Virginia has dozens of small towns that offer endless charm, hospitality, and memorable adventures. $102,227 17. Retiring in Virginia means beautiful landscapes and reduced taxes. They were ranked according to their median home value, average number of rooms per house, median monthly property taxes paid and monthly housing costs. Pelican Beach, Destin. Antiquers and outdoor enthusiasts equally will be at home in these destinations promising all of the above and more. To experience secluded beaches and horses, visitors head to Assateague Island National Seashore, located near Chincoteague Island. What's the average retirement income for 2022? Your email address will not be published. Charleston is a popular choice for those seeking an East Coast locale with warm . The median household income in Arlington is $105,763. The Best Places to Live in Virginia (A 2022 Guide), Be a part of the renaissance taking place in Richmond, Soak up the sun and splash in the waves at Virginia Beach, The Best Neighborhoods for Families in Portland (Updated for 2023), The Best Suburbs in Atlanta (A 2023 Guide), Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Portland (Updated for 2023), The Best Neighborhoods in Jacksonville, FL (2022), Why Moving is So Stressful (And 3 Things You Can Do About It). There are so many great cities in Virginia that its a bit hard to make a decision. Access to the top of the lighthouse is open to the public during select visiting hours. Schedule your FREE Retirable consultation today. Central Virginia This digital edition of the Central Virginia is sponsored by Central Virginia Partnership. 4/15. Although its home to two colleges, VMI and W&L, Lexington is much more than just a college town. 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. 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. But, more than this, Richmond is for young professionals too with 7 fortunate 500 companies headquartered there, the opportunity for career growth is endless. The town also has a lively music scene and many wineries. Yorktown Beach, Yorktown, VA. The schools: Arlington has award-winning schools, with many ranking at the top of their respective categories. The Inn at Onancock loves dogs, and your pup can meet the resident, Dante, the friendly Shepherd. 7). Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. #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. The city is changing. Martinsville. 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. 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. 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. 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! 100. Best beach towns in Virginia - 010110010101101 - Shutterstock But the Commonwealth is also home to many beach towns that are, more or less, beach cities, like Norfolk and VA Beach. Located on the Virginia coast where the Chesapeake Bay collides with the Atlantic, Virginia Beach at surface level is a vacation hot spot. Martinsville. Numbers 1 and 2 don't require much explanation - the population and dates speak for themselves. Lifelong watermen and weekend sailors alike head to Rock Hall for its nautical flavor, complete with marinas, a small beach, and waterfront crabhouses. There are plenty of activities, including both a senior center and Southwest Virginia Higher Education Centers College for Older Adults. The median home value is $410,300, while the median rental price is $1,794. La Vida Nomad | Sitemap, 11 Best Beach Towns to Live in North Carolina. Everything you need to know about moving to a new state. Charleston, SC. Come Visit! In the past, weve highlighted hidden gems like Chattanooga and Austin as places we recommend calling home for their breadth of opportunity, affordability, hip funky culture and loads of entertainment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Best Beach Towns in America - 23 of the Most Charming Beach Towns. And its no wonder. Eat at Bills Prime Seafood & Steaks, followed by a few scoops at Island Creamery, ranked the best ice cream in America by TripAdvisor. Median Home Value: $87,700. Anything you cant find in Falls Church will be available in nearby D.C., which is a short 20-minute drive away. 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. Full of architectural delights, quirky little boutiques, and artisanal marketplaces, its easy to understand how Williamson attracts over 4 million tourists every year. The history: If youre a fan of American history, then youll love living in Williamsburg. 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. And if youre looking for more cute towns in Virginia, check out these charming towns in Virginia where everybody knows your name. The weather: It hardly ever snows here, making it an excellent spot for summer lovers. 5/15 . 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. Some of these places are very pricey! Nothing on this website should be considered an offer, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell securities. 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. Easy, Cheap, 30-Minute (or Faster!) 