Best Cities in Virginia to Raise a Family
When looking for the best place to raise a family unit, we are lucky to have then many options in Virginia. Many of our cities and towns have been nationally ranked for qualities like low cost of living, piece of cake admission to amenities and great schools.
Recently, Niche released their "all-time of" rankings for 2015, including the all-time towns in Virginia for raising a family. Niche is an online community data source focused specifically on helping students, families, and professionals brand major life decisions. To determine the best places in Virginia, they looked at factors like crime, didactics, access to libraries and grocery stores and much more. To come across the full article and rating methodology, click here.
Please note that, for this study, nosotros are only using towns or small cities with populations under 100,000. We think y'all might be pleasantly surprised at some of the top contenders!
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your saucepan list to visit at a later on date.
With fewer than 6,000 residents, Big Stone Gap is a pocket-sized town with a big name. Made famous by Adriana Trigiani's book series and the motion-picture show "Large Rock Gap," the town has enjoyed a fleck of the limelight, but has non lost its charm or character forth the way. As an historical coal mining town, Large Rock Gap offers a rich Appalachian civilization with many museums, historical sites and outdoor activities perfect for families.
With effectually 21,000 residents, Christiansburg offers minor town charm with no shortage of civilities when it comes to shopping, entertainment and parks. Surrounded past Southwest Virginia'southward mountains and full of rich history, the boondocks provides both outdoor activities and indoor culture. And with housing costs much lower than neighboring Blacksburg, it offers a perfect residential option for many professors, students and professionals with immature families.
No stranger to praise, Smithfield has long been known for its incredible ham. But Smithfield also offers good schools, a vibrant community and prophylactic streets to boot. As an added bonus, the Virginia Review called it "without a uncertainty, one of the prettiest towns in Virginia." Beauty, history, civilization and prophylactic combine to brand this town an all-around winner for families.
Although technically an contained city, Lexington serves as the county seat of Rockbridge County. Lexington is home to non one, merely ii, prestigious colleges: Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute. And all the same, with only over 7,000 residents, the metropolis maintains a small-scale town feel. Known for its fantabulous schools, close-knit customs, rich historical significance and aplenty amenities, including a vibrant arts and culture scene, Lexington is a clear choice for families of whatever age and size.
Like Lexington, Charlottesville is an independent city. With a population of close to 44,000, Charlottesville has received national recognition multiple times equally one of the nation'south all-time places to live and its benefits are especially significant when it comes to raising a family. Home to Thomas Jefferson's University of Virginia, Charlottesville offers great schools, a wide variety of civilities, history to spare and beautiful parks throughout.
With a population just under 17,000, this National Trust Great American Chief Street customs features a quaint downtown with plenty of shopping, arts and history. Add together to this good schools, low unemployment and some of the state'southward most beautiful countryside and Culpeper provides an platonic setting for raising a family.
This small metropolis in the northwestern role of the state is the county seat of Frederick County, but with around 26,000 residents, serves every bit an contained entity. Originally a frontier boondocks, Winchester was settled as early on as 1729 and subsequently had roles in the French-Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Today, Winchester makes a cute setting for families with great schools, housing and amenities. Plus, with enough of outdoor activities and events like the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, family-friendly activities abound, indoors and out.
Front Regal may take fewer than 15,000 residents, but it does not lack for annihilation. Ready in the northwestern function of the Shenandoah Valley, Forepart Royal offers rich Native American, European and early American histories, ensuring no shortage of learning opportunities for school age kids. And with plenty of convenient amenities, a shut customs and activities for kids of all ages, Front Royal serves every bit a perfect place for families.
Every bit a direct adjacent-door-neighbour to Christiansburg (#2 on our list), it'due south not a surprise to meet Blacksburg ranking in the Meridian x. Home to Virginia Tech, Blacksburg benefits from all that a large university brings in terms of civilization, education and arts. But with abundant amuse in its own rights, Blacksburg provides a perfect family unit setting with plenty of housing, employment, parks, youth programs and civilities.
Again, Southwest Virginia makes a strong showing, endmost out the peak ten with the modest city of Radford. Radford is dwelling to just over xvi,000 residents, and like many of our other towns and small cities, is home to a university – Radford University, to be exact. With a charming downtown, good schools and a thriving community, Radford sets the stage for high quality family life. Featuring parks, museums and more than than enough outdoor adventure, staying decorated is never a problem.
Like many Shenandoah Valley cities and towns, Waynesboro's history dates to pre-Revolutionary State of war. Today, Waynesboro, a pocket-sized city of around 21,000, features a rich cultural history with museums, community events and plenty of family-friendly activities and amenities. In addition to its well-respected public schools, Waynesboro is also dwelling to Fishburne Military Schoolhouse, an all-male person military boarding schoolhouse. Surrounded past mountains and rolling hills, Waynesboro makes for a beautiful place to abound upward.
If the fact that Bristol is considered the "Birthplace of County Music" isn't enough reason to move your family in that location, and then maybe the fact that it'due south a "twin" city with Bristol, TN, sharing both a name and main street, will convince you. With close to xviii,000 residents, Bristol features a colorful community full of family unit-friendly activities, events and civilities. With music, theaters, art, specialty shops and dining establishment in every genre, there'south ever something for the whole family in this happening footling city.
Galax is an independent city between Carroll and Grayson Counties. Called the "Gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains," Galax has long been a haven for old time music lovers. Since 1935, this small metropolis of 7,000 has hosted the Old Fiddler's Convention, one of the most prestigious competitions for traditional music in the state. With its rich Appalachian civilization and history, non to mention the beauty of the mountains surrounding it, Galax offers a unproblematic, yet beautiful, way of life for families. An historic downtown combines traditional charm with modernistic amenities to make Galax a simply wonderful place to live.
Likewise known as i of the country's safest places to live, Buena Vista offers immeasurable natural beauty. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Maury River, this small-scale urban center of less than 7,000 provides strong schools, bustling commerce and historic landmarks, making it a place where families tin thrive.
Finishing off our list with some other strong showing in Southwest Virginia, Richlands proves that you don't accept to be big to brand an bear on. Richlands is a peaceful boondocks of nearly vi,000 in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Built on a history of agriculture, iron and coal, Richlands is a thriving community with safe streets, a shut community, historical sites and some of the state's most beautiful countryside. If that'southward doesn't audio similar a great place to raise kids, I don't know what does.
Were y'all surprised by any of the results? If nothing else, this definitely confirms what we've known all along – Virginia has some of the loveliest small-scale towns and cities in the nation. If you would like to contribute to the listing or let us know virtually where yous grew up in Virginia, we would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel costless to post in the comments below!
Source: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/virginia/best-place-to-raise-a-family-va/
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