The recreational opportunities: Arlington is home to several great parks, including the famous Pentagon Row and Ballston Commons. Check out this article that highlights 11 of the most beautiful places to see in Virginia. Average Annual Rainfall. Boasting gorgeous beaches, fantastic boardwalks, and lively nightlife, there's something for everyone in this vibrant coastal city. Next: 10. It is affordable with excellent healthcare and education systems. 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. Or folks can go inland a block or two and save big bucks on a beach. 46.5" 15. Perfect for: Young professionals looking for a short commute and great nightlife. With a well-funded school system and a peaceful, close-knit feel, it makes a great place to raise a family. SouthEast Expeditions offers an Aqua-Culture Clamming tour along Cherrystone Creek, just north of Cape Charles. Download The Entire Virginia Ranking Data. Between VCUs world-renowned art school, affordable living and impressive career opportunities, young professionals are moving to the city in droves. The median home value is $410,300, while the median rental price is $1,794. Best Beach Towns in America - 23 of the Most Charming Beach Towns. The Most Popular Gifts of 2022. The first Colonial capital of North Carolina, this 300-year-old town is replete with wonderfully restored historical homes and buildings. And, finally, if youre into great food and craft beer, Norfolk is the place for you. 17. Onancock is quite possibly one of the greatest hidden gems of the Eastern Shore. Where to Stay/Eat: Stay in the downtown area at the Hotel Cape Charlesor The Bay Haven Inn and get a taste of the local seafood at either The Shanty or the Oyster Farm Seafood Eatery, followed by a little dessert at Brown Dog Ice Cream. Charleston is a popular choice for those seeking an East Coast locale with warm . (And if you're looking for a little laugh, check out these 17 reasons you should never, ever move to Virginia.). Centrally located on the Chesapeake Bay side of the Eastern Shore, Onancock is an inviting small town that was founded in 1680. The University of Virginia is located right in the heart of town and has some of the best academics in the country, and it provides plenty of jobs. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in Virginia. How many of these quaint towns in Virginia have you visited? The town also has a lively music scene and many wineries. The towns small population mainly work as watermen, harvesting fresh seafood from the surrounding Bay waters. That might be true, but even great leaders can get tired of low salaries, high living costs, and kids whod rather be anywhere else, Read More The 20 Best Places for Teachers to Live in the U.S.Continue, Life as a single mom isnt always easy. Weighing in at 244,000 residents, there are plenty of benefits of living in Norfolk. Check out our guide to the best places to live in Virginia to offer. What are your thoughts on our list of the 10 best small towns in Virginia? It has a small historic downtown and is surrounded by horse farms and elegant homes. Feeling inspired to check out more of Virginia's small towns? Retiring in Virginia means beautiful landscapes and reduced taxes. Cape May, New Jersey. Best Places to Live | Compare cost of living, crime, cities, schools and more. 2022 Retirable Inc. All rights reserved. Where to Stay/Eat: Book a stay at the Charlotte Hotel, a cute boutique retreat in the heart of downtown Onancock. Wed love to hear from you! If you need any more convincing as to why this suburb of Arlington deserves a place on our list, why not try its low crime rate, excellent walkability, and abundance of local amenities for size? 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. Arlington is a city in Virginia that offers its residents a high quality of life. Perfect for: Young professionals who want to be close to the nations capitol and enjoy a vibrant urban setting. The cost of living is also low, making it a great place to live for those on a budget. 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. With excellent public amenities, a host of groups and organizations to join, a cost of living 7% below the national average, low-cost housing, a temperate climate, and some of the lowest crime numbers in the States, theres every reason in the world to understand why this quaint mountain town made it to Forbes Best Places to Retire for three years in a trot. Visited by Captain John Smith in the early 1600s, he wrote that the land was the Gem of the Eastern Shore. 6. 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. Great location just a short walk from the wildlife refuge with nicely appointed rooms and decks/patios. Some of these places are very pricey! The city has a population of around 24,000 and is known for its historic downtown district, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. 