What's it like in Virginia Beach? (Norfolk, Portsmouth: transplants, apartment, for rent)

[Barb]

I'm looking at places to move and am considering Virginia Beach. I have no kids, so schools are not an issue. I'm an older person looking to rent, and want to be near a good library. I've visited Virginia Beach several times in the past, but always to vacation, so I have no idea what it would be like to live there. Am wondering what rents are like, how crowded the area is, safety, crime, driving, all the things that make/break daily living.

Any info is appreciated.

[SANDY SHIPLEY O'BRIEN]

I HAVE LIVED IN VA BEACH MOST OF MY LIFE. I LOVE IT HERE. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW LIBRARIES. GO ON LINE www.vbgov.com AND SEE THE CITY WEB PAGE. OR CAN JUST TYPE IN VIRGINIA BEACH OFFICIAL WEB CITE. IF YOU GO TO THE POLICE SECTION YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE CRIME IN THE CITY. ITS A PRETTY GOOD SIZE CITY, WE HAVE OUR SHARE OF CRIME, BUT THEN ALL CITIES DO. HOMES ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE, BUT I THINK ITS LIKE THAT IN ALOT OF CITIES. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFO.
SANDY IN VA BEACH.

[darzz1]

Life in Va Bch has it's pros & cons. You can't buy a single family home for much under $300k, condos a little cheaper. The traffic is really bad and most places are crowded all the time. The crime is in issue here, especially in Norfolk & Portsmouth. Most people here are transplants from other places and somewhat friendly.
It does had nice Libraries here and plenty of them. There is lot's to do here and nice beach. But beware,,, very croweded, costly and I wouldn't go out at night just shopping or roaming around stores.
I hoped this help.

[VaBeachGangsta]

Va Beach is getting very unsafe, growth in gangs and gang violence is growing fast..

[Muffin Man]

Gang violence is not an issue unless you're forced to live amongst the minimum wagers and illegal immigrants, of which there are few. Avoid areas near trailer parks and if something seems too good to be true, (like an apt or house 2 rent) -- it is, skip it. Big $$$ for rent and buying now in vabeach.

[TheBeach]

If you are worried about crime, you need to stay at least 2 miles away from any Motel, Hotel, Apartment, Condo, or other place where people live in a high-density temporary setting. I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, but have lived in many places since then (Thank You USAF :-), and have learned that the best place to live is to live in areas where the everyone has a single-family residence in an area where there is no busineses, just homes. That's been my experience after living in Virginia Beach (24 years), Santa Clara/Los Altos, California (24 years), Bellevue, Washington (3 years), Winsor/Falcon/Peyton, Colorado (3 years), Mississippi (1 year), Illinois (1 year).

[Jonny Boi]

virginia beach is changing for the worst

[VirginiaGirl]

Crime isn't so bad but its a little on the rise. Just have to be careful about the places you live. Lots of new construction homes (expensive) going up all the time but there's still a few places that aren't too outrageous. If you like downtown type feeling, new restaurants, stores, and high rises going up all the time. New performing arts center and new convention center. Lots of tourists in the summertime though. Some historic sites as well. And its relatively close to lots of malls, beaches, libraries, bookstores, etc.

[Lethal_Poison]

Originally Posted by Muffin Man

Gang violence is not an issue unless you're forced to live amongst the minimum wagers and illegal immigrants, of which there are few. Avoid areas near trailer parks and if something seems too good to be true, (like an apt or house 2 rent) -- it is, skip it. Big $$$ for rent and buying now in vabeach.

Gee, I wonder what the average wage of all the endless numbers of service related jobs that dominate the Virginia Beach economy is?

More "minimum wagers" then youd like to acknowledge, unfortunatley, call Virginia Beach home.

Furthermore, its not just "minimum wagers" that are forced to live in poor neighborhoods. My wife and I gross over 50k a year, and we could not afford to live in anything but a townhouse next to those "minimum wagers" and in neighborhoods with plenty of "gang violence".

In fact, I believe Lake Edward, the worst neighborhood by far in Virginia Beach, is the only affordable neighborhood left if you go by median salary.

[VaBeachGangsta]

The Landstown Lakes and landstown meadows and also green run area is still affortable by middle class, a few other neiborhood pockets around the city also.