Which Virginia City Feels Like Home?
Compare the Virginia cities we cover, from Virginia Beach and Norfolk to Blacksburg, and find a practical starting point for your move.
Laura, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Laura arrived in Virginia in 1988 with a teaching job, a love of sunshine, and zero idea she’d still be here decades later—now basically an honorary ambassador for the state. She’s tracked down over 800 of Virginia’s iconic LOVE signs, a feat that probably deserves its own license plate. When she’s not at the beach or debating which El Azteca location does the best Nacho Fajitas, she’s editing Snappy Scout’s Virginia guides, helping readers discover the local quirks and hidden gems she’s been living (and loving) for years.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
Which Virginia City Fits You?
The inside scoop on each city's vibe, housing, and the stuff locals swear by.
Virginia Beach and Norfolk
Virginia Beach and Norfolk, perfect for: Navy schedules, beach commutes, and backyard crab boils
Widely recognized as the place for: ships, jets, tunnel traffic, and surprisingly chill neighborhoods
City as a personality: tattooed sailor with sand in cupholders
Locals live here because: military jobs, coastal life, decent schools, and backyard space
Nothing's more Virginia Beach and Norfolk than: Spring Azalea Festival, the late summer Neptune Festival sandcastles and jets, and Old Bay fingers
Richmond
Richmond is perfect for: capital city grit, murals, and backyard breweries
Best known for: river rapids, craft beer, policy wonks playing kickball
Richmond in human form is: a tattooed historian arguing zoning over a stout
Move here for: affordable houses, short commutes, legit arts scene
Locals know best: RTD opinions, James River swims, Goochland detours, Scott's Addition breweries and entertainment options
Arlington
Arlington, perfect for: DC paychecks without the District mailing address
Well known for: Pentagon shadow, skyline glass, endless brunch debates
If Arlington were a person, it'd be: policy nerd jogging with stroller and latte
Move here if you want: walkable blocks, fast trains, resume fireworks
Locals swear by: Columbia Pike pho and the Blues Festival and Rosslyn happy hours and Jazz Fest
Alexandria
Alexandria is perfect for: history buffs who love Target and water views
Best known for: cobblestones, townhomes, federal workers with dogs, and the Alexandria Old Town Art Festival
City as a personality: well-read neighbor hosting book club on patio
Locals live here because: Metro access, cute streets, schools that actually answer
Nothing's more Alexandria than: debating parking spots like constitutional law
Charlottesville
Charlottesville is perfect for: academics, vintners, and remote workers chasing mountain naps
Widely recognized as the place for: UVA pride, vineyards, slow weekends with puzzles
Charlottesville in human form is: a polite professor biking with a farm share
Move here for: good schools, porch concerts, easy trailheads
Locals know best: Bodo's orders, bypass routes during graduation, and picking apples and peaches atCarter Mountain Orchard while enjoying the panoramic view
Roanoke
Roanoke, perfect for: mountain lovers who still want city groceries
Well known for: Mill Mountain star, Blue Ridge skyline, and the 1882 Hotel Roanoke
If Roanoke were a person, it'd be: a trail runner with a hardware store loyalty card
Move here if you want: cheap mortgages, trailheads minutes away, real neighbors
Locals swear by: Greenway rides and biscuits the size of fists
Blacksburg
Blacksburg is perfect for: Hokie lifers, startups, and porch labrador naps
Best known for: Virginia Tech energy and Friday night maroon, and Mountain Lake Lodge, filming location of Dirty Dancing
City as a personality: engineering nerd who trail runs between classes
Move here for: bikeable calm, research jobs, family-friendly vibes, and slide down the cascading water at Cascades National Recreation Area
Nothing's more Blacksburg than: Enter Sandman volume judged by seismographs
Browse Our Detailed Virginia City Moving Guides
Eating Like a Local in Virginia
What do locals actually order in the Hampton Roads area: White dip with their Mexican chips, She Crab Soup, and an Orange Crush, a one-of-a-kind kind of drink.
— Laura Gray
Virginia Local Expert
Ready to See If Virginia Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Virginia guide for the bigger picture.