Blacksburg, Virginia

Downtown is as active as it gets in Blacksburg. Everything is walking distance, including Virginia Tech, so you can’t beat it for fun and convenience. You also get the Historic District known as “Old Sixteen Squares” which includes some of the most beautiful homes in the city. The median list price is $657k but actual sale price is just $365k so the value is excellent. One other huge plus to Downtown is how close it is to Gilbert Linkous and Harding Avenue Elementary schools. Two of the best elementary schools in the area. There’s nothing like a walk or short bike ride to school for making you feel a part of a community.

Hethwood is the first master planned community in the area, developed in 1971 on 316 wooded acres. Families love the neighborhood in part due to the incredible amenities including: swimming pools in each of the subdivisions, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts and plenty of community space for cookouts and kiddo play areas. Families can rent or purchase homes throughout the neighborhood and the average sale price for homes in 2022 was $332k so it’s ideal for young families, both for pricing and community culture. One big plus to Hethwood is its close proximity to Blacksburg High School, which gets an A+ score on niche.com.

If you’re looking for a more rural experience, check out Prices Fork. West of downtown (and sometimes defined as including Hethwood), the homes have great big lots and tons of room for kiddos to play outdoors. The outdoor experience also comes from Prices Fork being home to Heritage Park. This is 169 acres of walking and biking trails, meadows, streams, and just stunning chances to escape and enjoy the great outdoors. It also has community spaces with picnic tables, and pergolas for gathering family and friends for celebrations and weekend play. The bigger homes in Prices Fork command a higher price tag with median listing price at $569k but an average sale price of ~$300k

Mount Tabor is another historic district in Blacksburg that is a bit more family-centric than Downtown. It has a cool mix of historic homes and newer condo/apartment developments. That means the population of the neighborhood trends younger and older families and couples looking to live outside the racket of Downtown. One of the developments in Mount Tabor that is popular is Mount Tabor Meadows, a small community of energy-efficient homes, all built to meet Energy Star and EarthCraft House certifications. Average listing price for homes in Mount Tabor is $369k so you can find affordable options here. The neighborhood is also just north of Gilbert Linkous and Harding Avenue Elementary Schools -- two of the best in the city and for many in the neighborhood, a walk from home.