Nolfolk-Virginia Beach-Hampton area DUers - how's life out there?

[expatriot]

My wife just got offered a job out there and I am wondering how is life out there?

Cost of living, of housing, employment situation, quality of life, etc.

Thanks

[livinginphotographs]

1. My mother lives in down there.

Get used to traffic. Everytime I go down there, it's a complete headache, due to tourists, endless road construction etc. The cost of living is okay, compared to many large urban areas, and from what I hear the employment situation is pretty good.

Depending on where you live, it's overall a pretty nice place. I much prefer Richmond (despite how much cleaner and safer Norfolk is) but that's just my own personal opinion.

[Catchawave]

2. Agree with Living.....

It's the traffic that sucks, but we're a retired family, so that's not a factor :) As long as you live close to work, you'll be fine, 'cause this area ROCKS!

Feel free to pm me if you need more info. I live in (Red) Virginia Beach, but would move to (Blue) Norfolk in a heartbeat. But if you have school aged children...that may be a factor too. Not only for cities, but districts! If you're child free, depending on which side of the tunnels the job is, either Hampton or Norfolk.

And Living, Richmond is one of my favorite cities too! Like anywhere else, just depends on the neighborhoods.

[expatriot]

3. thanks a lot... this does help.

we are young and child-free and will stay that way. 2 cats, but they're too cool for school.

[Catchawave]

4. When you make your decision.....

I'll be happy to help you, especially steering you clear of those hungry sharks called realtors here!

My first choice....downtown Norfolk, really FUN. But need to keep you guys on the right side of the bridges and tunnels :)

[Captain Hilts]

6. I half agree.

Suburban sprawl has ruined Virginia Beach. I'd much rather live in Norfolk.

The cost of living can really vary. I actually pay less for renting my apt. here in Chevy Chase than a friend pays to rent in the Hague Towers.

Civilian salaries are depressed in many fields by the presence of military personnel who retire before they're 40, receive retirement and are willing to work for lower wages as a result. If your wife is in a field that attracts retired military, look out.

[WMliberal]

5. I've lived in Chesapeake since 1985

and Mr Scorpio has lived in Newport News for awhile, too.

Housing is cheaper than most big cities (although it's rising in value rapidly). The biggest employers are the military, the shipyard, and the port. Second busiest port on the East Coast. First and foremost, this is a shipping/navy town.

Good schools, especially colleges. Plenty to do: there's Virginia Beach (I like Sandbridge, Fort Story, and Croatan better than the touristy strip); the Outer Banks just an hour away; "big city" attractions like professional opera, symphony, and stage companies; lots of history (Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, Civil War battlefields, Jamestown); and a few theme parks in the area.

It is a VERY diverse area. For example: the high school I teach at has no majority racial or ethnic population.

Any other specifics? Feel free to PM me.

[quisp]

7. I just came across this thread

and thought I'd kick in my 2 cents.

I live in Williamsburg and work in Newport News.

Cost of living is not too bad, real estate prices are sick; way out of control. Employment situation is pretty decent. Quality of life is great. My family (wife and 3 kids) and I love it here.

[Scottie72]

8. Except for the fact

it is VIRGINIA the most back ass ward state in the union. It is the state that has the most backwards thinking with same sex marrigae. There is a law on the books that won't allow same sex partners to make contracts that purport to bestow the privleges of marriage. So even the aggrements my partner and I have here do not hold any water. I would move out of this area in a heartbeat. Since the jobs I have trained for are only available in a select locations moving really is not an option. Traffic is awful and getting worse by the day. Surburban crawl especially in Newport News is terrible. The are building a HUGE strip mall(s) with restarants etc all around near the airport. Cost of living is about average. It is not as peachy as everyone here makes it out to be.

[Catchawave]

9. Well, we are the home state of

Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell :nuke:

I feel your frustration with this area, the surburban sprawl industry and republicans are destroying the quality of life, and they call it progress. :cry:

Wish you and your partner could move to downtown Norfolk where you would find a huge support base. I know the commute to NPN would be a pain for work, but you'd be against the traffic :)

[Fatima]

10. I live in Chesapeake

an independent city. Nice area, and you can still get a modest ranch house for under 200k but that may not last long.

Biggest employer here is defense, hands down. I work in defense, specifically as a contractor for COMNAVAIRLANT. Right now there are anywhere from five to six bird farms in the area which makes traffic nightmarish at times. If working in defense interests you, just know this: budget cuts have made life in defense nasty, brutish, and short. There have been job cuts, and then there is the pending possible closure of NAS Oceana by the BRAC commission.

Wages: depends on what you do. What do you do or what are you interested in doing? You may have to do your own research on that one.

Weather- you get a range of seasons from cold and snowing to unbelievably tropical. Today we had a clear, sunny, drop-dead gorgeous day and I was on my motorcycle, as I often am.

Plenty to do here whether you like the beaches or the woods. We are not far from the Blue Ridge mtns, Nags Head NC, historic sites like Williamsburg, and we are about 4 hours (traffic permitting) from DC. Avoid Virginia Beach beaches during the tourist season...go when the crowds have left for the year.

Make sure each of you has a motor vehicle, because public transport here is not all that great. I am originally from a big city in the Northeast, so that's the yardstick I go by.

Oh, hey, did I mention that Pat Robertson lives here??? YAAAAAY!!! :P

And oh the BRIDGES! Pretty much everywhere you travel in Hampton Roads, there is a bridge and/or a tunnel to traverse, and they can make for a lovely afternoon sitting in traffic (especially when it's a bridge lift and you are stewing in traffic watching millionaire snowbirds cruise down the intracoastal waterway in their SAILBOATS)!!

And Pat Robertson lives here.

Fatima