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. Best Places to Live | Compare cost of living, crime, cities, schools and more. If youre looking for somewhere that manages to combine highly rated schools, striking Victorian architecture, an almost nonexistent crime rate, a family friendly environment, and excellent civic amenities with supremely affordable house prices, you may want to take a closer look at the charming little town of Bon Air in Chesterfield Country. There are plenty of activities, including both a senior center and Southwest Virginia Higher Education Centers College for Older Adults. More interested in shopping? Martinsville. Or just sit in a pub on the water and listen to live music. Where to Stay/Eat: Book a stay at the Charlotte Hotel, a cute boutique retreat in the heart of downtown Onancock. Named by Southern Living as one of the best North Carolina beach towns, Beaufort is a small, charming harbor town with a list of perks a mile long. The area is perhaps best known as home to Virginia Tech University, which gives you the amenities typically found in a college town without the chaos of the big city. 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. Some vacation houses allow dogs, but be aware that you cannot take ANY pet, even confined in your car, onto Assateague Island. She spent nearly a year as a writer for a credit card processing service and has written about finance for numerous marketing firms and entrepreneurs. A national poll voted Chincoteague as America's seventh favorite small town. Come Visit! Best Beach Towns in America - 23 of the Most Charming Beach Towns. To narrow down the most family friendly cities in Virginia, we looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities and percent of households that currently have children. Here are the best places to live in Virginia. Between VCUs world-renowned art school, affordable living and impressive career opportunities, young professionals are moving to the city in droves. They were ranked according to their median home value, average number of rooms per house, median monthly property taxes paid and monthly housing costs. The best towns in Virginia for history lovers 1. Rock Hall. For lake living you can look at Moneta and Huddleston, both near Smith Mountain Lake. You can retire to the beach, the suburbs, a small town, or the mountains. 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. She also enjoys creative writing, content writing on nearly any topic (particularly business and lifestyle), because as a lifelong learner, she loves to do research and possess a high skill level in this area. Check out this road trip that will take you to 6 of the most scenic small towns in Virginia. Best North Carolina Beaches. Feeling inspired to check out more of Virginia's small towns? In Virginia Beach there are a lot of restaurants, coffee . Perfect for: Young professionals who want to be close to the nations capitol and enjoy a vibrant urban setting. 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. Some of these places are very pricey! The Spinning Wheel B&B and the 1882 Colonial Manor Inn B&B are both family friendly and dog friendly. 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. Weve said it before and well say it again. When it comes to the best small towns in Virginia, Occoquan certainly fits the bill. 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. With a crime rate thats among the lowest in Virginia, an unemployment rate of 4.2%, a close-knit community of 13,843, and a median income of $114,795, Falls Church scores exceptionally well across the board. Youll find everything from charming mountain towns to urban areas buzzing with life. . Providing you dont have a pointy hat, a broomstick, and a black cat at your heels, youre likely to be left spellbound by the pretty little city of Salem. 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. 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. At first glance, Richmond has the perfect canvas to be an amazing city. Updated: Jan 16, 2020. To find the cities where Black Americans fare best economically, SmartAsset looked at the 200 . 13 years ago. Although the town prides itself on its slower pace, the population is one of the fastest-growing in the area. 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. Another great kayaking trip is the Paddle Your Glass Off tour, a guided paddling expedition through the Bay waters to Chatham Vineyards, where youll take a scenic break for a little wine tasting. It boasts the National Wildlife Refuge and cute ponies. Wachapreague is a tiny Victorian-era town with a population of only 200 permanent residents, and is surrounded by farmland, woods, water, and some of the only undeveloped wetlands and barrier islands in the Mid-Atlantic. Explore Virginia's Cities and Towns. Located on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Chincoteague is a famous town in VA and one of the unique places for the best weekend getaways in Virginia. Me, just bought a teensy spot outside Boydton, n am SO excited not only about that, but the many upcoming adventures both in the County, and Coast feel very privileged to become a Virginia resident, a State with such a rich history and the folks who live here their stateSmiles to you ALL! However, many people tend to agree that one of the most scenic towns in the state is Crozet. The close-knit residents of this easy-going town are known for their community spirit, which is out on full display every year at the charmingly quirky Herndon Festival. Boasting gorgeous beaches, fantastic boardwalks, and lively nightlife, there's something for everyone in this vibrant coastal city. It is affordable with excellent healthcare and education systems. According to Home Snacks, the small town has the lowest level of poverty of any independent city or county in the United States which may explain why its residents can expect a massive $742,000 in property price from any newcomer looking to enjoy the towns attractions. Cape Hatteras. Williamsburg is a town in Virginia founded back in 1632. You might look on the Northern Neck, in particular towns like Irvington, Kilmarnock, Montross, White Church. 