100. 20 Cities with the Worst Weather in the U.S. How Eiza Gonzalez Achieved a Net Worth of $5 Million, How Bebe Rexha Achieved a Net Worth of $10 Million. Today, Chincoteague (and sister island, Assateague) is best known for its Annual Pony Swim and Auction but also offers pristine beaches, amazing seafood, boat tours, home tours, and an all-around chilled-out beach town experience. Located just 35 minutes away from the thrills and spills of Washington DC, Herndon is a place where families can raise their kids in peace, quiet and safety, while still enjoying easy access to the sites, jobs, shopping activities, and cultural delights of the big city. Feeling inspired to check out more of Virginia's small towns? The town's small population mainly work as watermen, harvesting fresh seafood from the surrounding Bay waters. The scenery: Lexington is located in the Shenandoah Valley, known for its beautiful scenery. It has the seventh-highest median Black household income, at roughly $65,600, and the sixth-highest 2019 Black labor force participation rate, at 78.7%. Located a stone's throw away from Charlottesville, this beautiful town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers an abundance of natural beauty and outdoor activities to enjoy. Charleston is a popular choice for those seeking an East Coast locale with warm . Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Staunton provides culture a-plenty with sites like the American Shakespeare Center and The Frontier Culture Museum and offers no shortage of sensational specialty shopping, dining, and nightlife opportunities. Thanks to its easy proximity to the states capital, Viennas lucky residents get to enjoy all the joys of the big city while raising their kids in a safe, peaceful environment. The best American east coast beach towns to live in are the following: Daytona Beach, Florida. Living in Virginia Beach offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. But, more than this, Richmond is for young professionals too with 7 fortunate 500 companies headquartered there, the opportunity for career growth is endless. Yorktown Beach, Yorktown, VA. Local tip: Evergrain Bread Company (201-203 High St.; 410-778-3333) has some of the flakiest croissants this side of the Seine. The List: Best Places to Live in Virginia Most Recommended By Experts 1. As Niche notes, most residents are highly educated (21% have a masters degree or higher, 31% have a bachelors degree, and a further 23% have a college or associates degree), while those that havent yet completed their education stand a very good chance of progressing to the same level thanks to an excellent, well-funded school system that comprises of such well regarded schools as Loudoun County High School, Evergreen Elementary School, and Heritage High School. Other Virginia towns that ranked in the list of 150 were Cape Charles, which ranked 37th and Warrenton, which ranked . Fairfax County has some of the very best public schools in the nation. Weve said it before and well say it again. 4/15. Best Places to Live in Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach, Virginia is a popular summer destination for beachgoers and sun seekers alike. #10. Located on the Virginia coast where the Chesapeake Bay collides with the Atlantic, Virginia Beach at surface level is a vacation hot spot. Jennifer, Im considering moving to Virginia and am happy to hear ANY recommendations! Staunton is no stranger to praise. The locals are really nice and are generally accepting of college students. 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. "Enjoy the abundant outdoor destinations to relax, exercise, and . Kayakers learn about aquaculture practices and tour a working clam farm, then hand pick their own clams straight from the Bay waters to sample the tasty results. Your email address will not be published. You can retire to the beach, the suburbs, a small town, or the mountains. When it comes to the best small towns in Virginia, Occoquan certainly fits the bill. Retiring in Virginia means beautiful landscapes and reduced taxes. The history: If youre a fan of American history, then youll love living in Williamsburg. The metro area has a population density of 89.6 people per square. Winchester. Its becoming something new. Charlottesville is a town in the Commonwealth of Virginia with two high-ranking hospitals and a massive Downtown Mall. They include Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Floridaand all have. Sign up for travel tips and inspiration delivered right to your inbox. Re: smaller coastal towns. The small-town feel: With a population of just over 1,000, Clifton has a strong sense of community, and the residents are committed to preserving the areas natural beauty. View Full Report Card. 1. Average Annual Rainfall. To see Virginia's other best of the best cities, take a look below. 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. With a population of just over 8,000, this charming small town is surrounded by natural beauty, including the start (or finish, depending on your direction) of the. The small town draws visitors looking for a quiet coastal beach experience as well as space travel enthusiasts, as the NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility Visitor Center, NASAs primary facility for suborbital missions, is just south of the island. Surrounded on all sides by Virginia wine and horse country, Warrenton enjoys one of the most idyllic spots in the state. The city is changing. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. The average price for a home in Williamsburg is just over $300,000, lower than the state median. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. Great location just a short walk from the wildlife refuge with nicely appointed rooms and decks/patios. In fact, out of a list of 300 of the most populated cities in the, Read More The 20 Safest Places to Live in MarylandContinue, South Africa is unquestionably one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Her academic degrees include AA social Sci/BA English/MEd Adult Ed & Community & Human Resource Development and ABD in PhD studies in Indust & Org Psychology. Middleburg in Loudoun County has been listed at the top of Frommer's Best Small Towns in Virginia. 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. And then theres schooling, safety, job opportunities, and more, Read More The 20 Best Places for Single Moms to Live in EuropeContinue, Theres more to Wisconsin than cheese curds. 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. 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 citys walls and coffee and craft beer flow with as much ferocity as the James River. Lake Charles' cost of living is 11.1% lower than the national average, tied for the ninth-lowest index among coastal metro areas. 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. Perfect for: young professionals looking for culture and beauty with home and rent prices around the national average. But it turns out, your beach-town dream may not be as far out of reach as you think. Although it only takes up 6 blocks and boasts a population under 1,000, this town is packed with history and surrounded by some of the most beautiful horse-country anywhere in the nation. Hello, everyone who enjoys and appreciates our USA, the coastal VA rugged life style and its rich history Spanning 70 miles and bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginias Eastern Shore is a coastal paradise. Vienna is beautiful, quaint, safe, and bursting at the seams with great people. 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. Virginia is known for a lot of things: history, natural beauty, (bless our hearts) lots of southern charm. . It offers visitors a variety of attractions, including Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens amusement park. Just across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Cape Charles is an idyllic small town that exudes endless character. Id vote for the Refuge Inn when in Chincoteague. Located right on the South Carolina coast, Charleston is a tourist destination with beautiful moss-draped live oaks and gorgeous pastel-colored waterfront homes. At first glance, Richmond has the perfect canvas to be an amazing city. South Beach, Daytona and Myrtle Beach have their perks but these small towns, nominated for Best Coastal Small Town, offer a calm and charm that is hard to find in more heavily populated areas . So why the popularity? Choosing where to live is one of the biggest decisions youll make for yourself and your family. Virginia Beach offers well, beaches. And the people arent the only thing thats friendly rent is awfully friendly too. Population. What's the average retirement income for 2022? 10 Stunningly Beautiful Virginia Beaches + Tips for Picking the Right One, 11 Gorgeous Apple Orchards in Virginia (Best VA Apple Picking!). The towns small population mainly work as watermen, harvesting fresh seafood from the surrounding Bay waters. It served as the capital of the Virginia colony between 1699 and 1780, and today it is home to nearly 15,000 residents. There are plenty of activities, including both a senior center and Southwest Virginia Higher Education Centers College for Older Adults. But one of the best features of Virginia is the abundance of small towns and communities throughout the state. Other than the excellent school system and abundance of local amenities, Purcellville residents enjoy both the 2nd highest median income ($128,017 per household) in the state and the 2nd lowest crime figures. Perhaps one of the most obvious is that you can thrive in a great city while also being just a 30-minute drive away from Virginia Beach. The towns most popular place to dine is the Wachapreague Island House Restaurant, and for an overnight stay you can either book a room at the Wachapreague Inn or travel just a few miles up the road to the Garrison Bed & Breakfast. Up next we have Purcellville, a relatively small town that is so in demand, homeowners can charge a stonking $426,500 for their properties. How long will $100,000 last me in retirement. We are not at all surprised. 4. Or folks can go inland a block or two and save big bucks on a beach. It's possible to find a four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhome with ocean views, right on the sand starting around $300,000. Corrections for the Onancock section: Burnham Guides rents kayaks, SUPs and does tours from the historic Steamboat Ticket Office at Onancock Wharf. Located in the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton is a city that has much to offer its residents. With all of these favorable factors considered, it's easy to see why Virginia is frequently recognized as one of the best places to live or retire in the Southeast. It's most famous for theUniversity of Virginia and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. This provides plenty of opportunities for hiking, nature walks, and other outdoor activities. (A quick check of the median household income will usually help you determine if you can afford the area.). Some of these places are very pricey! 3/15. And, Richmond is weird and unique in the best kind of ways. The old town area is home to colonial-era architecture and cobblestone streets, giving you a real taste of American history. Potomac Shores Potomac Shores, VA Named the 2016 Community of the Year, this award-winning waterfront destination sits on the shores of the historic Potomac River, and is one of the best coastal towns in Virginia. It is small and has a population of merely 800 or so people. Ocean View Beach, Norfolk, VA. 1. While the word "literally" is often used incorrectly, in this case, Farmville sits just south of the geographic center of the state, meaning that it is "literally" in the heart of Virginia. Roanoke is the smallest city on the list regarding population, but it makes up for its size with its unique appeal. 