Hampton, chesepeake, or Newport News (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: oceanfront, low crime, homes)

[rukidenme]

My wife and I are looking to move to the Hampton roads area. However we are not sure which area to consider. What we are looking for is an area with a good school system, low cost of living, with an above national average income. A variety of christian chruches, culture, restaraunts, jazz, entertainment, fishing, seafood, beach, camping, JOBS... hopefully some diversity although I know it is no where near as diverse as Boston. I love my black folk, but I want a mixed neighborhood. I am also looking to finish my masters at Cambridge College in chesepeake. I have family there who live in Newport News, and Richmond. Also when we do buy a house, we want one with a fairly decent size back yard, and lots of kids in the neighborhood for my kids to play with. I am an accoutant with financial services background. I am currently getting some training to change careers to Business Systems Analyst. Any suggestions?

[Alanboy395]

Originally Posted by rukidenme

My wife and I are looking to move to the Hampton roads area. However we are not sure which area to consider. What we are looking for is an area with a good school system, low cost of living, with an above national average income. A variety of christian chruches, culture, restaraunts, jazz, entertainment, fishing, seafood, beach, camping, JOBS... hopefully some diversity although I know it is no where near as diverse as Boston. I love my black folk, but I want a mixed neighborhood. I am also looking to finish my masters at Cambridge College in chesepeake. I have family there who live in Newport News, and Richmond. Also when we do buy a house, we want one with a fairly decent size back yard, and lots of kids in the neighborhood for my kids to play with. I am an accoutant with financial services background. I am currently getting some training to change careers to Business Systems Analyst. Any suggestions?

Cheaspeake would be perfect for you.

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by rukidenme

My wife and I are looking to move to the Hampton roads area. However we are not sure which area to consider. What we are looking for is an area with a good school system, low cost of living, with an above national average income. A variety of christian chruches, culture, restaraunts, jazz, entertainment, fishing, seafood, beach, camping, JOBS... hopefully some diversity although I know it is no where near as diverse as Boston. I love my black folk, but I want a mixed neighborhood. I am also looking to finish my masters at Cambridge College in chesepeake. I have family there who live in Newport News, and Richmond. Also when we do buy a house, we want one with a fairly decent size back yard, and lots of kids in the neighborhood for my kids to play with. I am an accoutant with financial services background. I am currently getting some training to change careers to Business Systems Analyst. Any suggestions?

A few things

1. This area, the whole thing, has a lower then national average income. Virginia Beach is the highest, and is just below average. Newport News and Hampton have incomes considerably below average.

2. The area, largely, has a higher then national average cost of living, and Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are staples on top 100 overpriced cities in the country. Hampton and Newport News are cheaper, but thats largely because much of the cities are undesirable, and the schools are largely bad.

3. There are a whole lot of restaurants, but culture is lacking.

4. All the cities you list are culturally diverse, but at the same time, they are also culturally rigid. Minorities are largely concentrated in the lower income, high crime areas, and the affluent parts tend to be mostly white.

5. The best housing values would definatley be found in Newport News and Hampton, however, some of those neighborhoods, you wouldnt want your kids out playing in the yard.

6. You are an accountant? Why, exactly would you be moving here? I am an accountant, and I am counting the days until I leave here. There are few opportunities in the financial fields, and most that you do find, pay far below national average for equivalent responsibilities. For instance, a CPA will start you out at 50-60k most other places in this country, here, its pretty much a requirement to crack 40k. Most other places, the only jobs that require a CPA are high level ones. Here, half the staff accountant positions want a CPA. There is also little room for growth, because there is little corporate presence. I have done tons of research on this, and an ideal city for the accountant profession is Indianapolis, Indiana. Perfect combination of low crime (the suburbs), very low cost of living, plentiful jobs, and high pay for the profession. If you live in the city, you trade off the low crime, but its a little more diverse.

[naomisday]

Randomdude,

It seems like the Hampton Roads area loses College Educated people? From what I have
heard on the boards.... I guess unless you work for the Military---.

I also heard that from a graduate of Hampton University---she lives in San Francisco now....

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by rukidenme

My wife and I are looking to move to the Hampton roads area. However we are not sure which area to consider. What we are looking for is an area with a good school system, low cost of living, with an above national average income. A variety of christian chruches, culture, restaraunts, jazz, entertainment, fishing, seafood, beach, camping, JOBS... hopefully some diversity although I know it is no where near as diverse as Boston. I love my black folk, but I want a mixed neighborhood. I am also looking to finish my masters at Cambridge College in chesepeake. I have family there who live in Newport News, and Richmond. Also when we do buy a house, we want one with a fairly decent size back yard, and lots of kids in the neighborhood for my kids to play with. I am an accoutant with financial services background. I am currently getting some training to change careers to Business Systems Analyst. Any suggestions?

Have you looked into Norfolk? I don't think any city in HR will meet all of your criteria, but Norfolk might get most of them. It seems to be the most cultured city of HR and has the most financial type jobs. It's centrally located in HR, so traveling around wouldn't be as hard as if you were to live in, say, Suffolk or the Pungo area of Virginia Beach. The neighborhoods, for the most part, are diverse but you have to do your research. Norfolk often goes on a block-by-block basis as far as crime. For example, the neighborhood of Ghent vs. the neighborhood of Park Place. Ghent is great (arguably the best area of Norfolk) but Park Place is one of the worst with only a block separating them. Going down Colley Ave coming from 35th street in Park Place, you go under a bridge and BAM! You're in Ghent and it's like a whole other world.