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. Stephanie Faris has written about finance for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2013. Perfect for: Families who want to live on one income (surrounding counties) or young professionals who want to live in a historic town with a small-town feel (downtown). Download The Entire Virginia Ranking Data. Four hospitals and plenty of medical offices will help you keep your healthcare options open. Folks who live in Norfolk are always pleasantly surprised by the work/life balance that exists in the city. Average Annual Rainfall. The 20 Best Places to Live in South Africa. Staunton is no stranger to praise. Ogunquit, Maine. Then get saving. 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. The schools: Youll have access to a first-class school system. 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. 17. (And if you're looking for a little laugh, check out these 17 reasons you should never, ever move to Virginia.). The town was historically a bustling port town, with steamboats traveling between Baltimore and Norfolk stopping in the waterfront community for supplies and rest. But one of the best features of Virginia is the abundance of small towns and communities throughout the state. Named from an Algonquian Indian word meaning "at the end of the water, the town was founded in 1765 with the construction of grist mills and tobacco warehouses. Colonial Beach is one of the best beach towns in Virginia. Emerald Isle. Ocean View Beach, Norfolk, VA. 1. Antiquers and outdoor enthusiasts equally will be at home in these destinations promising all of the above and more. 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. Lexington is a beautiful town to call home: full of historic buildings and southern charm. Just 25 miles west of Virginia Beach exists the states second largest city, Norfolk. If youre looking for a beachfront break without the crowds, plan a vacation to one of these five small towns on the Eastern Shore. The Middleburg Historic District, made up of many beautifully preserved 18th and 19th-century buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes the Red Fox Inn. And so, without further ado, we give you The 15 best places to live in Virginia. 1. The town is also home to the University of Mary Washington, which offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. Vienna is beautiful, quaint, safe, and bursting at the seams with great people. A growing population puts Blacksburg on the list of Virginia's best places to live for some. Hanalei, HI. Beach lovers looking for the best cities to live in Virginia will likely gravitate toward Virginia Beach. Of its population of 74,627, 23% have a master's degree or higher, 34% have a bachelor's degree, and a further 21% have a college or associate degree. Some quick facts about Centreville: the median income is $107,605. 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. Best Hotels & Resorts in Virginia: 12 Amazing Places to Stay, This Candy Store In Virginia Was Ripped Straight From The Pages Of A Fairytale, Discover A Little-Known Natural Wonder In Virginia On The 1.5-Mile Mountain Lake Trail, Drinks Are Served In The Coolest Setting At Gershwins, A 1920s-Themed Virginia Tavern, These 25 Towns In Virginia Have The Best Main Streets You Gotta Visit, Here Are The 11 Best Cities In Virginia To Retire, Staunton, Virginia Was Recently Named A Top Mountain Town By Southern Living Magazine, Youll Want To Spend More Time In This Historic Crabbing Town In Virginia, Greg Vassilakos (Own work) [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons. Already called one of the Best Small Towns in America by Smithsonian Magazine and Frommers, TheCultureTrip.com has named it the Most Beautiful Small Town in Virginia as well. This sleepy coastal town is well known for sport fishing, bringing enthusiasts from around the world to fish in the vast and plentiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Leesburg is a high-demand town, which means home prices will be higher than the national average. Great location just a short walk from the wildlife refuge with nicely appointed rooms and decks/patios. This is true, but it also just so happens to be a wonderful place to call home, too. Virginia Beach. Next to my home in West Virginia, Wachapreague is my favorite place! Special events and cultural attractions will give you plenty to do. The waterfront region is one of the best-kept secrets in the Commonwealth, boasting gorgeous beaches, incredible wildlife, and serene communities that welcome visitors to discover their quiet charm. Virginia is known for a lot of things: history, natural beauty, (bless our hearts) lots of southern charm. The economy: Roanoke has a thriving economy with plenty of job opportunities despite its small size. Features. Recognized by CitiesJournal as one of Virginias Best Small Towns and surrounded by natural beauty. Tangier Island lies twelve miles off the western coast of the Eastern Shore in the Chesapeake Bay and is known as Americas Soft Crab Capital. Onancock is quite possibly one of the greatest hidden gems of the Eastern Shore. Oak Island. Located less than an hour from Washington, D.C., and only 35 minutes from Dulles Airport, it provides a perfect blend of new and old, urban and historical. Chincoteague, Virginia. Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley & Appalachian Plateau. 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. "Enjoy the abundant outdoor destinations to relax, exercise, and . I even used Bellhop to move from Florida to Colorado in 2021. 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. The next entry to our list is one for the Golden Oldies. We know. And, lastly, at roughly $1,000 a month for a two-bedroom in Virginia Beach, the city is doable. Founded in 1732, this lovely little town in the Shenandoah Valley offers historic architecture, culture, and a friendly down-home atmosphere that makes its place in the rankings well-deserved. Open Saturdays and Sundays or if you catch me in the yard, I live right next door. Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement.