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The Best Places to Live in Virginia
Looking for the top place to live in Virginia? With this state, the most difficult roadblock you’ll run into will be choosing which amazing city to call home. Check out our guide to the best places to live in Virginia to offer. (oh, and by way of introduction, we’re Bellhop —movers in Virginia and particularly Richmond movers, Arlington movers, Alexandria movers, Fairfax movers, Washington DC movers, and movers throughout the country).
The cities in Virginia are as beautiful and diverse as the state itself. Some of them are right on the coast where in the summertime you can literally kick off your dress shoes after work and go for a walk along the beach. Others are lovely hidden gems buried right in the heart of the state. Regardless of what your idea of the perfect city is, we’ve got something for everyone. Here are the best places to live in Virginia.
We’re using Zillow for average home value in these cities. As we write this, the state’s average is $372,000.
Be a part of the renaissance taking place in Richmond
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: we love smaller lesser-known cities that have a lot to offer. In the past, we’ve highlighted hidden gems like Chattanooga and Cleveland as places we recommend calling home for their breadth of opportunity, affordability, hip funky culture and loads of entertainment (check out our Chattanooga guide and Cleveland guide). Richmond, Virginia is yet another one of these gems we’ve stumbled upon, making it one of the top places to live in Virginia. Check out our in-depth Richmond guide, or keep reading below!
At first glance, Richmond has the perfect canvas to be an amazing city. The stunning James River runs through the city and during the three warmer seasons residents can be seen swimming, paddle boarding and kayaking in it. Wow! Right in the heart of the city.
The city of Richmond itself is lovely. One quick Google search will lead you to hundreds of images depicting a bustling river, tall buildings sprouting up between thick green leafy trees and rolling hills that seem to go on forever. Aesthetically, you couldn’t ask for a prettier city than Richmond and with four fairly mild seasons, you’ll be able to enjoy the city’s beauty year around without finding yourself too hot in the summertime nor freezing come winter. With concerns about climate, it’s comforting to know that the average for July (the warmest month) is 89 degrees. Snow in winter is rare with an average low in January of 47.
Between Richmond’s aesthetic and agreeable weather, it has quickly become a hotspot for millennials looking to escape the big city life without missing out on big city opportunity. Between Virginia Commonwealth University’s world-renowned art school, affordable living and impressive career opportunities, young professionals are moving to the city in droves.
This influx of “hipsters” is having a massive impact on the culture of Richmond in some fabulous ways. The city known for being one of the most historical places in the United States — it’s actually among one of our country’s oldest major cities — is now taking on a completely new face.
Today, art is just as much a part of Richmond as its history is, tattoos can be spotted on hipster skin as frequent as murals on the city’s walls and coffee and craft beer flow with as much ferocity as the James River.
The city is changing. It’s transforming. It’s becoming something new. It’s an exciting metamorphosis that can be felt in the air and heard in passing conversation at trendy coffee shops and breweries like Lamplighter and The Veil. It has become a safe haven for dreamers, aspiring artists, creatives and entrepreneurs wanting to pursue their passions without having to scrape by as they pay outlandish rent and living expenses.
Famous for its historic charm, young professionals can feel right at home in cozy apartments in old beautifully renovated brick buildings and factories without paying an arm and a leg –– at an average rent of $1,450 for a two bedroom, Richmond is very doable (especially if you’re cool with having a roommate). Compared to the average US cost of $1,726, according to RentCafe, you’re getting a great deal.
Homes are likewise affordable compared to other areas: Zillow’s current average price is $335,000 compared to $372,000 for the state.
So, who is Richmond for?
Richmond, Virginia is for those that march to the beat of their own drums. It’s 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. But, more than this, Richmond is for young professionals too… with 7 Fortune 500 companies headquartered there, the opportunity for career growth is endless. If you plan on making the move to Richmond soon, give us a call, we’d love to help.
Soak up the sun and splash in the waves at Virginia Beach
Jump in your car and drive 137 miles southeast of Richmond and you’ll find another city in Virginia. Welcome to Virginia Beach. Located on the Virginia coast where the Chesapeake Bay meets with Atlantic, Virginia Beach at surface level is a vacation hot spot. This is true, but it also just so happens to be a wonderful place to call home, too.
