VA - Richmand Areas - Need Help with Living Info...

[LadyD088]

Hi…I am hoping you can help me gather information for a future move.

My Dh and I currently live in SoCal and know that we just can’t afford to raise a family here (comfortably). So I am researching 4 markets to move to. I can find most information on the internet but am looking for “locals” to help with information as well, since neither of us has ever lived outside of California.

We will make a decision sometime next year and then move forward as to where to move. Of course we will visit the states we are looking at, but only for about a weekend – not much you can find out that quickly but it will help some. We will rent for about 2 years while deciding where to build the house of our dreams.

*Education (and benefits of kids remaining in state for college?)
*What are the best Grade Schools, High Schools?
*Seasonal Info – does it rain a lot or snow? Is it hot or humid? Etc…
*What are the best Suburbs? Which are the worst – which should I completely avoid?
*What do YOU like best about where you live?
*Anything else you think I should know or concern myself with about your state?

Any information you can provide is GREATLY appreciated!!! I can’t tell you how much it would mean to me. Again, THANK YOU!!!

Debbie

Feel free to PM me or just post to this thread.

[mamax2]

*Education (and benefits of kids remaining in state for college?)
GREAT state colleges (UVA, William & Mary just to name two.) Many other excellent universities as well. Obviously, the benefits will vary, but in-state tuition is always better than out-of-state!

*What are the best Grade Schools, High Schools? ~ I actually don't know if any of the schools in Richmond proper are great. Most everyone I knew with young kids all went to private school. I think the schools in the neighboring counties might be better.

*Seasonal Info – does it rain a lot or snow? Is it hot or humid? Etc…
It snows, but not much and it melts relatively quickly. Rain is what I would call average. It gets hot, and humid, in the summer, but you're close to both mountains and the beach so it's an easy escape!

*What are the best Suburbs? Which are the worst – which should I completely avoid?
West End, Short Pump, also, nice areas outside of Richmond are around Chesterfield (typical suburb), Goochland Co. (more rural), some nice areas around Ashland and Mechanicsville too.

*What do YOU like best about where you live?
I don't live in Richmond any more, but not because we didn't love it! We just wanted to be closer to our families when we had kids. What we loved: shopping - a variety of malls and smaller shops in a short distance. Easy to get downtown for theatre, restaurants, shopping, etc. Very mild traffic. Moderate cost of living and low taxes. Going to collegiate sporting events (we're U of R alums) and we held season tickets to basketball, etc. Close to beach, mountains, wineries, D.C. and other cities we like to visit.

*Anything else you think I should know or concern myself with about your state?
Definitely consider schools and research whether public school is a must or if you want to go private school route.

You should also post this in the 'Southeast' forum. No self-respecting Richmonder would consider themselves 'North' in any sense :p ;)

[diam124]

I also went to school in Richmond and loved it. Ultimately we would like to move back but job opportunities aren't as great as they are in Northern VA/DC/MD.

I agree pretty much with everything the PP said. I know someone who is a public school teacher and she told me that the best public school districts right now are the newer districts on the outskirts (Short Pump and even further West) because that's where the $ is.

I love that it's not a huge city, but has enough city activities that you can seek them out if you want. I also think the cost of living is excellent although it has gone up in recent years.