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! This company Harbor Rental in chincoteague has many different size homes that are pet friendly. If you want to live in one of the best beach towns in the U.S. with tons of unique shops, art galleries on every corner, beaches you can relax on, and restaurants to fit any food mood, then living in Laguna Beach might be perfect for you! Portland, Maine. With a live theater, award-winning restaurants, local artists, craftsmen, sculptors, actors, dancers, musicians, and glassblowers, there's no shortage of things to see and do. The historic downtown: Stauntons historic downtown district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is one of the most expensive areas in the state. When not underground in the caves,. Sun Set Beach Resort, Cape Charles. Anything you cant find in Falls Church will be available in nearby D.C., which is a short 20-minute drive away. Ocean View Beach, Norfolk, VA. 1. What about it do you like most? 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. Median Income: $81,263. Well send you a 5% discount code to use whenever you are ready to get moving. Oak Island. Martinsville. Founded in 1680 as Port Scarborough, it has been called the Coolest Town in the South by Budget Travel and the #1 Small Town in Virginia by CitiesJournal.com. 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 crime rate is so low as to be almost non-existent, the unemployment rate is at an all-time low of 2.9%, while the school system is one of the best in the state. Best Oceanfront Hotels In Virginia Beach. 2/15. The cities in Virginia are as beautiful and diverse as the state itself. 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. Ogunquit, Maine. Need further convincing? Living in Virginia Beach offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. 10. Stephanie Faris has written about finance for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2013. 1. The town's small population mainly work as watermen, harvesting fresh seafood from the surrounding Bay waters. 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 . 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. Easton Being that Norfolk is surrounded by the sea, legend has it that mermaids would actually guide battle-weary sailors back to safety after a war at sea. Not to mention, events like the Neptune Festival bring over 500,000 people to the city every year to spend time outside on Virginias beautiful coastline. "The area boasts access to over 10 beaches, including Sandbridge, Croatan, and North End," says Zumper. More interested in shopping? Abingdon, named after Martha Washingtons ancestral home in England, became a town in 1778 and today its historic downtown is home to a thriving arts and culture scene, featuring venues like the historic Barter Theatre, as well as galleries, museums, and markets. . Between Richmonds 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. 1. The town has colonial-era architecture and a recreated 18th-century village, complete with an amusement park and shopping opportunities nearby. Plus, the dining scene is equally impressive. $171,800.0. In fact, Onancock was called "the Gem of the Eastern Shore" by none other than Captain John Smith himself. Schedule your FREE Retirable consultation today. To empower a confident, worry-free retirement for everyone. Staunton is no stranger to praise. Save. oldest continuously operating inns in the U.S. Lexington, Virginia and the Rockbridge Area Tourism / Facebook, reasons you should never, ever move to Virginia. Virginia Beach 3,092 Beaches By JustCho2 A reviewer on City-Data.com summed things up best with the comment, We feel incredibly safe in Salem. We are not at all surprised. As well as enjoying a median home value of $537,900 and a median household income of $93,370, the towns 154,710 lucky residents get to enjoy an abundance of stunning historic neighborhoods to wander, some great shopping opportunities, and a plethora of cultural activities for the whole family to enjoy. Read the Magazine Quick Facts Average Household Income $73,549 Kilmarnock! Sorry, but our waterfront home, Eagles View, is not pet friendly basically because of the amount of time the dogs would be left alone in the house while their families are at the beach, hiking the trails, eating out, etc. If youre looking for a beachfront break without the crowds, plan a vacation to one of these five small towns on the Eastern Shore. Some parts of Los Angeles do touch the Pacific Ocean, though other cities in the metro . #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. Today, Occoquan is an artists' community, featuring shops, dining, ghost walks, boating, and fishingall with brick sidewalks lit by old-fashioned gaslights. That may mean low crime rates, proximity to work or school, good schools for your children, or even just affordability. The town is also home to the University of Mary Washington, which offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. 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. Retirable specializes in helping people come up with a plan. Winchester. Hello, everyone who enjoys and appreciates our USA, the coastal VA rugged life style and its rich history We coordinate local and long-distance moving services in Virginia and we would love to help! 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. 