best coastal towns in virginia to live

And like most of the best places to retire in Virginia, Vienna provides several opportunities to bask in nature and stay active. Throughout the city, youll find hundreds of sculptures of mermaids, the citys unofficial mascot of sorts. 2022 Best Places to Live in Virginia - Niche Located in the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton is a city that has much to offer its residents. Some of these places are very pricey! Regent University. The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia For 2022 - HomeSnacks Youll find everything from charming mountain towns to urban areas buzzing with life. The town is full of historical sights and cultural attractions to ensure you always have something to do. 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 10 BEST Virginia Beaches (with Photos) - Tripadvisor The 46 Most Quaint and Charming Beach Towns in America For Your Best Vacation Yet. 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. Edenton Edenton | Photo Copyright: Lana Law Set on Albemarle Sound, Edenton is a peaceful escape from the stress of everyday life. The Best Places to Live By the Beach in the U.S. - Yahoo! News Best Places to Live in Virginia Beach, Virginia (A quick check of the median household income will usually help you determine if you can afford the area.). Winchester. These are river towns and not very touristy at all. Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement. The city of Richmond itself is lovely. Winchester is one of the best towns to live in Virginia if you prefer to be close to D.C. and the airport. Up next we have Purcellville, a relatively small town that is so in demand, homeowners can charge a stonking $426,500 for their properties. Where to Stay/Eat: Book a stay at the Charlotte Hotel, a cute boutique retreat in the heart of downtown Onancock. The cost of childcare, healthcare, and housing quickly racks up, especially when youre living on a single income. Virginia is known for a lot of things: history, natural beauty, (bless our hearts) lots of southern charm. 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. Lexington is a small town located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, with a population of around 7,000. 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. This isnt to say its a youngsters playground only- the excellent economy, great schools, booming job market, high home values, low crime rates and abundance of things to see and do make Arlington as equally popular with seniors and families as it is with millennials. Beach lovers looking for the best cities to live in Virginia will likely gravitate toward Virginia Beach. In addition to lower Virginia retirement taxes, Charlottesville also gives you plenty of culture. Add in a great cost of living and tons of southern charm and. Choosing where to live is one of the biggest decisions youll make for yourself and your family. Fredericksburg was established in 1671 and is located in the Northern Virginia region of the state. It has a thriving economy, excellent schools, plenty of recreational opportunities, and high quality of life. The Hotel Cape Charles on Main Street innCape Charles is dog friendly and a great spot! The location: Alexandria is situated right at the top of Virginia and is a short commute away from Washington D.C. A mammoth median property price of $485,000. Well send you a 5% discount code to use whenever you are ready to get moving. The 20 Best Places for Teachers to Live in the U.S. Central Virginia This digital edition of the Central Virginia is sponsored by Central Virginia Partnership. A small town can be anything from a couple of hundred people to 10,000. Keep reading to see if your hometown in Virginia made the list. Come Visit! The Inn at Onancock loves dogs, and your pup can meet the resident, Dante, the friendly Shepherd. Its worth mentioning that every small town in Virginia is worth a visit, so while weve provided a list of some of the best towns in Virginia, its by no means an exhaustive list. The charming town center: Downtown Fredericksburg offers a variety of restaurants, shops, and breweries. The large 65-plus population means youll have plenty to do, including gatherings at community centers. We know. A low cost of living and quiet lifestyle make this one of the best retirement communities in Virginia. 2023 Cost of Living Calculator: compare Charlotte, North Carolina to Portland, Maine. The old town area is home to colonial-era architecture and cobblestone streets, giving you a real taste of American history. Town Center of Virginia Beach and Lynnhaven Mall. Median Income: $81,263. Its a city for creatives, artists and entrepreneurs looking to escape the big bustling cities and replace it with a hidden gem with plenty of historic charm in the midst of a renaissance. This is true, but it also just so happens to be a wonderful place to call home, too. Radford. 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. The first Colonial capital of North Carolina, this 300-year-old town is replete with wonderfully restored historical homes and buildings. But, outside from the beaches, the city as a whole sports a very outdoor-centric culture. The 46 Best Coastal Towns in America - Best Beaches and Beach Towns in The town has a rich history and a variety of attractions that make it a popular destination for tourists and families alike. Bald Head Island. 7 Best Beach Towns in America | Extra Space Storage 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. This influx of hipsters is having a massive impact on the culture of Richmond in some fabulous ways. 