Worst areas to live in Southern VA (Roanoke, Salem: real estate, houses)

[bobbyandamanda03]

I saw this title to a thread in NJ (where I currently live) and I thought it was a good way to know where not to move!

Anyway, my husband and I are looking to move out of NJ - possibly to Southern VA or Northern NC. We don't want to live near the coast of either state (would like to live somewhere between mid-state to mountain area).
Can anyone on here compare the two areas of these states? Like list the positives/negatives of each state/counties?

We looked into Roanoke area a lot, liked the sound of it... maybe could someone suggest what towns in Roanoke/Bedford/Franklin counties are good for what we are looking for?

Any suggestions/advice would be helpful! Thanks!

More Info about us:
young married couple w/ two kids looking to buy a home on a decent sized lot (at least 1/2 acre but no more than 5 acres)
Not looking for anything in a very rural/farming community, but not a crowded city, either - would like the perfect blend of both
Something not too far away from supermarkets, retail stores, etc. but where you aren't crowded in a neighborhood jam packed with houses side by side.
My husband currently is assistant produce manager in a supermarket; would probably look for the same line of work in VA...anyone know around what salary he would expect?
What is minimum wage in VA?

How are property taxes in the counties i mentioned above?
Also, what is VA state tax?
Gas prices?

[roanoker 4]

There have been some major new groceries that have opened in Roanoke recently: Ukrops, Fresh Market and a giant new Kroger store is scheduled to be finished soon. Kroger, Food Lions are everywhere. I had a friend who worked at Food Lion and I couldn't believe how generous they were with his
401k employee plan. As a young family I would suggest the eastern Roanoke County area, Salem & Vinton. Outside of those environs the area tends to get pretty rural. There are some nice residential areas in Roanoke City as well. Remember the Roanoke Valley is very easy to get around so wherever you live you are a short drive to work, etc. Property taxes have been going up lately but I'm sure they are laughable compared to NJ. I think VA has a low tax overall on goods/services. Its a pretty prosperous state and we are actually healthier in many ways than NC! You guys sound like good fits for Roanoke!! Good Luck!!

[j1n]

Originally Posted by bobbyandamanda03

I saw this title to a thread in NJ (where I currently live) and I thought it was a good way to know where not to move!

Anyway, my husband and I are looking to move out of NJ - possibly to Southern VA or Northern NC. We don't want to live near the coast of either state (would like to live somewhere between mid-state to mountain area).
Can anyone on here compare the two areas of these states? Like list the positives/negatives of each state/counties?

We looked into Roanoke area a lot, liked the sound of it... maybe could someone suggest what towns in Roanoke/Bedford/Franklin counties are good for what we are looking for?

Any suggestions/advice would be helpful! Thanks!

More Info about us:
young married couple w/ two kids looking to buy a home on a decent sized lot (at least 1/2 acre but no more than 5 acres)
Not looking for anything in a very rural/farming community, but not a crowded city, either - would like the perfect blend of both
Something not too far away from supermarkets, retail stores, etc. but where you aren't crowded in a neighborhood jam packed with houses side by side.
My husband currently is assistant produce manager in a supermarket; would probably look for the same line of work in VA...anyone know around what salary he would expect?
What is minimum wage in VA?

How are property taxes in the counties i mentioned above?
Also, what is VA state tax?
Gas prices?

hey bobbyandamanda03...
we were in a similar same situation. We moved down here from NJ last August. Also married, two kids. We are in Rocky Mount (Franklin County) at the present. If you want "not really rural/farm community, but not too crowded"...look into Roanoke county. Many parts of Roanoke City are really nice too, but you will be mostly committing to the whole "side-by-side houses" thing. Just remember though...compared to what we think of as "crowded city" conditions in NJ...you will not find anything like that here in the Roanoke Valley.
Property taxes are lower (I believe) in Franklin and Bedford Counties as opposed to Roanoke County. (And yeah...they are way lower than up north. There are folks up there paying 13k a year on their homes. I've seen real estate ads listing "taxes $549" or something like that.) Maybe someone can give a better viewpoint on Bedford, but as Far as Franklin County goes...it's might be waaaaay more rural than you want. In the valley, gas prices are somewhere in the $3.19 range for regular...some places more, some places less. Not sure what your husband should expect to make here. But since cost of living is significantly less than NJ, you should be good.
I'd definitely pick the Roanoke Valley and sw portion of VA over almost any "mid-state" areas in VA. And as far as NC goes...
Take a look at how many folks have fled NJ for the "good life" in NC, couldn't hang, and ended up running back to NJ. I don't hear about that nearly as much in regards to VA. There are lots of northerners here, as well as folks from various other states/areas. I think it makes for a pretty nicely rounded and fairly diverse population.
Best bet is to take a weekend trip down..get to know the area a little!