Norfolk gets a bad rep because people usually focus on areas like Park Place, Norview, and Ocean View and all the problems they have, but it's just as easy to find nice places in Norfolk as it is to find bad.

[SiestaBay]

Originally Posted by Randomdude

A few things

1. This area, the whole thing, has a lower then national average income. Virginia Beach is the highest, and is just below average. Newport News and Hampton have incomes considerably below average.

2. The area, largely, has a higher then national average cost of living, and Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are staples on top 100 overpriced cities in the country. Hampton and Newport News are cheaper, but thats largely because much of the cities are undesirable, and the schools are largely bad.

3. There are a whole lot of restaurants, but culture is lacking.

4. All the cities you list are culturally diverse, but at the same time, they are also culturally rigid. Minorities are largely concentrated in the lower income, high crime areas, and the affluent parts tend to be mostly white.

5. The best housing values would definatley be found in Newport News and Hampton, however, some of those neighborhoods, you wouldnt want your kids out playing in the yard.

6. You are an accountant? Why, exactly would you be moving here? I am an accountant, and I am counting the days until I leave here. There are few opportunities in the financial fields, and most that you do find, pay far below national average for equivalent responsibilities. For instance, a CPA will start you out at 50-60k most other places in this country, here, its pretty much a requirement to crack 40k. Most other places, the only jobs that require a CPA are high level ones. Here, half the staff accountant positions want a CPA. There is also little room for growth, because there is little corporate presence. I have done tons of research on this, and an ideal city for the accountant profession is Indianapolis, Indiana. Perfect combination of low crime (the suburbs), very low cost of living, plentiful jobs, and high pay for the profession. If you live in the city, you trade off the low crime, but its a little more diverse.

Great post. 1000000000% spot on.

[rtandc]

[quote=rukidenme;7468721 What we are looking for is an area with a good school system, low cost of living, with an above national average income. [/quote]

You were doing good until your wrote this....You can find a good school system in parts of Va Bch and Chesapeake. But when you start asking about low cost of living and above average income...well I almost spit my coffee on the PC screen I laughed so hard......if you flip those request around and state you are looking for a place that has a high cost of living and a lower then national average income....well then Hampton Roads is the place....but the way you have them requested....sorry find another state...........

[damian]

Newport News and Hampton are much safer than Portsmouth or Norfolk. Look at the 2008 crime statistics for the facts. Parts of both NN and Hampton are very nice with rural areas, and beautiful waterfront neighboorhoods. Yes, both cities have bad areas (East End in NN), however do not stereotype the whole area because of it

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by naomisday

Randomdude,

It seems like the Hampton Roads area loses College Educated people? From what I have
heard on the boards.... I guess unless you work for the Military---.

I also heard that from a graduate of Hampton University---she lives in San Francisco now....

Yes, Hampton Roads has a whole lot of brain drain. We have a number of close by schools, including William and Mary, which is a top 40 national college, and ODU which is fairly respected regionally. Also, Norfolk State, Christopher Newport, Hampton, Regent, Virginia Wesleyan, all in Hampton Roads, and Elizabeth City State which isnt too far away in Northern NC.

That is a tremendous number of 4 year colleges for a metro area our size. Additionally, most of them are commuter schools, meaning, the kids going to those schools actually live in the area. When those kids graduate, the majority find absolutely nothing waiting for them. The schools around here are hardly known for their research, and no major lab facilities or pharmeceutical companies call the area home, so most biology, chemistry, and science in general majors leave. There are few major companies based in the area (Norfolk Southern and Dollar Tree Stores), which means, there are few to any corporate finance positions, and general business majors end up stuck at the retail management level, and accountants are paid a fraction of what they make nationally. Most engineers go off to better schools, or better areas. Quality internships are almost non existant.

If the fact that there are no jobs doesnt get you, and the fact that you might find yourself at Burger King with your fresh 4 year degree isnt annoying, or the fact that you are making a fraction of what someone with your degree is in another metro area. Try affording the astronomical "starter" homes.

It is no wonder why young people leave here by the swarms.

[stacylee926]

I am not really crazy about Hampton and Newport News is fine in some areas, but overall Chesapeake might be the best area for you. It is closer to Norfolk which will give you some nightlife - theatre, shows etc and it is much closer to the beach you are looking for. There is alot to do in Hampton Roads, it is just more spead out. You have historic activities in Williamsburg and beaches in the Outer Banks.

We have minor league baseball and hockey - both are fun family activities. Even Portsmouth has fun things to do. There is something for everyone here, but overall we do not have to 'best' of anything. Well, the Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown area might be tops (Busch Gardens too).

Chesapeake is a nice suburban area with plenty of daily needs around every corner. Schools are decent there, but I have heard that some VA Beach schools are tops too. Your children will not get a bad education here.

Another plus is the weather. We have milder winters, which allows outdoor activities during most of the year. We actually enjoy going to the VA Beach oceanfront in the off season during a nice weekend to avoid the crazy summer tourists.