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. Grandview Beach, Hampton, VA. 8. 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 . Lovers of the great outdoors might prefer the beach or mountains, but big-city, suburban, and small-town options are also available. 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. And, finally, if youre into great food and craft beer, Norfolk is the place for you. Staunton is no stranger to praise. You might look on the Northern Neck, in particular towns like Irvington, Kilmarnock, Montross, White Church. Centrally located on the Chesapeake Bay side of the Eastern Shore, Onancock is an inviting small town that was founded in 1680. Its now Maurice., Also in Cape Charles there are several historic renovated B&Bs. If you want to live in a town that feels more like a quaint mountain town, Roanoke is the perfect place for you. If youre looking for a charming community with plenty of conveniences, Fredericksburg may be the right place for you. 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. 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. 10 best coastal small towns across the United States - USA TODAY 10Best 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. 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). The Best Virginia Beach Neighborhood for Retirees - Movoto Real Estate I even used Bellhop to move from Florida to Colorado in 2021. 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. Full of architectural delights, quirky little boutiques, and artisanal marketplaces, its easy to understand how Williamson attracts over 4 million tourists every year. Retiring in Virginia means beautiful landscapes and reduced taxes. 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. Virginia Beach offers well, beaches. With a population of 16,378, Vienna is the kind of close-knit, family-friendly community that picket fence dreams are made of. Mountains, hiking, and nature: Staunton is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains. Nothing on this website should be considered an offer, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell securities. Virginia Beach, Virginia. Four hospitals and plenty of medical offices will help you keep your healthcare options open. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any decisions based on your own personal circumstances. Perfect for: Young professionals who want to be close to the nations capitol and enjoy a vibrant urban setting. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Youll get all the amenities typically found in a touristy area, including plenty of restaurants and shopping. 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. Moving to Virginia | Living in Virginia - Livability As such, its important that you pick a place with all the features and amenities that are most important to you. 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! Alexandria is located right at the states northern tip and borders the Potomac River with Washington D.C. Gordon Bell / Shutterstock. Virginia is without a doubt one of the best places to live. If youre looking to make the state of Virginia your next home, you could do a lot worse than the little town of Warrenton. The first state to be settled in 1607, Virginia has a rich history, culture and heritage to delve into lots of spellbinding scenery. 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. The quality of life: The town has a high quality of life, with low crime rates and excellent schools. Chestertown Home to Washington College, this town's restored 18th- and 19th-century rowhouses and cobblestone streets abut the picturesque Chester River. Need further convincing? Percentage of the Population Over 65: 18.7%. 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. As youd expect, unemployment and poverty figures are both correspondingly low, coming in at 5.3% and 3.8% respectively. 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. Best Places to Live in Virginia - Ramsey - Ramsey Solutions Except that Kilmarnock is not on the Eastern Shore which is what the bolg is about. 10. Or families looking for a reasonable commute and excellent schools. 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. But, more than this, Richmond is for young professionals too with 7 fortunate 500 companies headquartered there, the opportunity for career growth is endless. Our first sell on Virginia Beach is that it sports over 38 miles of coastline. 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. Eastern Shore. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land. They have the 2nd longest beach in all of Virginia, right behind Virginia Beach. The surrounding counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania are more affordable than the downtown, with single-family homes available in the $250,000 range. In fact, in a CNN report, BudgetTravel named Chincoteague as the #2 Coolest Small Town in America. Re: smaller coastal towns. Charleston, SC. 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. In general, residents here are outdoorsy and enjoy horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, waterskiing and stand-up paddleboarding during . 