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?. But, more than this, Richmond is for young professionals too with 7 fortunate 500 companies headquartered there, the opportunity for career growth is endless. For lake living you can look at Moneta and Huddleston, both near Smith Mountain Lake. And the people arent the only thing thats friendly rent is awfully friendly too. It was known traditionally as the US Horse and Hunt Capital as it played an active role in steeplechases, foxhunting, and had large estates. 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 average price for a home in Williamsburg is just over $300,000, lower than the state median. Does anyone know if there are dog friendly hotels at any of the Virginia Eastern Shore areas? Its a short drive to Washington DC, and public transit is available. Visitors can enjoy the great outdoors with kayaking, paddle boarding . 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. 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. But, outside from the beaches, the city as a whole sports a very outdoor-centric culture. It is small and has a population of merely 800 or so people. Charleston, SC. $102,227 17. 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. The cost of living is low, making it an excellent place for families or those on a budget. 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. 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. Lake Charles' cost of living is 11.1% lower than the national average, tied for the ninth-lowest index among coastal metro areas. What makes it a great place to live: The University of Virginia. And they are the closest beach town to Washington D.C. Not to mention, Norfolk based breweries like Smartmouth Brewing and OConnor Brewing Co are turning the city into a beer drinkers paradise. Beach lovers looking for the best cities to live in Virginia will likely gravitate toward Virginia Beach. Kailua, Hawaii. Some vacation houses allow dogs, but be aware that you cannot take ANY pet, even confined in your car, onto Assateague Island. Next to my home in West Virginia, Wachapreague is my favorite place! This small town is known for the Martinsville . The schools are excellent, and the town has a close-knit community feel. First settled in the 1700s, Chincoteague gained the spotlight in the late 1940s with the publication of Misty of Chincoteague, a story about one of the islands now-famous wild ponies. Median Home Value: $87,700. The cities also had to have a population of at least 12,000. Grandview Beach, Hampton, VA. 8. 13 years ago. Home Living like a local The Best Places to Live in Virginia (A 2022 Guide). But what sets it apart is the feeling of community and camaraderie you get when youre there. The shopping: Alexandria is home to some of the best shopping in Northern Virginia, with a number of high-end boutiques and restaurants. North Carolina vs Virginia Beach, Virginia Change Places . 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. 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. Cheap housing can sometimes mean a less than desirable neighborhood, but in Lortons case, this couldnt be further from the truth. Corrections for the Onancock section: Burnham Guides rents kayaks, SUPs and does tours from the historic Steamboat Ticket Office at Onancock Wharf. Perfect for retirees or anyone looking for culture combined with a low cost of living. 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. 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%. The retirement hub is Hilton Head, with many upscale communities aimed at retiring baby boomers. The tropical town on the north shore of Kauai looks out over nothing but hundreds of miles of raw Pacific. Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi. 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. View Full Report Card. 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. Of course, the same is true for nearly every place in Virginia. The region offers more than 100 golf courses within 30 miles. Arlington is one of the most livable areas in the country, and it ranks #3 on the Top 100 Places to Live list. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Percentage of the Population Over 65: 18.7%. You don't even have to leave the U.S. for a warm weather getaway. Number 1: it's one of the newest neighborhoods in Virginia Beach. 2022 2. Cape Charles is an excellent destination for wildlife lovers, as Kiptopeke State Park isright outside the town. We recommend Norfolk for young families looking to raise their kids in a great city among great people. Richmond, Virginia is yet another one of these gems weve stumbled upon, making it one of the top places to live in Virginia. 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. These beautiful animals were made famous in the book and subsequent movie, Misty of Chincoteague, and the town houses a museum that tells the true story behind the ponies. If you plan on making the move to Richmond soon, give us a call, wed love to help. Williamsburg is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. In addition, it has a thriving arts and culture scene. Several! 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.