Is Suffolk Really The Hot Spot? (Norfolk, Chesapeake: crime, houses, job market)

[InfoGuy]

I am relocating to the area and am excited about what I've seen and heard about Suffolk. But I am also picking up on the fact that maybe the city is a bit segregated and violence is on the rise, any input from someone who knows?

[pimp]

You can read the facts here >> http://www.city-data.com/city/Suffolk-Virginia.html

[Aletaaa]

Well, there are parts of town where it might appear that Suffolk is seggregated but you can live where you want ya know?
As far as crime. Suffolk is not the safest in HAmpton Roads but I live in the downtown area and I love it. I think you need to remain vigilant when it comes to security no matter where you live. We have some interesting things happening here in Suffolk. I love Suffolk. I've been here 26 years.
---Aleta

[maminel]

Suffolk in my opinion is one of the most safe cities in Hampton Roads when compared to Norfolk, VA beach, Hampton and Newport News. IS very boring and country though...I need to warn you. But it is quiet.

[BonitaMamiChula]

Virginia in a whole is BORING :-) But if you enjoy peace and quite for the most part Virginia's your place!

[movingsouth2]

First of all Suffolk is divided up into two commonly know areas - Downtown Suffolk (which is where the court houses and the small shopping center Walmart are) and Northern Suffolk. Northern Suffolk residents do not like to consider themselves part of "Suffolk", which they consider the downtown Suffolk area. The area of Suffolk off Constance Road, Main Street is the original town of Suffolk and a place where the segregation you speak of comes from. This part of Suffolk has a higher concentrate of black residents mainly because their families have been proudly here for generations. The Obici/Godwin Boulevard section of the "downtown" Suffolk area is newer. There is a nice golf course with fairly expensive houses right there, so the demographics change slightly. I find it to be a safe neighborhood. As a whole Suffolk has crime, just like any city. The difference is Suffolk is one of the largest land mass cities in the country. Most of it is undeveloped or farm land. so crime per capita seems relatively low in that perspective.
North Suffolk borders Chesapeake and tons of shopping and dining. The Riverview area is very expensive and home to most of the medical profession in the area.
If you choose to live in North Suffolk you will have an easier time with after work activities. It takes quite a bit of time to get from downtown Suffolk to anything else. We moved from Virignia Beach and have greatly cut back on going on due to road time and gas prices.

[hurley89]

I've lived in Hampton Roads all my life and I've only been to Suffolk TWICE.

Your not missing anything, unless you like farm fields. People around here (Norfolk/VB) don't really talk much about Suffolk. It's so out there that i forget it even exists sometimes. lol. If you like peace and quiet then go get it.

[MrAllGood]

Originally Posted by movingsouth2

First of all Suffolk is divided up into two commonly know areas - Downtown Suffolk (which is where the court houses and the small shopping center Walmart are) and Northern Suffolk. Northern Suffolk residents do not like to consider themselves part of "Suffolk", which they consider the downtown Suffolk area. The area of Suffolk off Constance Road, Main Street is the original town of Suffolk and a place where the segregation you speak of comes from. This part of Suffolk has a higher concentrate of black residents mainly because their families have been proudly here for generations. The Obici/Godwin Boulevard section of the "downtown" Suffolk area is newer. There is a nice golf course with fairly expensive houses right there, so the demographics change slightly. I find it to be a safe neighborhood. As a whole Suffolk has crime, just like any city. The difference is Suffolk is one of the largest land mass cities in the country. Most of it is undeveloped or farm land. so crime per capita seems relatively low in that perspective.
North Suffolk borders Chesapeake and tons of shopping and dining. The Riverview area is very expensive and home to most of the medical profession in the area.
If you choose to live in North Suffolk you will have an easier time with after work activities. It takes quite a bit of time to get from downtown Suffolk to anything else. We moved from Virignia Beach and have greatly cut back on going on due to road time and gas prices.

Like the above poster stated, Suffolk is diverse (and HUGE). I live (until the house sells) in Northern Suffolk and its location allows you to get to most other places in 30 mins or so (other than deep Va Beach). I'm in the Burbage Grant section, which is more affordablethan the Riverview section where the big money houses are. I know Burbage is very diverse and I've seen folks of all types in Riverview as well. There's also SteepleChase and Bob White Landing off of Rt 17/Shoulder's Hill Road as well as other developments.

Suffolk is so huge that it takes me about an hour just to get out of it when I go west on 58...so it is all relative to where you are in Suffolk.

[can'tneverdidnothin']

... LOL. Hot spot?

I've lived here eighteen years, and I would say no. Crime is on the rise, but considering we have 70,000+ people and only 8 murders in 2006, it's not that bad. Houses are ridiciously high and the job market is terrible. But it's peaceful here and there are some people who are friendly. Segregation? Yeah. Though, it's not entirely bad. If you want to live in Suffolk and you have reliable transportation, then you're good to go.

[ToughLuv]

Truthfully of the seven cities, I place Suffolk at the bottom. With the other 6 cities surrounding it why live there if you dont have to. If you want something more city there's better options here and if you want something more country there's better options, (not one of the other 6 cities tho') but if you are gettin a very good price on a house, by all means move there. Other than that Suffolk is blahh, I dont like Newport News but would take it over Suffolk in a heart beat.