Our first sell on Virginia Beach is that it sports over 38 miles of coastline. The idea of kicking off your shoes after work and walking along the beach is pretty appealing to us and we imagine it is to you too. And, while the resort city will certainly have plenty of vacationers laying out on one of its massive public beaches, locals know some nice quiet spots where you won’t see a tourist anywhere in sight.
And there is more to mention than just beaches. The city sports a very outdoor-centric culture. During the spring, fall and summer months, everywhere you look people can be seen rollerblading, skimboarding, paddleboarding, kayaking and walking their dogs. Not to mention, events like the Neptune Festival bring over 500,000 people to the city every year to spend time outside on Virginia’s beautiful coastline.
The city is welcoming to a diverse population, in part due to the military installations there. Over 96,000 active-duty military live in the Virginia Beach area thanks to the nine military installations. The city is home to Naval Air Station Oceana which is responsible for over 325,00 military take-offs and landings each year (that’s one every two minutes when we do the math). Don’t worry though, locals say you get pretty accustomed to jets knifing their way through the sky. Top Gun watching anyone? You won’t be alone!
Who is Virginia Beach for?
Virginia Beach is first and foremost for the beach lover, who still wants to enjoy all four seasons (without freezing to death in the winter). With that said, if you’re wanting to call Virginia Beach home, you better be okay with maneuvering around tourists in the summertime, it comes with the territory of living in a vacation hot spot. And, lastly, at roughly $1,500 a month for a two-bedroom in Virginia Beach, and an average home price of $387,000 the city is doable.
Enjoy southern hospitality in Norfolk
Just 25 miles west of Virginia Beach exists the state’s second largest city, Norfolk. Weighing in at 232,000 residents, there are plenty of benefits of living in Norfolk. Perhaps one of the most obvious is that you can thrive in a great city while also being just a 22-minute drive away from Virginia Beach.
Folks who live in Norfolk are always pleasantly surprised by the work/life balance that exists in the city. In an article by ALT Daily, a Norfolk native writes, “People friend you on Facebook before connecting with you on LinkedIn, and when you meet new people, not every conversation begins with, “So, what do you do for a living?”
And the people aren’t the only thing that’s friendly… rent is awfully friendly too. Living in Norfolk is a lot less than what it costs to live in Washington D.C. A one bedroom spot in Washington D.C. is going to cost you about $2300 according to RentCafe ($2,600 according to Zillow), whereas a comparable 876 square foot spot in Norfolk is going to run just $1,371/month. Cost of the average home price: $283,000, well below Virginia’s $372,00 average.
Norfolk is also home to an impressive art scene and to a massive 220,000 square-foot art museum called the Chrysler Museum of Art. Throughout the city, you’ll find hundreds of sculptures of mermaids, the city’s unofficial mascot of sorts. Being that Norfolk is surrounded by the sea, legend has it that mermaids would guide battle-weary sailors back to safety after a war at sea. The sculptures are a fun way to decorate the city while also honoring its maritime roots.
And, finally, if you’re into great food and craft beer, Norfolk is the place for you. The state of Virginia as a whole offers an excellent food scene. But Norfolk in particular sports some extraordinarily delicious treats. Not to mention, Norfolk based breweries like Benchtop Brewing and O’Connor Brewing Co are turning the city into a beer drinker’s paradise.
So, who is Norfolk for?
We recommend Norfolk for young families looking to raise their kids in a great city among great people. The housing and rent is affordable for young professionals raising kids and with being a short drive from Virginia Beach and Washington D.C., you’ll never run out of things to do with your kiddos.
The top place to live in Virginia
We know. We know. There are so many great cities in Virginia that it’s a bit hard to make a decision. Norfolk is a great place for families. Virginia Beach offers… well, beaches. And, Richmond is weird and unique in the best kind of ways.
However, if you’re asking us to weigh in, we have to give today’s MVP to Richmond. We’re loving the renaissance taking place there as well as the affordability the city has to offer. With that said, the one downside of Richmond is that there is a slightly higher crime rate there than the other two cities. Nothing to keep you from moving there, but just something to keep in mind as you make your decision.
And, as always, if you find yourself needing a helping hand as you’re packing for your big move, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We coordinate local and long-distance moving services in Virginia and we would love to help!
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