14 Chincoteague. The median home value is $410,300, while the median rental price is $1,794. Virginia Beach, Virginia. Today, Occoquan is an artists' community, featuring shops, dining, ghost walks, boating, and fishingall with brick sidewalks lit by old-fashioned gaslights. Emerald Isle. Here are our top picks for livability in this beautiful state. The best neighborhoods to live in Alexandria include those listed below: Taylor Run (Average Home Value: $275,000 to $1+ million) Taylor Run is an attractive area for families and young professionals with parks, restaurants, and coffee shops. Hello, everyone who enjoys and appreciates our USA, the coastal VA rugged life style and its rich history 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. Less than an hour from Roanoke is this small town. The first Colonial capital of North Carolina, this 300-year-old town is replete with wonderfully restored historical homes and buildings. 6. I even used Bellhop to move from Florida to Colorado in 2021. It has a first-class school system, with Chantilly High School, Centreville High School, Fairfax High School, and Westfield High School all scoring an A+ under Niches assessment criteria. People watch out for each other here, they teach their children to be respectful of others and things.. Regardless of what youre looking for, theres sure to be a place in Virginia thats perfect for you. The 20 Best Places to Live in South Africa. Ogunquit, Maine. 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. Lovers of the great outdoors might prefer the beach or mountains, but big-city, suburban, and small-town options are also available. The location: Alexandria is situated right at the top of Virginia and is a short commute away from Washington D.C. Chincoteague, Virginia. #10. 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. Winchester. Just 25 miles west of Virginia Beach exists the states second largest city, Norfolk. Now there are small towns and then there are small towns. Charlottesville is a town in the Commonwealth of Virginia with two high-ranking hospitals and a massive Downtown Mall. In addition to lower Virginia retirement taxes, Charlottesville also gives you plenty of culture. The schools are excellent, and the town has a close-knit community feel. Many of the residents work for the federal government, but the 65-plus community is a thriving one, as well. 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. Of course, the same is true for nearly every place in Virginia. Best Places to Live in Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach, Virginia is a popular summer destination for beachgoers and sun seekers alike. Choosing where to live is one of the biggest decisions youll make for yourself and your family. Bald Head Island. Founded in 1632, the town of Williamsburg has the kind of uniquely charming historic town center you could wander for hours without getting bored. The downtown area has lots of local shops carrying everything from handcrafted jewelry to homemade ice cream. It boasts the National Wildlife Refuge and cute ponies. View Full Report Card. Virginia has the 11th highest per-capita income in America, and it homes four of the 10 wealthiest U.S. counties: Loudoun County, Falls Church City and Fairfax County (scooped first three positions based on survey by Code Black Group), as well as Arlington County (No. 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. The best American east coast beach towns to live in are the following: Daytona Beach, Florida. 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. The city's downtown area also provides easy access to all D.C. metro area attractions. In 2nd place position with a population of 5,906, a median home value of $209,200, and an unemployment rate of 3.3% is the diminutive Bridgewater. If you love nature, youll feel right at home here. This is true, but it also just so happens to be a wonderful place to call home, too. Virginia Beach offers well, beaches. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any decisions based on your own personal circumstances. 3. If youre a history buff, the state has plenty to offer there, as well. Retirable provides holistic retirement planning services, which are available only to residents of the United States. Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 344. With that said, if youre 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. 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. 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. Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 66. 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 . Fintech company SmartAsset compared data for 218 beach towns and put together a list of the most affordable 50.. Today, the town is filled with stunning Victorian-era homes and local boutique shops. Folks who live in Norfolk are always pleasantly surprised by the work/life balance that exists in the city. 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. The downtown: Lexington has a charming and historic downtown district worth exploring. Springfield, Massachusetts Best Places 2022-2023 Rank: 117 Metro Population: 698,537 Median Home Price: $333,741 Average Annual Salary: $55,710 Located in western Massachusetts, Springfield is. This means that there are plenty of job opportunities for Arlington residents. Arlington has something for everyone with top schools, low crime rates, incredible diversity, and buzzing nightlife. Most residents own their homes here and there is a small-town feel in the middle of the city. in Best Places to Live #39. in Best Places to Retire; 6 Overall Rating. Vienna. The Spinning Wheel B&B and the 1882 Colonial Manor Inn B&B are both family friendly and dog friendly. That depends on your budget and preferences. Local tip: Evergrain Bread Company (201-203 High St.; 410-778-3333) has some of the flakiest croissants this side of the Seine. The best small towns in Virginia are some of the most delightful locales in the country. So why the popularity? The town has a rich history and a variety of attractions that make it a popular destination for tourists and families alike. Virginia has so many remarkable small towns that singling out one as the most scenic is a bit of a challenge and largely depends on whether or not you're more partial to farmland, mountains, or the coast. 