Beach lovers looking for the best cities to live in Virginia will likely gravitate toward Virginia Beach. Low crime rates, high levels of well-being, excellent walkability, fair tax rates, a good healthcare system, and some exceptional schools are among the many reasons Alexandria ranks as one of the most desirable places to live in Virginia. Its a city for creatives, artists and entrepreneurs looking to escape the big bustling cities and replace it with a hidden gem with plenty of historic charm in the midst of a renaissance. The historic downtown offers an array of specialty shops, boutiques, art galleries, antiques, and more, along with a surprisingly large selection of local restaurants and cafes. Cape Hatteras. Easy, Cheap, 30-Minute (or Faster!) #5 Places with the Best Public Schools in Virginia Blacksburg Town in Virginia 184 reviews Current Resident: Blacksburg is a classic small town with a lot of local businesses and restaurants to support. Retiring in Virginia means beautiful landscapes and reduced taxes. Residents benefit from a booming economy, an unemployment rate of 3.6%, a health-conscious culture, and the lowest tax rate in the Hampton Roads region. Full of architectural delights, quirky little boutiques, and artisanal marketplaces, its easy to understand how Williamson attracts over 4 million tourists every year. Onancock is quite possibly one of the greatest hidden gems of the Eastern Shore. Perfect for: Families who want a safe and friendly town to raise their children or young professionals who want to live near a large university. Virginia is known for a lot of things: history, natural beauty, (bless our hearts) lots of southern charm. But along with the charmingly quaint historic communities of Williamsburg and Chantilly, youll find enough vibrant, fast-paced, hedonistic destinations to please even the most forward-thinking city slicker. (And if you're looking for a little laugh, check out these 17 reasons you should never, ever move to Virginia.). Not to mention, it's an affordable place to live on the East Coastthe median home price in Virginia Beach is $262,200, and the median monthly rent is $1,258. There are also some country clubs and golf courses in the area. . Here's a look at the highest-rated coastal towns to retire. Dont say we didnt warn you. Affordability: The nearby areas have homes below the national median home value, and you can even find acres of land at an affordable price. Read the Magazine Quick Facts Average Household Income $73,549 Increased spending increases the risk of depleting your savings and performance is not guaranteed. Despite competing with the best of them when it comes to amenities, Bon Airs property prices are among the lowest on our list, with the average cost of a three-bedroom single-family home standing at a very reasonable $212,900. But Williamsburg personifies the answer to the question, is Virginia a good place to live? Youll get access to museums, antique shops, and restaurants, as well as a growing over-65 population. Charlottesville is a town in the Commonwealth of Virginia with two high-ranking hospitals and a massive Downtown Mall. Best North Carolina Beaches. Keep reading to see if your hometown in Virginia made the list. We coordinate local and long-distance moving services in Virginia and we would love to help! The best towns in Virginia for history lovers 1. Luray. The locals like to call it CBVB and they 35 miles of sandy beach along the Potomac River. But the state does have a slightly higher cost of living than some areas of the country. The town also has a lively music scene and many wineries. Incorporated in 1810 and named for Revolutionary War hero, General Joseph Warren, this town of less than 10,000 in Fauquier County was listed as the 8th highest-income county in the U.S. according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The schools: Lexington has excellent schools and is home to Washington and Lee University, one of the gorgeous Virginia colleges. Ocean View Beach, Norfolk, VA. 1. Perhaps one of the most unique areas within the state of Virginia is the town of Luray which houses Luray Caverns, the largest caverns on the East Coast. But with so much to offer, the state has a little something for everyone. The housing and rent is affordable for young professionals raising kids and with being a short drive from Virginia Beach and Washington D.C., youll never run out of things to do with your kiddos. The population of Clifton is just over 1,000 residents, making it the perfect place to live if youre looking for quiet. The median home value is $410,300, while the median rental price is $1,794. With excellent