So, you’re curious about living in Virginia? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Virginia.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Virginia matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Virginia is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Virginia
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Virginia is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Virginia:
- The Virginia weather is mild year round.
- Our food scene has been getting a lot of attention lately with all the new restaurants and cafés opening every day! You’ll find everything from seafood to Korean BBQ here in Richmond.
- It’s easy for you to get around by planes, trains or buses since we have major airports nearby like Dulles International Airport in Washington DC and Norfolk International Airport right in our backyard. And don’t forget about Amtrak which also goes through Virginia!
- If that weren’t enough, there are ferries running up and down the coast to help connect us with other states too! Or if you’re more into hiking than traveling by boat, then hop on the Appalachian Trail.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Virginia:
- Higher traffic, especially during rush hour.
- Higher cost of living due to the wage gap and more expensive housing.
- We have a high crime rate in Richmond so you’ll want to take extra precautions if you’re out at night, but this is true for any major city!
Read More: Is Virginia a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Virginia
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Virginia? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Virginia!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Virginia.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Virginia:
- Alexandria
- Norfolk
- Richmond
- Stone Ridge
- Virginia Beach
- Waynesboro
Read More: Best Places to Live in Virginia
Checklist for Moving to Virginia
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Virginia. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Virginia.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Virginia:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Virginia driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Virginia
- Getting Virginia car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Virginia and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Virginia.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Virginia and your previous home state.
Visit your Virginia Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Virginia Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Virginia.
Things to Know About Living in Virginia
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Virginia, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Virginia
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Virginia ranks 30 on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 101.5, meaning it’s a relatively average costing place to live.
Here is how Virginia scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 96.1
- Housing: 111.7
- Utilities: 96.5
- Transportation: 88.7
- Health: 99.9
- Miscellaneous: 100.2
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Virginia
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Virginia from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Virginia’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 5.3%, with an average local rate of .43% (the highest local sales tax rate is .7%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 5.73%.
Check with the Virginia tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Virginia
If you own or plan to own real estate in Virginia, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Virginia ranks 19th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of .82%
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Virginia tax office for the most current tax rates.
Virginia’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Virginia is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Virginia ranks 13th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Professional and business services
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Manufacturing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Finance and insurance
- Retail trade
- Wholesale trade
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Information
The top employer in Virginia is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Virginia
Our Virginia moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Virginia is Arlington National Cemetery.
National Parks that you can visit in Virginia include:
- Shenandoah National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Virginia include:
- Booker T. Washington National Monument
- Fort Monroe National Monument
- George Washington Birthplace National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Virginia
Virginia is the 10th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Maryland, to its south is North Carolina, to its east is the Atlantic Ocean, and to its west is West Virginia and Kentucky.
What is the capital of Virginia?
The capital of Virginia is Richmond.
Richmond, VA has a population of 204,214.
What is the population of Virginia?
The population of Virginia based on 2020 US Census data is 8,631,393.
What is the largest city in Virginia?
The largest city in Virginia is Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach has a population of 459,470.
What is the size of Virginia?
Virginia is 42,774, making it the 35th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Virginia?
The state motto of Virginia is: Sic semper tyrannis
What is the state bird of Virginia?
The state bird of Virginia is the Northern cardinal.
What is the state flower of Virginia?
The state flower of Virginia is the American dogwood.
What is the state tree of Virginia?
The state tree of Virginia is the Flowering dogwood.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Virginia?
The minimum wage in Virginia is $9.50 per hour.
What is the median income in Virginia?
The median annual household salary in Virginia is $72,577.