Young adults in C'ville (Charlottesville: high school, college, living)

[artistatheart]

In general, is Charlottesville (and the surrounding area) the kind of place young adults choose to stay and raise their families, or is it a place where people grow up (or spend their four years of college) and then move away from in search of "better opportunities"? Are entry level, professional jobs prevalent? Are there a fair number of young adults around for those who choose to stay to mingle with? Do people in their early 20's often move to C'ville to start their careers? Just wondering...

[oncdcdirector]

I am a young adult moved to Charlottesville at 22 after college and love it here but it can be difficult to find work depending on your field because there are a lot of law/med student spouses to compete with as well as the older adults with more experience. There is a lot to do for young adults, it is a great city to be in but can be difficult to find work.

[VaNative]

I grew up in Charlottesville but moved away in 2004 because of the dead end job...high cost of living...general feeling of nothing to do and basically got sick of it. I think it really depends how long you've lived in the area as to whether you would recommend it to someone else. Maybe there's more for younger people to do now than there was in 2004 but Charlottesville holds no fondness enough for me to want to return. It would be the same problems as before...for me anyway. I can see someone who hasn't lived in the area very long liking it but for me...38 years was long enough.

I'll say this...the area is beautiful and is a great place to raise a family but I can't imagine living there if you're single. I'm amazed that people I went to high school with in the mid-80's never left.

[KatieNK]

Originally Posted by VaNative

I grew up in Charlottesville but moved away in 2004 because of the dead end job...high cost of living...general feeling of nothing to do and basically got sick of it. I think it really depends how long you've lived in the area as to whether you would recommend it to someone else. Maybe there's more for younger people to do now than there was in 2004 but Charlottesville holds no fondness enough for me to want to return. It would be the same problems as before...for me anyway. I can see someone who hasn't lived in the area very long liking it but for me...38 years was long enough.

I'll say this...the area is beautiful and is a great place to raise a family but I can't imagine living there if you're single. I'm amazed that people I went to high school with in the mid-80's never left.

Well I guess its all relative. We just moved here from Delaware where there really WAS nothing to do and have enjoyed all the things that Cville has to offer. I can understand getting bored with the place you lived your whole life, though, but for us we moved here to raise our 3 young kids and stay for good. As far as being a young single person in Cville, that I have no experience in so I can't say! I'm sure its a whole hell of a lot better being young and single here in Cville than in Delaware! Or a lot of places.