outdoor activities on its doorstep (including excellent hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, winter skiing and snow-tubing opportunities at Shenandoah National Park) and an abundance of first-class restaurants, boutiques, wineries, and other recreational pursuits, we anticipate an even higher position on our list for the popular town in the years to come. As it notes, most of the citys 45,084 strong population comprises of highly educated young professionals (thanks, no doubt, to it being the home of the illustrious University of Virginia, which over the years has educated everyone from Edgar Allan Po to Tina Fey), many of whom are activity engaged in the kind of civic causes that are turning Charlottesville into one the states most desirable destinations. The town also has a lively music scene and many wineries. Welcome to Virginia Beach. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails and other recreational opportunities. Sunny Places to Escape the Winter Blues. With relatively low taxes, a moderate climate, plenty of beaches, and easy access to much of the East Coast, Virginia is a great place to retire or raise a family. In fact, Onancock was called "the Gem of the Eastern Shore" by none other than Captain John Smith himself. (oh, and by way of introduction, were Bellhop movers in Virginia and particularly Richmond movers, Arlington movers, Alexandria movers, Fairfax movers, and movers throughout the country). Best Beach Towns in America - 23 of the Most Charming Beach Towns. Just 25 miles west of Virginia Beach exists the state's second largest city, Norfolk. Others are lovely hidden gems buried right in the heart of the state. Next to my home in West Virginia, Wachapreague is my favorite place! Charleston is a popular choice for those seeking an East Coast locale with warm . Today, the town is filled with stunning Victorian-era homes and local boutique shops. The median rent is $1,951, and the median home price is a steep $598,500. Located in the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton is a city that has much to offer its residents. But when you think of America's great beach towns, like the Hamptons, Miami, Malibu, Hilton Head, among many others, we get snapped right back into reality rather quickly the cost of living in these spectacular beach towns is pretty darn high! Perfect for: Young professionals who want to be close to the nations capitol and enjoy a vibrant urban setting. Regardless of what youre looking for, theres sure to be a place in Virginia thats perfect for you. Local tip: Summer means root-beer floats at Durding's Store (5742 N. Main St.; 410-778-7957), an old-time ice-cream parlor in a building that dates to the 1870s. Radford. Affordability: The cost of living is low, making it a great place to live for those on a budget. Monterey is ripe for niche tourism, with beautiful country homes, old churches, nearby hiking trails and the annual Highland Maple Festival, which takes place each March. Hi Rhonda, Im considering purchasing a home in Wachapreague. Middleburg in Loudoun County has been listed at the top of Frommers Best Small Towns in Virginia. Middleburg. Most residents own their homes here and there is a small-town feel in the middle of the city. To find the cities where Black Americans fare best economically, SmartAsset looked at the 200 . Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement. #3 Best Places to Live in Virginia Colonial Village Neighborhood in Arlington, VA A+ Overall Niche Grade A+ Public Schools Population 2,895 View nearby homes Randolph-Macon Academy Front Royal, VA Private School 6-12 168 reviews Parent: The Admissions department made the application process seamless. Located right on the South Carolina coast, Charleston is a tourist destination with beautiful moss-draped live oaks and gorgeous pastel-colored waterfront homes. But, Norfolk in particular sports some extraordinarily delicious treats. As the tenth oldest state in the country, youd expect it to have its share of wealthy, sedate centers, and youd be right. Sandbridge Beach 1,472 Beaches By HERE-AND-THERE-302 Excellent parking, good price, super sand, clean beach, great waves, family oriented, bath rooms, shower, perfect day. Come Visit! Pelican Beach, Destin. The city also offers a wide range of educational opportunities after high school, including trade schools and universities. What is the best coastal town to live in North Carolina? The University of Virginia. The town has colonial-era architecture and a recreated 18th-century village, complete with an amusement park and shopping opportunities nearby. Best Places 2020-2021 Rank: 126 Metro