprise was the natural beauty, wildlife and bird sanctuary atmosphere. Then came walking trails and outdoor life, clubs and the Newcomers Club, landscaping and maintenance, proximity to Williamsburg, and the quiet and lack of light pollution.
One resident noted that they “didn’t know it was a bird sanctuary.”
Another simply said the people were “so friendly.”
To me, this may be the most valuable information in the entire survey because these aren’t necessarily amenities you find on a real estate flyer.
They’re the things people discover by actually living there.
What This Ford’s Colony Survey Tells Me About Williamsburg Real Estate
After more than 20 years selling real estate in Williamsburg, my takeaway is that the Ford’s Colony buyer may be changing — or perhaps we’re finally getting better at understanding them.
Yes, some buyers come for golf.
But many more appear to be coming for something broader.
They want a beautiful community. They want security. They want activities and opportunities to meet people. They want trails, nature and quiet. They want to be close to Williamsburg.
And above all, they want a place that feels like a community once they arrive.
The survey also reinforces just how much the Williamsburg real estate journey has changed.
Today’s buyers may spend months — sometimes years — researching Williamsburg before I ever hear from them. They’ve searched Zillow. They’ve read about neighborhoods. They’ve compared Ford’s Colony and Kingsmill. They’ve looked for first-floor primary bedrooms, larger lots and gated communities.
By the time they call me, many aren’t starting their search.
They’re already well into it.
My job is to help them connect all of that research to what it’s actually like to live here.
And if this survey tells us anything, it’s that the things residents end up loving most about Ford’s Colony aren’t always the things that first brought them through the gate.
Sometimes, you have to live in a place before you discover its best story.
About John Womeldorf — Mr. Williamsburg
I’m John Womeldorf, better known as Mr. Williamsburg. I’m a Virginia native and have spent more than 20 years as a full-time Realtor helping buyers and sellers throughout Williamsburg and communities across southeastern and central Virginia.
My approach to real estate has always been a little different. I believe Every Home Has a Story, and I’ve spent years writing about the homes, neighborhoods, people and places that make this part of Virginia special.
Whether you’re considering a move to Ford’s Colony, comparing Williamsburg neighborhoods, relocating to the area or simply trying to understand where you might fit best, I’m always happy to talk through the options. You can also explore my Virginia neighborhood guides, covering communities from Virginia Beach to Richmond.
Ready to talk? Visit Mr. Williamsburg, email john@mrwilliamsburg.com, or call or text me at 757-254-8136.