Virginia-Best Cities that would work (Norfolk, Chesapeake: houses, job market, theater)

[Jtm01]

I have been looking at different states in the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast to move to once I have enough saved up. Virginia was on my list so I had posted in another forum which pretty much solidified my desire to move to Virginia. Based on the following criteria:


COL: Lower, not having to shell out $3K/month for a shoebox


Culture: Not huge on it, just want a place to come home to at night


Politics: I'm gay, so as long as Westboro Baptist types aren't running rampant, I'm OK. I know it sounds ironic, but I am actually somewhat conservative myself, so I don't need uber uber liberal


Jobs: As long as there's IT work, I can pretty much go anywhere except the DC suburbs (COL $$$$$)


Location: I was eyeing the Roanoke area (Ideally not right in the city) but wouldn't mind other parts of the state except NOVA. SWVA is beautiful with the mountains and close enough to maybe even have a summer cabin someday




Not sure it matters, but I'd be coming from Upstate NY

[ersatz]

I am not so sure about the IT job market but I suggest

I-81 corridor from Winchester to points south. You will likely need to commute into a smaller city such as Lexington, Harrisonburg, Roanoke, etc.
Charlottesville area
Greater Richmond area
Hampton Roads area and maybe over the Chesapeake Tunnel Bridge into Virginia Eastern Shore as long as commuting over the Bridge isn't a deal killer

[Bigfoot424]

I'll endorse I-81 and in particular Winchester. Great downtown/historic district. Close enough to the major airports near DC. Housing is cheaper compared to NOVA/DC areas. 20 years ago being gay could have been an issue in some places out here but now you will find no more Westboro types here compared to most anywhere else in VA. Would you meet more gay people in places like Alexandria, Arlington and so on? Of course but the COL is outrageous anywhere near there. Look at homes in Stephens City and you'll see a nice area with nice homes. Or look for homes in downtown Winchester for nice homes as well.

[Jtm01]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I'll endorse I-81 and in particular Winchester. Great downtown/historic district. Close enough to the major airports near DC. Housing is cheaper compared to NOVA/DC areas. 20 years ago being gay could have been an issue in some places out here but now you will find no more Westboro types here compared to most anywhere else in VA. Would you meet more gay people in places like Alexandria, Arlington and so on? Of course but the COL is outrageous anywhere near there. Look at homes in Stephens City and you'll see a nice area with nice homes. Or look for homes in downtown Winchester for nice homes as well.

Thanks!! Solid area with 66 being convenient too if for some reason I wanna go into the bigger city (LOL I'm one of those people that wants to flee the city). Having traveled the 81 corridor several times I couldn't see any reason to not want to live there. Mountains, friendly people from what I've read about the area on other threads. May be a tad chilly in winter especially near WInchester being that far north in VA but anything beats the depressingly cold, snowy hell thats Upstate NY LMAO

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Jtm01

Thanks!! Solid area with 66 being convenient too if for some reason I wanna go into the bigger city (LOL I'm one of those people that wants to flee the city). Having traveled the 81 corridor several times I couldn't see any reason to not want to live there. Mountains, friendly people from what I've read about the area on other threads. May be a tad chilly in winter especially near WInchester being that far north in VA but anything beats the depressingly cold, snowy hell thats Upstate NY LMAO

You might be surprised at how the temps in and around Winchester mirror the temps in the DC/NOVA areas and even south towards Staunton/Lancaster and so on. It's often no more than a 1-5 degrees different and sometimes even a tad warmer. Get up in the mountains and it can be a little cooler.

[Serious Conversation]

You might want to give Abingdon a look.

It's fairly close to the TN line (15-20 miles), so pretty far south in VA. The town is around 2000', so that cuts down on summer heat and humidity. Snow is going to be minimal by upstate NY standards. When it snows, it melts in a couple days at most. The town has an excellent winery (Abingdon Vineyards), brewery (Wolf Hills Brewery), numerous good restaurants (128 Pecan, Rain, The Tavern) and some culture (Martha Washington Inn, Barter Theater).

The big deal is that work is hard to come by in this area. It could be a good choice if you could bring a job with you.

[Oduengineer88]

Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown is part of Hampton Roads so you have access to a large metro and is rural and hilly. l am in IT as are my kids. I am in Va Beach but the peninsula is nice!

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Oduengineer88

Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown is part of Hampton Roads so you have access to a large metro and is rural and hilly. l am in IT as are my kids. I am in Va Beach but the peninsula is nice!

OP. If you want true countryside then he I-81 and I-64 are likely the better choices. If you want what I call a bustling touristy area then go to what's mentioned above. Not all of it is tourist dominated though. To me Williamsburg/Jamestown and Yorktown are the areas that has more countryside for that part of the state. I have not been in a few years but I will be in W'burg this coming weekend. If city life is not for you then definitely stay away from Norfolk.

Should all be clear as a bell now I assume? LOL.

[Panna_Manna]

I second everything Bigfoot424 says about Winchester.

I prefer Winchester over Roanoke for several reasons, but Roanoke would absolutely work for you. I am not sure what kind area of IT you are in, but I have a lot of friends in IT in Roanoke, and there seems to quite a bit to choose from. Blacksburg could also be an option.

Personally I have found Shenandoah Valley to be a hidden gem: Winchester, Harrisonburg, Staunton and Lexington are all my cup of tea.
The mountains are also very beautiful, and the scenery more to my liking than SWVA, but the latter has cheeper houses.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by Panna_Manna

I second everything Bigfoot424 says about Winchester.

I prefer Winchester over Roanoke for several reasons, but Roanoke would absolutely work for you. I am not sure what kind area of IT you are in, but I have a lot of friends in IT in Roanoke, and there seems to quite a bit to choose from. Blacksburg could also be an option.

Personally I have found Shenandoah Valley to be a hidden gem: Winchester, Harrisonburg, Staunton and Lexington are all my cup of tea.
The mountains are also very beautiful, and the scenery more to my liking than SWVA, but the latter has cheeper houses.

"Southwest VA" is huge. This could include anything from Jonesville to Roanoke, which are 3.5 hours away from each other. I live in Bristol. That's about as far as I am from Charlotte, NC, for context.

I use a rule of thumb for southwest VA. Any location north or west of I-81 needs close vetting. If it's north or west of Highway 19/460, it's Mordor - avoid it - coal country hell.

Abingdon, Marion, Damascus, Dublin - all have redeemable qualities in southwest VA.