Population: 18,657,347 Median Home Price: $527,818 Average Annual Salary: $57,373 Los Angeles attracts many people for reasons other than access to the beach, but the proximity to the coast and warm, sunny weather year-round doesn't count against it. The towns small population mainly work as watermen, harvesting fresh seafood from the surrounding Bay waters. Holiday Inn in Exmore is pet friendly.It is about Midway up the VA Eastern Shore. Leesburg is a high-demand town, which means home prices will be higher than the national average. When not underground in the caves,. Mountains, hiking, and nature: Staunton is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains. The cost of living is also low, making it a great place to live for those on a budget. Spanning 70 miles and bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginias Eastern Shore is a coastal paradise. The schools are excellent, and the town has a close-knit community feel. The city known for being one of the most historical places in the United States its actually among one of our countrys oldest major cities is now taking on a completely new face. Connecticut has 96 miles (618 miles according to the NOAA) of idyllic New England shoreline, complete with small islands, lighthouses, and top East Coast beach towns. Combine that with low unemployment (just 3.9% at the last count), low poverty (5.8%), and an above-average median income of $70,863, and its easy to understand why incomers are happy to lay down $312,400 for a property in this highly desirable community. And, finally, if youre into great food and craft beer, Norfolk is the place for you. Every May, the town hosts the Heart of Virginia Festival, a festival where local businesses like Buffalo Creek Guitars come together with vendors and musicians from around the country to provide arts and crafts, traditional foods, music, and fireworks. You simply cant go wrong with Onancock. With a well-funded school system and a peaceful, close-knit feel, it makes a great place to raise a family. Roanoke is the smallest city on the list regarding population, but it makes up for its size with its unique appeal. Sure, theres a lot of farms, and yes, theres a lot of cows. This makes it a fabulous place to live, visit and vacation with all its small towns and cities offering up something new, old and interesting to enjoy. Corrections for the Onancock section: Burnham Guides rents kayaks, SUPs and does tours from the historic Steamboat Ticket Office at Onancock Wharf. Thats roughly 165 a day. The town is also home to the University of Mary Washington, which offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. A small Atlantic island tucked away on the northeastern corner of Virginias Eastern Shore, Chincoteague is best known for the wild ponies found in the bordering Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility Visitor Center, 10 Must Do Hikes in Shenandoah National Park, 8 Exclusive Luxury Retreats For a Pampered Virginia Getaway, 10 Gorgeous Glamping Destinations in Virginia for a Luxury Outdoor Experience, WanderLove: A Road Trip From Fredericksburg To Virginias Northern Neck, 15 Memorable Holiday Road Trips to Virginias Most Festive Towns, The Top Spots to View Virginias Colorful Foliage Throughout the Fall, 18 Relaxing Wellness Retreats and Getaways in Virginia, Hiking with Kids: 10 Family-Friendly Trails in Virginia, WanderLove: A Road Trip From Norfolk to Virginias Eastern Shore, 20 Virginia Summits with 360 Degree Views, 10 Best 2-3 Day Virginia Backpacking Trips on the Appalachian Trail. The List: Best Places to Live in Virginia Most Recommended By Experts 1. Free beaches and state parks, decent home prices with the perks of living in a big city, and lots of fun things to do for families and singles. Living in Virginia Beach offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Check out this article that highlights 11 of the most beautiful places to see in Virginia. A commute to DC is possible from here, but its a long drive with lots of traffic. The state of Virginia as a whole offers an excellent food scene. Helpful Statistics: Median Age: 40 years. Check out esvatourism.org There is a tab for lodging, then a pic of a dog, click on that and you will see them. Located next to High Bridge Trail State Park and home to Longwood University, one of the nations oldest public institutions, Farmville is filled with history, quaint charm, friendly people, and high quality of life. Perfect for: Families who want a close-knit community feel or nature lovers who want to live in a beautiful setting. The states rich history gives it plenty of attractions to keep retirees busy. The only ferry to Tangier Island from the shore departs from Onancock, giving you access to yet another incredible small town on the Eastern Shore. The next entry to our list is one for the Golden Oldies. Middleburg is a popular town in Virginia that is located in Loudoun County. Her work has appeared on Money Under 30, The Motley Fool, MoneyGeek, E-commerce Insiders, and GoBankingRates. Here are four Virginia Beach neighborhoods that you should take a look at if you're planning on retiring in Virginia Beach. The economy: Arlington is home to several major businesses, government agencies, and cultural institutions. 2. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in Virginia. . Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi. As such, its important that you pick a place with all the features and amenities that are most important to you. The city is home to a variety of historic sites, including George Washington's childhood home, Ferry Farm. While its median home price of $383,900 is half that of other prime locations such as Venice (more on which coming up), its close proximity to Mason Neck State Park, the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Pohick Bay Regional Park guarantees its residents the kind of overdoor lifestyle other towns would kill for. Although the cost of living is higher than the national average, its still low when compared to other beachfront communities. In the past, weve highlighted hidden gems like Chattanooga and Austin as places we recommend calling home for their breadth of opportunity, affordability, hip funky culture and loads of entertainment. So you're unlikely to get bored while enjoying your golden years . Get an affordable, professionally prepared retirement plan today. Virginia Beach, Virginia. Virginia Beach offers well, beaches. Except that Kilmarnock is not on the Eastern Shore which is what the bolg is about. There is also plenty to do outdoors, with miles of coastline for beach-goers, camping grounds, and trails for . But, more than this, Richmond is for young professionals too with 7 fortunate 500 companies headquartered there, the opportunity for career growth is endless. Despite spending 35 years in South Florida, my family moves every 1-2 years. Sample fresh seafood at The Fishermans Corner Restaurant or Lorraines Seafood Restaurant. Fintech company SmartAsset compared data for 218 beach towns and put together a list of the most affordable 50.. Town Center of Virginia Beach and Lynnhaven Mall. The 20 Best Places for Single Moms to Live in Europe, The 10 Cheapest Places to Live in Wisconsin, The 20 Most Affordable Places to Live in or around New England, A reviewer on City-Data.com summed things up, How Zac Stacy Achieved a Net Worth of $6 Million. Weve said it before and well say it again. Other Virginia towns that ranked in the list of 150 were Cape Charles, which ranked 37th and Warrenton, which ranked . Calvert Cliffs State Park #3 in Best Beaches in Maryland Characterized by imposing cliffs that were formed about 10 to 20 million years ago and occupy about 25 miles of shoreline, Calvert Cliffs. 5/15 . This is Virginia's only resort island and is considered the most beautiful, providing plenty of space to unwind and explore. The historic town square may only cover six square blocks, but it is home to over 100 shops and restaurants, making Occoquan a small town with big-town convenience. Population: 23,204 Home Price: $1,390,500 median purchase price; $2,028 median monthly rent Crime Rate: Safer than 31% of cities in the U.S. Now there are small towns and then there are small towns. In addition, what makes Virginia especially interesting is its military influence. Its worth mentioning that every small town in Virginia is worth a visit, so while weve provided a list of some of the best towns in Virginia, its by no means an exhaustive list. With a population of around 42,000, it is home to Virginia Tech, one of the largest universities in the state. Virginia Beach is in Virginia Beach City County and is one of the best places to live in Virginia. Antiquers and outdoor enthusiasts equally will be at home in these destinations promising all of the above and more. During the spring, fall and summer months, everywhere you look people can be seen rollerblading, skimboarding, paddleboarding, kayaking and walking their dogs. Situated on the border of Virginia and Washington, the vibrant atmosphere of Arlington makes it a hugely attractive proposition to Virginias new wave of bright young things. Oak Island. Not to mention, Norfolk based breweries like Smartmouth Brewing and OConnor Brewing Co are turning the city into a beer drinkers paradise.