Charlottesville, give me the good, the bad, and the ugly; (Richmond: real estate, property taxes)

[OhioHopeful]

Have an interview in Charlottesville ...would like some opinions on the area. Would be moving from Wyoming, but have lived mostly in Michigan (Grand Rapids and Marquette).

Average housing prices, crime, city's relationship with the University of Virginia, nice areas, bad areas-info wanted.

Thanks in advance

[Rhett_Butler]

Expensive to live IN Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County.

Crime isn't too bad at all.

The City and UVA are very symbiotic as the history of both are really one and the same. Charlottesville IS Thomas Jefferson, UVA IS Thomas Jefferson, Charlottesville thus is very much UVA. That's not ALL it is, but I've never been in another town where the University really embodies the town and visa versa. I'd imagine it'd be like Harvard and Cambridge, Mass in a way.....

As far as nice areas?? It's been awhile since I lived there so I'd definately say you can't go wrong with Albemarle County if you can afford it..

[Cattknap]

Here are some links for you:

Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed

Charlottesville Neighborhood Profile on Yahoo! Real Estate - Demographics, Cost of Living & more!

[roanoker 4]

The Good: Close to Washington DC, beautiful country setting, good stores, restaurants, nightspots. UVA and its medical center, Monticello & Thomas Jefferson history. Charming wineries, ski resort, outdoor activities, Richmond is about an hour or so away.

The Bad: The locals can be very snobby toward outsiders. I think C'ville is known as a rather snobby place, in an old style conservative Virginia style.

The Ugly: There is nothing that bad about C'ville. If you can fit in there you will love it and never leave.

[VaNative]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

The Good: Close to Washington DC, beautiful country setting, good stores, restaurants, nightspots. UVA and its medical center, Monticello & Thomas Jefferson history. Charming wineries, ski resort, outdoor activities, Richmond is about an hour or so away.

The Bad: The locals can be very snobby toward outsiders. I think C'ville is known as a rather snobby place, in an old style conservative Virginia style.

The Ugly: There is nothing that bad about C'ville. If you can fit in there you will love it and never leave.

I wouldn't go as far as saying there is nothing bad about Charlottesville. Having lived in Charlottesville all my life...until 2004 anyway, I would say that if you're looking to start a family it's a great place to live. But, if you're a young person it will get very old very fast...there just isn't a lot to do. The housing is ridiculous and out of reach to most people with no signs of prices coming down. The job market is pretty poor and basically you either work for UVa or work in retail. Most of the large private companies are gone or greatly reduced in staff and positions. Michie, GE Fanuc, Morton and Comdial just to name a few.

The scenery in the fall is beautiful and there are great nature and bike trails. The sports scene is great with UVa football, lacrosse and basketball plus with the addition of the JPJ, the concert scene has completely taken off!

I guess it boils down to what you're looking for. I would never move back as I've gotten used to Orlando and all the things we have that Charlottesville doesn't...but that's me.

Good luck in the job search!

[Isle_Gal]

Piggybacking on your post ... My husband and I will visit in Oct. to scope out C'ville as a possible move for our young family. We are self-employed and can live anywhere. Roanoker 4 said, "if you can fit in there you will love it" -- sounds great. But, can you or someone give some attributes of someone who would NOT fit in? VaNative, as a former Floridian, what does Orlando have that Cville lacks? Not trying to stir up trouble ... just sincerely trying to find the right place for my family.... thanks!

[seanpecor]

Hey Isle_Gal, don't rule out Roanoke. Charlottesville and Roanoke are close enough together to combine into one driving tour. I'm also self employed and my wife and I have two young girls; we also could have picked anywhere. We moved from Vermont, first to Blacksburg, where we bought a house and sold it 9 months later, after buying a horse farm in Boones Mill, just south of Roanoke. We're very happy with our decision, it's a beautiful area.