158,309 16. Folks who live in Norfolk are always pleasantly surprised by the work/life balance that exists in the city. Affordability: The cost of living is low, making it a great place to live for those on a budget. Visitors can enjoy the great outdoors with kayaking, paddle boarding . Martinsville. But with so much to offer, the state has a little something for everyone. Although it only takes up 6 blocks and boasts a population under 1,000, this town is packed with history and surrounded by some of the most beautiful horse-country anywhere in the nation. Garden and Sea Inn Bed and Breakfast is pet-friendly. Home Living like a local The Best Places to Live in Virginia (A 2022 Guide). Special events and cultural attractions will give you plenty to do. Charlottesville is a town in the Commonwealth of Virginia with two high-ranking hospitals and a massive Downtown Mall. If you want to live in a town that feels more like a quaint mountain town, Roanoke is the perfect place for you. 2/15. The town has a rich colonial history and many historical sites and museums. And so, without further ado, we give you The 15 best places to live in Virginia. The houses and neighborhoods are beautiful, the people are friendly, and its wonderful to have such good neighbors. Luray. The economy: Roanoke has a thriving economy with plenty of job opportunities despite its small size. Median Income: $81,263. The cost of childcare, healthcare, and housing quickly racks up, especially when youre living on a single income. And they are the closest beach town to Washington D.C. Centrally located on the Chesapeake Bay side of the Eastern Shore, Onancock is an inviting small town that was founded in 1680. $102,227 17. When not underground in the caves . 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. Middleburg in Loudoun County has been listed at the top of Frommers Best Small Towns in Virginia. Richmond As you explore some of the best cities to live in Virginia, don't neglect the capital. Edenton Edenton | Photo Copyright: Lana Law Set on Albemarle Sound, Edenton is a peaceful escape from the stress of everyday life. With a population of 16,378, Vienna is the kind of close-knit, family-friendly community that picket fence dreams are made of. 1. Perfect for: Families who want a safe and affordable place to live or retirees looking for a quiet and beautiful town to spend their golden years. 18. However, many people tend to agree that one of the most scenic towns in the state is Crozet. Investing involves risk and past performance is not indicative of future results. But theres also gorgeous landscapes, sprawling metropolises, and a lot of very friendly folk who, Read More The 10 Cheapest Places to Live in WisconsinContinue, People have different criteria when choosing where to live, depending on their lifestyle, personal preference, stage of life, and employment. A commute to DC is possible from here, but its a long drive with lots of traffic. Granted, Richmond may not be the best for families or seniors, but if youre an up and coming member of Generation Y, youll find its vibrant nightlife, affordable housing, excellent job prospects (at the last count, the city was home to 8 Fortune 500 companies, while the government, finance, and higher education sectors all offer some exceptional job prospects), stunning parks and excellent transportation network combine to make a very attractive proposition indeed. Here's a look at the highest-rated coastal towns to retire. To find the cities where Black Americans fare best economically, SmartAsset looked at the 200 . Virginia Beach is first and foremost for the beach lover. But, Norfolk in particular sports some extraordinarily delicious treats. Another one of Frommer's Best Small Towns in Virginia. Visited by Captain John Smith in the early 1600s, he wrote that the land was the Gem of the Eastern Shore. 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 plenty of hiking and biking trails and other recreational opportunities. Looking for the top place to live in Virginia? The schools: Youll have access to a first-class school system. 18 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. The Spinning Wheel B&B and the 1882 Colonial Manor Inn B&B are both family friendly and dog friendly. Lexington is a small town located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, with a population of around 7,000. People watch out for each other here, they teach their children to be respectful of others and things.. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After exploring downtown with its quaint cottage-like Main. Thanks to an excellent job market, two of Virginias most famous malls (Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center for the uninitiated), a close to zero crime rate, excellent schools, and a buzzing nightlife, the residents of Tysons Corner are only too aware theyre sitting on real estate dynamite. If you can find a more affordable city with access to amenities, you may be able to enjoy the best of all possible worlds. Whether you're a history buff, art collector, wine enthusiast, beer aficionado, hiking lover, ghost hunter, bargain shopper, or anything in between, you'll find that Virginia has exactly what you're looking for. A low cost of living and quiet lifestyle make this one of the best retirement communities in Virginia. If you want to join the happy little community, dont expect much change from $379,900 for a single-family home- living in a town this desirable comes with a hefty price tag. The sculptures are a fun way to decorate the city while also honoring its maritime roots. 2022 Retirable Inc. All rights reserved. 7). Best Overall City - Arlington Cliff / flickr Matthew Hurst / flickr Arlington sits just at the border of Virginia and Washington, D.C. so it's no wonder this vibrant city scores so high in terms of things to do, economy and livability. 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! The charming downtown area includes art museums and a pedestrian mall, and the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains offer all the outdoor recreation you could want. Visit former Native American villages, kayak to local wineries, and go sailing. The next entry to our list is one for the Golden Oldies. For the residents, the booming tourist trade translates to an abundance of excellent recreational and leisure pursuits (including the famous Busch Gardens amusement park), a high median home value, excellent job opportunities, and a place at number 13 on our list. For a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape, stop by the Assateague Lighthouse on the neighboring Assateague Island.