Moving to Salem or Blacksburg (Virginia Beach, Roanoke: real estate, townhouse, neighborhoods)

[jeb412]

My husband has taken a position at VCOM (VA Coll. of Osteopathic Med.) We were all set to move to Blacksburg, but now are thinking about Salem. We're moving from PA with our 3 young children. We like the Blacksburg area, and the schools seem good. Although real estate is still pretty pricey, even in this market. We're willing to spend $350,000-$400,000 on a house. We tend to like living in neighborhoods. Seems like you can get more for your money in Salem, with just as good (if not better) schools....true? How about taxes in Salem, does anyone know how they compare to Blacksburg? People have mentioned that the commute from Salem to B-burg can be tough on 81. But we're used to 81 in Northeast PA in the winter, so that's not really a concern. I'm orig. from Phila., and like the idea of being closer to a city--Roanoke. Although I'd only be 1/2 hour away if we were in B-burg. Does anyone have any imput, or comparisons?

[seanpecor]

If it were Salem versus Blacksburg alone, everything else notwithstanding, I would without hesitation say Blacksburg. We lived in Blacksburg for about a year before moving south of Roanoke. It is a really nice town, with very good schools. Salem doesn't offer much that Blacksburg can't, although Blacksburg has many things that Salem can't claim. But, nobody lives in a vacuum, and since Salem is joined at the hip with the Roanoke metro area, I would say it might be a draw, depending on your lifestyle and driving tolerance. My gut feeling, though, is that you'd enjoy Blacksburg more than Salem. If the discussion were Blacksburg versus Roanoke I would have a completely different opinion, but that point is moot here.

If it were me, I would pick Blacksburg, without reservation. Blacksburg prices are elevated thanks to the demographic of the town. It's about 62% white collar, about double the regional average. For me, alot of the value of a Blacksburg home was the quality of our neighbors. When we lived on Mourning Dove Drive, there were fantastic families surrounding us. I worked from a home office, as did one neighbor who flew his Cessna to Virginia Beach for business meetings! All of my other neighbors were professors or engineers. The parks and rec in Blacksburg was awesome, and public schools were very, very good.

Blacksburg town covers a large land area. We lived on Mourning Dove Drive on the northern edge of town and it was easily 50 minutes to downtown Roanoke. Even the southern edge of town would be a 40 minute drive to downtown Roanoke. Realistically, Salem to Blacksburg would likely be a 35 minute drive in each direction.

Sean

[Teebyrd86]

Skip both and move to Roanoke!

[Diamond Dave]

I grew up in Blacksburg and now live in Roanoke. If your husband is working at Va. Tech, you need to be in Blacksburg for several reasons:

• The VT community. You won't be nearly as much a part of that in Salem as you will be in Blacksburg.
• The commute. I-81 between Salem and Blacksburg is terrible. Long delays during wrecks, lots of trucks, impassable on Va. Tech football weekends, steep, winding, and narrow.
• Blacksburg High School and schools in Blacksburg are the best around--better than anything in Roanoke County or Salem. VT faculty and staff pump incredibly bright, talented children into the schools. Most valedictorians in Virginia schools go to UVa and that's a big deal--in Blacksburg, UVa is a backup choice and the top kids go to the Ivy League, Stanford, and Duke.

I've always said, either live and work in Blacksburg, or don't do either. The Roanoke and New River Valleys may be just 30 miles apart as the crow flies, but it's a long, long 30 miles.

[jeb412]

Okay, 2 votes for Blacksburg. Now I understand why the real estate may be elevated there, that makes sense. And I get your point about being part of the community. That was a concern of mine, that my husband would be working in the VT community, but maybe not feel like a part of it since he'd be leaving every night to head back to Salem. Thanks so much for your insight, I really do appreciate it. It's such a big decision. In the end we just want what everyone else wants. Good schools, a nice place to raise a family with things to do, a safe place, and a place where we'll make friends. We might bid on a house in Blacksburg this week. We still haven't ruled out Salem, but your information is extremely valuable. Thanks so much.

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by jeb412

Okay, 2 votes for Blacksburg. Now I understand why the real estate may be elevated there, that makes sense. And I get your point about being part of the community. That was a concern of mine, that my husband would be working in the VT community, but maybe not feel like a part of it since he'd be leaving every night to head back to Salem. Thanks so much for your insight, I really do appreciate it. It's such a big decision. In the end we just want what everyone else wants. Good schools, a nice place to raise a family with things to do, a safe place, and a place where we'll make friends. We might bid on a house in Blacksburg this week. We still haven't ruled out Salem, but your information is extremely valuable. Thanks so much.

Heres a thought, How about Christiansburg?

[jeb412]

We did consider Christiansburg. But after talking to people living in the NRV, most felt that the Christiansburg schools weren't quite as good as the Blacksburg schools. I don't know if this is true, or not, it's just what we heard a number of times. So we figured it might be worth the extra money in real estate, to be in better schools--even from a resale perspective.

[heather3781]

One good thing about Salem, is the Smart Way Bus. It picks you up at Hanging Rock (exit 140 on 81), and takes you right into the CRC (where VCOM is located). It's only $3 each way, so it definitely works out.

[sweetpotater58]

If you pick Blacksburg-just be careful your home is not close to any rented out to college students or any of the almost all college kid townhouse developments. I agree, though overall Blacksburg is great, except on tech home football game days.

[jeb412]

I didn't know about the Smart Bus, thanks. Sounds like an option. And definitly good advice about student housing. As we drove through town, there were some nice neighborhoods, but fortunetly our realtor let us know that there was student housing nearby (you could tell by all of the cars parked at each house.) We're still undecided, but everyone's info. has really been helpful.