C'ville is a beautiful place, as is Roanoke. Roanoke is a wee warmer due to topography - nothing significant - but it is often 1-2 degrees warmer in the Roanoke Valley and Franklin County than it is in Charlottesville. That can be advantage C'ville if you prefer cooler weather, or vice versa.

Charlottesville is home to UVA so it's got a nice cosmo feel but it's true, the population is on the small side, and because the area overwhelmingly caters to the uber affluent, land and home values can be on the extreme side relative to the rest of central and western Virginia. If my horse farm and property were in the Charlottesville area it would have a market value set 50% higher, and I live in the fastest growing county in the Roanoke metro area (Franklin), so that should say something. All else being equal, I'd lean towards Roanoke because I think as a young family you'll enjoy more retail, recreational and cultural convenience. But both Roanoke and Charlottesville are mighty nice places to live!

Sean

[VaNative]

Originally Posted by Isle_Gal

VaNative, as a former Floridian, what does Orlando have that Cville lacks? Not trying to stir up trouble ... just sincerely trying to find the right place for my family.... thanks!

Well...for me...after living in Charlottesville for 37 years, it got too small for me. I know more stores and restaurants have moved into the area since I've been gone but my parents...who still live there...tell me all the time the selection of goods still is not as good as another larger area...Orlando or anywhere else. My mother is constantly going to Richmond to shop because she can't find the selection at the local stores.

As I stated in the other post, if you have or want to raise a family, Charlottesville is much better than Orlando because of the better schools and relative lack of crime. That said, the Charlottesville is area is A LOT more expensive and the vast majority of jobs do not pay anywhere near enough to afford a nice home. The property taxes are a little less than Orlando but Virginia does not have the Homestead Exemption.

You can make your own decision. Charlottesville has it's good points and bad like anywhere else. But...for me, Charlottesville is not a place I want to live any longer.

I just voiced my opinion as a 37 year resident of Charlottesville and as a single male, the area is just too expensive and too lacking in amenities that I'm looking for to keep me there despite my family still residing in the area.

[vanna]

Would anyone recomend areas in town I should stay away from...
I have been told that the south and east sides of town are not so safe. Would anyone familuar with C-Ville recomend the safest area(s) as well as the parts of town a single female should not live.
Is the Fairway Ave. section of Martha Jefferson safe?
Thanx for the help

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by VaNative

Well...for me...after living in Charlottesville for 37 years, it got too small for me. I know more stores and restaurants have moved into the area since I've been gone but my parents...who still live there...tell me all the time the selection of goods still is not as good as another larger area...Orlando or anywhere else. My mother is constantly going to Richmond to shop because she can't find the selection at the local stores.

As I stated in the other post, if you have or want to raise a family, Charlottesville is much better than Orlando because of the better schools and relative lack of crime. That said, the Charlottesville is area is A LOT more expensive and the vast majority of jobs do not pay anywhere near enough to afford a nice home. The property taxes are a little less than Orlando but Virginia does not have the Homestead Exemption.

You can make your own decision. Charlottesville has it's good points and bad like anywhere else. But...for me, Charlottesville is not a place I want to live any longer.

I just voiced my opinion as a 37 year resident of Charlottesville and as a single male, the area is just too expensive and too lacking in amenities that I'm looking for to keep me there despite my family still residing in the area.

Well, having lived in Charlottesville growing up and having lived in Orlando for 12 years, let me just say I'm happy to be back in Virginia, even if it isn't Charlottesville...

"So much to do" is a matter of perspective IMO. I mean Disney is cool, but WAY too expensive. Orlando is close to the beach, but Charlottesville is close to the mountains (and you can actually get to the beach in 3 or so hours, whereas Orlando you have to drive closer to 9 hours before you'll sniff a mountain.).

But yeah, 37 and single??? I can see why Orlando would be a LOT more exciting and there'd be more "opportunity" there... Being married with a kid I have little interest in most of what Orlando has to offer anymore...