447,841
Population
Sunny Days: 213
95100 Affordability
95100 Schools
80100 Diversity
100100 Safety
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Resort City
Virginia Beach, Credit: Jenna Lee on Unsplash
Virginia Beach Shoreline, Credit: Kristinah Archer
Virginia Beach Play
Virginia Beach Town Center, Credit: Visit Virginia Beach
LookyLOO Review of Virginia Beach?
Sky Above, Sand Below, Peace!
There’s a lot more to Virginia Beach than the beach but you’ll never escape that this is first and foremost a seaside town. For starters, it just so happens to be the longest pleasure beach in the world. It’s also a city from which the beach vibe and experiences are inescapable. Amazing seafood restaurants are everywhere, the dress code is all-year casual, and in addition to lounging on the beach, you and the family can also enjoy fishing, boating, and any number of beach and water sports. If you’d like your children to grow up experiencing a life outdoors in the sun and sand Virginia Beach is an ideal spot.
The Oceana Naval Air Station is based in Virginia City and while the site of the F-18 Super Hornets overhead can be inspiring they make a serious racket. You get used to them but for newbies, the 118 decibels, the equivalent of a Metallica concert at full blast, can distract from the beauty of the beach and the ocean.
Lifestyle
Virginia Beach is all about that outdoor lifestyle although that does not mean you have to go into the water if you prefer dryland. The city has over 300 publicly-funded parks including First Landing State Park and Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. These are amazing places to hike, run, canoe, kayak, hike, and fish if those are your preference.
This incredible variety of public parks illustrates how critical experiencing the outdoors is to the city and its residents. Hitting the beaches, of which there is an incredible variety, is at the top of the outdoor lifestyle pyramid though and you’d have to fight pretty hard to avoid them as a regular part of your daily experiences.
If you want to see what locals do for fun in VaBeach check out the calendar of events.
Schools
The Virginia Beach City Public School District is highly rated, receiving an "A" grade on niche.com. The district receives its highest grades for College Prep, Clubs & Activities, and Diversity.
Students are assigned to schools based on geography but families can apply for out-of-zone schools and will be approved based upon space available.
The district is filled with "A" rated schools, so while it is always important to check out local schools in neighborhoods you're considering, most families find good choices for their kiddos. Some of the most notable schools include:
-Ocean Lakes High School is the #1 rated public high school in the area. It receives an "A" grade on niche.com with high grades for Academics, Teachers, Clubs, and College Prep. Ocean Lakes is home to the Mathematics & Science Academy which is a magnet for students throughout the district interested in STEM education.
-Princess Anne High School is the #2 rated public high school in the area with an "A+" on niche.com. Princess Anne is particularly revered for the International Baccalaureate Magnet Center that draws students from all schools in Virginia Beach.
Worklife
Virginia Beach ranked #3 in a recent WalletHub study among the best large cities for finding a job with real estate, defense and tourism the big employer sectors. Several US Military bases call Virginia Beach home with the Navy’s NAS Oceana the largest employer in the entire city. Over 50% of the locals work within the city, making it a tight-knit community. If you’re working outside the city you’re likely commuting to Norfolk or Chesapeake to one of the other region’s military bases like the US Navy’s Atlantic Fleet Base in Norfolk.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Great for the Whole Family
With a number of different single family home options, highly rated public schools, and a ton of family friendly activities, Virginia Beach is replete with good reasons to move here if you’re settling down. It’s a lot cheaper than a lot of West Coast beach towns as well despite providing pretty much the same amenities. The great weather and opportunities to enjoy it aren’t going anywhere as well, so Virginia Beach should be near the top of your list for a number of reasons, but especially if living near a beach is something that you’re interested in.
Reviews of Virginia Beach from Locals
The Noise Might Get Ya
wake2dream
Living in Virginia Beach
1y ago
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It’s a city, that functions like a suburb. Its not a traditional stacked, condensed city. It’s more spread out. You get a little of everything. There are built up, urban areas. Then drive 20 minutes out, and you can be in a rural, undeveloped, scenic area. LOTS of parks and free things to do. Not to mention the Beach. And choice of beaches. Lots of entertainment, restaurants, and lots of grocery stores to choose from. We have specialty grocery stores you won’t find anywhere else. From the big names, to the high end, mom and pop, and everything in between. A diamond in the rough. The cost of living is increasing quickly. But if you buy a home now, it is sure to appreciate in value.
It’s a great place to raise a family. I am personally grateful for the elite, gifted, art education that I received for free from Old Donation Center, as a kid. I feel privileged that I was accepted and to have had that opportunity.
Something that I personally love and no one else has mentioned, is that VA Beach has one of the most plentiful and diverse bird species in the country. We are a bird watchers dream destination. Especially for rare, Coastal birds. I love to wake up every morning to the sounds of birds chirping. And I have a Mockingbird who lives in my yard that sings to me daily. Sometimes even at night. Lots of mockingbirds
First Landing (old Seashore) State Park off shore drive is a sight to behold and rich with history. Native Americans originated here. There is a haunting, old cemetery here. This is as far North as Spanish Moss grows up the east coast. From Florida, to this tip. It hangs majestically from the Bald Cypress trees dotting the trails. Did you know the Cypress trees all share a one major root system?
For more reviews of what living in Virginia Beach is like from locals check out: The Reviews
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Living in Virginia Beach
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The Area
Virginia beach is in a subtropical climate range but the winters are cool with some light snowfall. It occupies a unique location relative to the path of most central and southeastern storms. It’s south of the northern storms and north of the southern storms so the central location makes it safer from that damage that strikes North Carolina to the south and New Jersey to the north. This makes it ideal for locals and really nice for tourists who at least don’t have to panic so much about a destructive storm destroying their vacation plans. The proximity to the rest of the south and central east coast pulls in a lot of tourists but it also means you can drive to all sorts of other cities, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond and D.C. in just a few hours.