Anonymous wrote:I live in Virginia and many, many lovely places but Fredericksburg is not one of them.

Why, PP?

We just visited Fredericksburg (DS is looking at UMW), and thought it was very pretty, had some nice restaurants and shops, lovely old historic downtown, some historic sites we could visit. The countryside South of Fredericksburg is beautiful. It seemed like a fine place to me.

I live in Virginia and many, many lovely places but Fredericksburg is not one of them.

"what are the reasons you love it?"

Good cost of living, we have a very nice house on several acres in an HOA subdivision with highly rated schools (ES is a 9, I think; MS is OK but not great, and HS is pretty decent).

We have the mortgage paid off, we save a lot of money, there are lots of activities for the kids to do that are far cheaper than they would be otherwise (horseback riding, for example). Good restaurants in the area, esp. downtown. DC is an easy weekend day trip, so are the mountains.

What's not to love?

op here. in response to pp's:

Check voting patterns. Are these your people?
not really my people - we are liberal, but so is our fredericksburg family and their circle of friends (mostly academics). also, city of fredericksburg votes blue no? i know wider area is conservative

Is your family actually in Fredericksburg? Charlottesville is only a little over an hour away.
yes, they are actually in fredericksburg. is charlottesville much higher COL than fredericksburg?

We live in Fredericksburg and love it here...The commute can be tedious (we don't do it).
what are the reasons you love it? we would work in our around fredericksburg - NOT in dc.

i think i've read all the threads on dcum related to fredericksburg and still wanted to know more. so thanks everyone for the input

If Fredericksburg is the answer, then reconsider the question.

Most modern suburbs have chain stores and restaurants. Fredericksburg also has a great downtown with a lot of unique restaurants and shops:

https://www.google.com/search?q=downtown+fredericksburg&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_zM2WwKrPAhXo64MKHVdgD6QQ_AUICSgC&biw=838&bih=476

Traffic is TERRIBLE. There are chain stores and chain restaurants everywhere -- so if you enjoy having your choice of 2 Targets, 2 Walmarts and a Kmart within a 15 min drive (this is my parents' situation), you'll be happy. Schools are only OK. There are nicer places to live.

Anonymous wrote:I just drove past twice today. Day trip to Richmond. There's a big huge Confederate flag next to the highway (I-95)just a little north of Fredericksburg. That alone would keep me away.

Bigotry and prejudice works both ways, I see.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-confederate-flag-divides-a-virginia-community/2014/08/01/118792ae-18e6-11e4-9349-84d4a85be981_story.html

We live in Fredericksburg and love it here. Most of the people on this board have no real knowledge of it, but obviously that won't stop them from answering.

The main question is where you'd be working. The commute can be tedious (we don't do it).

I just drove past twice today. Day trip to Richmond. There's a big huge Confederate flag next to the highway (I-95)just a little north of Fredericksburg. That alone would keep me away.

Is your family actually in Fredericksburg? Charlottesville is only a little over an hour away.

I recommend you search for previous threads. It's been discussed by others with more experience. I have to ask, do you really think you would trade ANY part of California for ANY part of Virginia? Cousins don't grow up together anymore from what I know of people.

Don't

Check voting patterns. Are these your people?

considering moving to fredericksburg to be near extended family, including cousins for our kids (now babies) to grow up with. currently living in southern california, in a great school district/beautiful area/among like-minded people. is it worth giving these things up to be near family? how bad is fredericksburg? better to live in charlottesville or would that defeat purpose of being near family due to distance/traffic? thanks in advance