Moving to Roanoke, VA

[j1n]

Originally Posted by seahaven

I do not understand why everyone and their brother warns everyone off about Salem. I'm 26 years old, and I live in Salem. Salem is heavily sports oriented, and they consistently win, so perhaps that I why people hate Salem. I was marching band, not sports, and I don't have an uber salem spirit either....but it does rankle when people constantly crap all over salem, while reccomending the Melrose area and Orange Avenue.

There are a few people in salem that I wouldn't give 2 cents for, but I also lived in Roanoke County, and there are areas of it where you do not get the time of day unless you're driving a Bmw or a Lexus. I also worked at 2 different krogers, one in salem, and one off of brambleton, and while both had their share of snobbery, the Brambleton Ave store was much worse. I had a woman toss a bloody loaf of bread at me because we were out of roast beef.

Salem does have many nice points, taxes are not bad, utilities are better than roanoke, the trash people will literally pick up anything at all, while Roanokes will not. Salem high has good teachers, and much less crowded conditions. It is centrally located, and commute times are pretty darn good to about everywhere.

There are wonderful areas in Roanoke and Roanoke City, but you do have to be careful. I have to drive through Melrose about 2 twice a week, and I do not feel safe there. My mother had several friends who used to love that area, but the crime and violence drove them out....which is a true shame, because if the city poured more resources and protection into the area, it could be amazing.

I'm not sure whether anyone here has actually "recommended" the Melrose/Orange Ave area as "the" place in Roanoke. Realistically, I think anyone who lives in the valley knows that section of road does have it's shortcomings.
Speaking for myself in regards to Salem...
Home prices are generally higher. That may not deter all folks, but it was a deterrent to me.
We have close friends (a Roanoke College professor and his family - about the nicest and most outgoing folks I've ever met) who moved to Salem and just haven't found the folks too "neighborly".
We also have another friend who runs a good business in Roanoke. When he tried to open a second store in Salem, there was just no business because folks wouldn't patronize the guy who "wasn't from there."
Now, these are just my examples. They certainly are not to be taken as the final word on where to move to or not to move to. But these types of things come up quite a bit from folks when Salem is mentioned. Eventually all of those experiences are going to look ugly to someone unfamiliar with Salem. I think Salem is a great little town...nice Main St, beautiful mountain views, etc. But it isn't perfect or crime-free either. I'm not sure about the trash pickup. I know that Roanoke City is pretty particular about what they will and will not pick up. I see lots of evidence in the city's "strictness", though, that Roanoke is making big strides towards proper recycling...and I'm really happy about that.

[seahaven]

I agree that home prices are higher, especially as I was condo/town home shopping recently...winces

I am sorry your friends weren't warmly received, and I do sympathize. We've had a mixture of neighbors over the past few years, and some were great, and a few not so much. I wish we would get a few newer stores in Salem, perhaps we should bop people on the heads to make em see a good thing...lol

My grandparents live in Rke county, and they always bring bigger items to our home. The county simply will not pick them up, and the one time they did, they charged my grandparents a 50.00 fee. I've no idea whether that is a normal thing..but eh

I definitely agree that Salem is not perfect....I just wanted to toss my 2 cents in, because even though I do complain about it at times, Salem isn't bad over all. I wish they'd implement a decent recycling program here....but small steps I suppose.

[Kelly Hunt]

Hi everyone, I had to add to this discussion about Roanoke. I lived in Blacksburg VA for 15 years and was in Roanoke all the time. I love the whole area. My husband and I have been in Phoenix Az for the past 10 years and can not wait to leave and get back to Virginia, gosh I miss it. For the ones who think Roanoke is not a good place to live, let me tell you it is a wonderful place. After living here and other towns and cities in my life, any place in Virginia is wonderful. I will never complain about it again. You want to talk crime rate? well come on down here, you probably will get the chance to be part of the crime statistics real quick. Gangs are everywhere. I have been in education for years and believe me the school districts in Az are horrible, the lowest pay, very backwards. Virginia has advanced past Az education system 10 years ago. They still do not do things in schools here that Virginia has done for years. Roanoke is beautiful, surrounded by the mountains, 4 seasons (which I miss so much). And the people are friendly. Some of you might meet some non-personality people, but who doesn't? Out here neighbors never talk to each other, I never see kids riding bikes, playing that much. Back in Virginia the grocey clerk gets to know you, the meter man, the shop keeper, etc.... and people still like to be outside and wave as you pass by. When I moved here and wave going driving down the street, I got flipped off. And back in Roanoke and Blacksburg and that area when there is a funeral going down the street every car, truck, semi pulls over and waits for it to pass out of respect. I have never seen that in other places I have lived. I can't wait to come hom again and this time never leave.

[nyctransplant]

oh yes, indeedy! my experience is in south carolina, in a beautiful town called Summerville. I have noticed the exact same behaviors in "southern hospitality" - also being from nyc, i am outspoken and brutally honest when asked for my honest opinion. that does not endear you to the natives. Because when they ask for your opinion, they're either being polite or nosey. No lie - four years and i still get that. From neighbors, contractors, folks are outwardly polite and go out of their way to speak to you - but they are not in any way, shape or form the picture in your head of Gone With The Wind manners and the women are in no way your fantasy of southern belles. Contractors, service people - all take forever to respond and you end up calling and calling to no avail. Be there next week is the closest you'll get to having someone contact you within a month or at all. I haven't figured it out, but it's also mistrust of those who are "from off".