Nice places to live in VA?

[Anonymous]

We'd like to move from Montgomery County to VA and stay within 2-3 hours of DC. Please recommend towns or areas to investigate. Wish list:

1. good housing prices
2. family friendly (we have young kids) with great options for sports, arts, etc.
3. charming or picturesque town
4. politically moderate

Should we be looking at the Richmond suburbs, or maybe more W or NW of Richmond? Fredericksburg? Fauquier? Help!

[Anonymous]

I thought the answer is always - Vienna

[Anonymous]

Harrisonburg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the answer is always - Vienna

Not for good house prices.

[Anonymous]

Need a budget. “Good house prices” is not enough info.

[Anonymous]

Charlottesville or Albemarle County

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the answer is always - Vienna

Not for good house prices.

And even less for charming or picturesque town.

[Anonymous]

I did my doctorate in Richmond and absolutely fell in love with the town. Way quirkier than you might expect at first. Really great live music festivals, super awesome areas of town (Church Hill, the Fan, west end, south side).
A good mix of liberal/conservative.
Would move back there in a jiff.
I also went to school in Harrisonburg but schools there are not great, and much more conservative. I looooove the mountains though.
Charlottesville also a great option.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for these suggestions. I would love to live in a college town, but I don't think Harrisonburg is the vibe I'm looking for. I have definitely thought about Charlottesville. Not sure I can get my Hokie husband on board.

Budget-- we currently have a ~2200 sf SFH (not including finished basemement) worth about $600k (I think) in MoCo. Would definitely like 5 BR with 3000+ sf that's either updated or something that we can afford to update.

We would consider homeschooling or private school if we found the right community, so public schools are not a deal breaker.

I see no point in Vienna. The idea is to get way outside the Beltway but be able to come back for meetings as needed. We have family in southern VA that we would like to be able to see more often, but we would not fit in in southern VA.

[Anonymous]

Roanoke

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did my doctorate in Richmond and absolutely fell in love with the town. Way quirkier than you might expect at first. Really great live music festivals, super awesome areas of town (Church Hill, the Fan, west end, south side).
A good mix of liberal/conservative.
Would move back there in a jiff.
I also went to school in Harrisonburg but schools there are not great, and much more conservative. I looooove the mountains though.
Charlottesville also a great option.

I think you get what I'm looking for. Any specific suburbs you like? I like the idea of going into the city, but we don't want to live in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Roanoke

OP here. I grew up in the Roanoke area. Besides the fact that it's at least 4 hours from DC, I find it to be super MAGA right now and not a good fit for moderates or independents. It also seems a bit depressed and housing looks overpriced to me. Maybe it's my bias of people I know there. My child stresses going down into that part of VA and seeing all of the Confederate flags.

[Anonymous]

Houses are very affordable in Chesterfield, outside of Richmond. You can get a 5BR new or almost new home for about $500K. Harpers Mill is a new subdivision, Brandermill is more established. Downside is it’s suburban sprawl and traffic along the one main drag is not great. Midlothian is a bit closer in to the city and very nice. I also like Colonial Heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Houses are very affordable in Chesterfield, outside of Richmond. You can get a 5BR new or almost new home for about $500K. Harpers Mill is a new subdivision, Brandermill is more established. Downside is it’s suburban sprawl and traffic along the one main drag is not great. Midlothian is a bit closer in to the city and very nice. I also like Colonial Heights.

Thank you for the specific tips!

[Anonymous]

I’d skip the Fredericksburg area. The right wing fringe has seized the school board in Spotsylvania. I’d go with the Henrico suburbs of Richmond. Or maybe even Western Loudoun.