14 Of The Most Beautiful Towns In Virginia You Should Visit More than 175 colleges and universities are in the Commonwealth. Best Places To Live In Virginia In 2023: Top 5 Old Dominion Cities 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. Features. A reviewer on City-Data.com summed things up best with the comment, We feel incredibly safe in Salem. The only ferry to Tangier Island from the shore departs from Onancock, giving you access to yet another incredible small town on the Eastern Shore. The downtown area has lots of local shops carrying everything from handcrafted jewelry to homemade ice cream. Fairfax County has some of the very best public schools in the nation. The Best Beach Towns to Retire in the U.S. - US News & World Report Named one of the Top 14 Small Cities In Virginia by CitiesJournal, Occoquan sits on the Occoquan River. Were loving the renaissance taking place there as well as the affordability the city has to offer. Perfect for: Young professionals looking for a short commute and great nightlife. But it turns out, your beach-town dream may not be as far out of reach as you think. 158,309 16. The charming town of Chantilly in Fairfax County is home to just under 24,000 people, all of whom can expect low crime rates, a smorgasbord of local attractions (including the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, the Sully Plantation, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center), great schools, an above-average median household income, and an almost permanent place on any compilation of the best place to live in Virginia. Best North Carolina Beaches. 50 best beach towns to live in - MSN Perfect for: young professionals looking for culture and beauty with home and rent prices around the national average. 25 Affordable Beach Towns Where You Can Retire - MoneyWise North Carolina vs Virginia Beach, Virginia Change Places . Topsail Island. We love smaller lesser-known cities that have a lot to offer. While the Nutmeg State may not be known first and foremost as a beach destination, vacationers and house hunters will be delighted to see the selection it has by the water. After exploring downtown with its quaint cottage-like Main. Cape Hatteras. From the beautiful corners of Southwest Virginia to the far Eastern Shore, youll find some of the best and most beautiful small towns in Virginia. It is small and has a population of merely 800 or so people. Another Washington, D.C. suburb, Alexandria is on the list of best places in Virginia for waterfront living. Newport News, Virginia is a charming city located on the Chesapeake Bay. 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. 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. 2022 Retirable Inc. All rights reserved. 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. If youre looking for a beachfront break without the crowds, plan a vacation to one of these five small towns on the Eastern Shore. 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. 15 Best Places to Live in Virginia - The Crazy Tourist Here are the best places to live in Virginia. Perfect for: families with a high-income looking for a small-town feel with easy access to Federal government jobs. The town was historically a bustling port town, with steamboats traveling between Baltimore and Norfolk stopping in the waterfront community for supplies and rest. Coastal properties in Mississippi, Texas, and Florida are among the most affordable homes near the water anywhere in the country. "The area boasts access to over 10 beaches, including Sandbridge, Croatan, and North End," says Zumper. The idea of kicking off your shoes after work and walking along the beach is pretty appealing to us and we imagine it is to you too. Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 344. Hanalei Bay, HI (Photo: Eli Duke via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0) Hawaii has enough charming beach towns to fill out this entire list twice over but Hanalei is in a league of its own. The cost of living is also low, making it a great place to live for those on a budget. 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! The town has colonial-era architecture and a recreated 18th-century village, complete with an amusement park and shopping opportunities nearby. But the state does have a slightly higher cost of living than some areas of the country. Affordability: The cost of living is low, making it a great place to live for those on a budget. Arlington. Free beaches and state parks, decent home prices with the perks of living in a big city, and lots of fun things to do for families and singles. Check out esvatourism.org There is a tab for lodging, then a pic of a dog, click on that and you will see them. http://www.burnhamguides.com/virginia Also, Inn and Garden Cafe is closed. The 20 Best Places for Single Moms to Live in Europe, The 10 Cheapest Places to Live in Wisconsin, The 20 Most Affordable Places to Live in or around New England, A reviewer on City-Data.com summed things up, How Zac Stacy Achieved a Net Worth of $6 Million. 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. The town is also home to the University of Mary Washington, which offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. Everything you need to know about moving to a new state. How Much Do Movers Cost in 2022? According to Livability, Charlottesville ranks as one of the top 100 best places to live in the entire US. . Fredericksburg is a historic town in Virginia preserved and revitalized in recent years. The sculptures are a fun way to decorate the city while also honoring its maritime roots. Yorktown Beach, Yorktown, VA. Cape Charles is an excellent destination for wildlife lovers, as Kiptopeke State Park isright outside the town. A national poll voted Chincoteague as America's seventh favorite small town. Beaufort. To empower a confident, worry-free retirement for everyone. The median rent is $1,951, and the median home price is a steep $598,500. Moving Company Costs Explained. Here are our top picks for livability in this beautiful state. We recommend Norfolk for young families looking to raise their kids in a great city among great people.