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. Williamsburg is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. In Virginia Beach there are a lot of restaurants, coffee . 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. 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. This small town is known for the Martinsville . http://www.burnhamguides.com/virginia Also, Inn and Garden Cafe is closed. In addition, what makes Virginia especially interesting is its military influence. A commute to DC is possible from here, but its a long drive with lots of traffic. You might look on the Northern Neck, in particular towns like Irvington, Kilmarnock, Montross, White Church. Well send you a 5% discount code to use whenever you are ready to get moving. Of its population of 74,627, 23% have a masters degree or higher, 34% have a bachelors degree, and a further 21% have a college or associate degree. The surrounding counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania are more affordable than the downtown, with single-family homes available in the $250,000 range. Visit former Native American villages, kayak to local wineries, and go sailing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Official Tourism Blog Of The Commonwealth Of VirginiaCopyright 2023 Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Cary St., Suite 900, Richmond, Va 23219. Ocracoke Island. Sample fresh seafood at The Fishermans Corner Restaurant or Lorraines Seafood Restaurant. That may mean low crime rates, proximity to work or school, good schools for your children, or even just affordability. Here, we take a look at the best places to live in Virginia: whether youre a 20 something millennial or a 60 something baby boomer, youd be thrilled to call any one of these 20 hotspots your home. 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. 158,309 16. With stunning mountain ranges, superb beaches and vibrant cities, Virginia has it all. Here are the best places to live in Virginia. 1. Virginia is known for a lot of things: history, natural beauty, (bless our hearts) lots of southern charm. 46.5" 15. Is Virginia a good place to retire? But, outside from the beaches, the city as a whole sports a very outdoor-centric culture. The state of Virginia as a whole offers an excellent food scene. Known as the "City of Discovery," the historic coastal town of Ocean Springs is the perfect place for visitors to relax and enjoy. Over 60,000 veterans live in Virginia Beach and the city is home to Naval Air Station Oceana which is responsible for over 60,000 military take-offs and landings each year. 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. Retirable, Inc. ('Retirable') is an SEC registered investment advisor. Up next we have Purcellville, a relatively small town that is so in demand, homeowners can charge a stonking $426,500 for their properties. However, if youre asking us to weigh in, we have to give todays MVP to Richmond. Regardless of the other factors people consider, everyone has a budget to which they must, Read More The 20 Most Affordable Places to Live in or around New EnglandContinue. The average price for a home in Williamsburg is just over $300,000, lower than the state median. Nothing to keep you from moving there, but just something to keep in mind as you make your decision. The schools: Lexington has excellent schools and is home to Washington and Lee University, one of the gorgeous Virginia colleges. Enjoy a stay in Chincoteague at the Channel Bass Inn Bed & Breakfast or the towns first boutique hotel, the Marina Bay Hotel & Suites. Wakefield - Population: 11,554 - Median home value: $632,600 (94% own) - Median rent: $2,877 (6% rent) - Median household. Fredericksburg was established in 1671 and is located in the Northern Virginia region of the state. Before you plan your VA retirement, though, take some time to look around at the many options the state has to offer. 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. We have been using them for 6 years and the service is great. SouthEast Expeditions offers an Aqua-Culture Clamming tour along Cherrystone Creek, just north of Cape Charles. But, more specifically, its for the individual that wants access to beautiful beaches, while still getting to enjoy all four seasons (without freezing to death in the winter). 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. $171,800.0. Fredericksburg Every corner of Fredericksburg is loaded with history. Lexington is a beautiful town to call home: full of historic buildings and southern charm. Love Virginia? Perfect for: Families or retirees who love nature and are looking for a low cost of living. 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. It has a small historic downtown and is surrounded by horse farms and elegant homes. Just across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Cape Charles is an idyllic small town that exudes endless character. 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. Every May, the town hosts the Heart of Virginia Festival, a festival where local businesses like Buffalo Creek Guitars come together with vendors and musicians from around the country to provide arts and crafts, traditional foods, music, and fireworks.