Not only is Virginia popular among oyster-lovers, but this state is also known across the globe for being home to the Presidential homes, Appalachian Trail, and the Arlington National Cemetery. Furthermore, the state’s low crime rate, high quality of healthcare, and robust economy are just some of the reasons for attracting a growing number of people to live in Virginia.
In this blog post, we will look into The 9 Best Places to Live in Virginia if you or any of your loved ones wish to settle down and move into the Mother of States!
Best Places to Live in Virginia
#9 Blacksburg
If you are looking for a city with top-notch schools, you should highly consider moving to Blacksburg. This city is home to both the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the Virginia State University. Virginia Tech acts as a catalyst for positive change on a worldwide scale. Meanwhile, Virginia State University provides access to higher education and a more holistic learning experience to develop world-class leaders and scholars. Furthermore, this community has been named one of the top college towns in the country.
Besides the academic perks this city has to offer, it is also highly affordable. In fact, the cost of living is 7% lower than the national average. Additionally, housing is affordable to households below the town’s median family income of $89,000. The Zillow website also indicates that the average property value in Blacksburg is $319,215.
#8 Centreville
A town that is home to 74,125 residents, Centreville is often described as a generally calm and peaceful area. This city is also regarded as diverse, earning a diversity score of 99 out of 100. Specifically, the most diversified location inside Centreville’s formal bounds is in the city’s core business district.
If you are wondering how affordable this city is, Best Places reports a median home cost of $515,000, which is higher than the state standard of $329,200. Overall, this city has a high cost of living due to its location within the affluent county of Fairfax.
#7 Virginia Beach
Do you want to experience paying low tax rates? Then pack your bags and move to Virginia Beach. This city has the least expensive property taxes in the Hampton Roads region. Additionally, because all Social Security income is tax-free in Virginia, you may anticipate a low cost of living in this area. Zillow indicates that the average home value in Virginia Beach is $340,104.
Even though it is home to 450,201 individuals and is one of the most populated locations in the Mother of States, this area remains exceptionally safe. According to FBI figures, Virginia Beach has one of the lowest crime rates in the country for a city of its size. Additionally, it is a secure community to live, work, travel, and raise a family.
#6 Purcellville
The top three reasons people prefer to move to the charming town of Purcellville are the outstanding schools, high median income, and low crime rate. The top 5 schools in this city include Emerick Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Woodgrove High, and Mountain View Elementary. In terms of the household median income, compared to the state standard of $74,222, the median household income in Purcellville is $139,074, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Lastly, let us take a look at the crime care in the city. Purcellville was ranked as the safest community in Virginia with a minimum population of 10,000 based on the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) statistics available.
Considering all these stated benefits, you should already be sold on moving to Purcellville, but you should be aware that it can become expensive living here. In the figures released by the Realtor website, we discovered that the median listing home price in this city is $690,000. Furthermore, Area vibes states that Purcellville’s cost of living is 21% more than the Virginia average and 30% higher than the national average.
#5 Bridgewater
We are jumping onto a city that is relatively smaller than the previous ones on the list. According to the most recent statistics, Bridgewater is home to 6,032 residents. Despite this, the tiny town boasts more amenities than many towns twice its size, including enough leisure and recreational opportunities to satisfy even the most discerning city dweller.
Like Purcellville, this city is also known to be safe, so it is highly desired among families and retirees. In fact, The National Council for Home Safety and Security recognized Bridgewater as the safest city in Virginia in 2017. Besides the promise of security, the residents of this city also enjoy an affordable cost of living. We learned on the Area Vibes website that Bridgewater’s cost of living is 4% less than the state average. Additionally, Zillow found that the average property price in Bridgewater is $282,716.
#4 Bon Air
Moving on to the next location on today’s list, let us dive into the city famous for its enchanting Victorian Homes. Welcome to Bon Air, a Chesterfield County suburb of Richmond. The town, which was originally created as a resort village, has kept most of its original Victorian architecture. Therefore, you can expect to see lots of interesting and historical spots scattered within the area. Some places you should highly visit here include the Byrd Park Pump House, the Maggie L Walker National Historic Site, and the Springhill Historic District.
Furthermore, the median home cost in this area falls just below the state standard, with a value of $311,000, according to Best Places. Considering the average household income of $81,896, you can definitely purchase a family home in the neighborhood.
#3 Falls Church
Falls Church is a quiet and tranquil town that dates all the way back to the 1600s when it was founded as a colonial community. According to Home Snacks, the little town has the lowest poverty rate in the United States of any autonomous city or county. Additionally, this city has a very low unemployment rate of 4.2 percent.
Purchasing a home in this area, however, is slightly more expensive. According to Zillow, the average property value in Falls Church is $685,294. Overall, such a prestigious setting comes with a cost. While the cost of living in Falls Church is comparable to that of adjacent Washington, D.C., it is 51.6 percent more than the national average.
#2 Vienna
Living in Vienna gives you the privilege to enjoy all the luxuries of the great metropolis while rearing your children in a safe, quiet atmosphere. This area’s high walkability, excellent schools, and abundance of parks and activities make it a perfect city for raising a family. Residents here also benefit from a virtually non-existent crime rate. Considering all these perks, Money.com selected Vienna as one of the “Best Places to Live” 2015 and 2013.
However, Vienna was named the wealthiest city in the Old Dominion in 2019, so living here is not cheap. The cost of living is 60% more than the rest of Virginia and 71% higher than the national average. If you’re considering buying a property, Best Places estimates the median home price in the area to be $936,100.
#1 Arlington
Sitting at the number one spot on our list is none other than the city home to the Pentagon. Arlington was just named the “Best City to Live in America” by Niche.Com. This place is recognized worldwide as the country’s smallest self-governing county. Moreover, the top benefits of living here are the outstanding schools, low crime rate, abundance of outdoor activities, and sense of community. Therefore, you can understand why Arlington is gaining popularity among elders, families, and millennials.
As expected, living here will be rather costly. According to Best Places, the typical home price is $785,800, which is more than double the state average. Additionally, housing costs in Arlington are 134 percent higher than the national average. Despite its high costs, many individuals continue to pick this city for its beauty, convenience, and diverse population.
