Hampton Roads vs. NOVA vs. Richmond (Virginia Beach, Arlington: oceanfront, employment, tax)

[adctvmonkey]

I lived in HR for 14 years in (Newport News for 5, York for 9) until I moved to NoVa 2 years ago. My relatives were from HR too until they moved to NoVa about 5 years ago. One of my brothers lives in Richmond while another just moved to Va Beach from Nova. While I frequently have visited all three areas, my favorite is HR. It's laid back, the people are friendly, and the area just has so much to offer in history and natural amenities. My next fav is NoVa. I did have judgments against it before I moved here, but after having lived here, I've come to appreciate the strong economic vitality and diversity of peoples here. Richmond, however, doesn't fly high with me. I know it's a nice area and it has its own amenities, but it just doesn't pop with me.

[hj2500]

Its interesting how different they are from each other. NoVA is made up of counties and small Independent cities, Richmond is a large city with many suburb counties, and HR is made up of large Independent cities.
Richmond is the truest city, is very Southern, and has an interesting feature, rapids. HR is not only flooded with water, but with naval ships/facilities and history. NoVA has gone from sleepy DC suburb to a clear economic/jobs rival to DC.

[Jwbagz21]

I lived in Richmond for 3 1/2 years, Hampton Roads for 18 years and have been in many endeaors in and around NOVA for years as well. With all this said hopefully I can give good, credible input.

First, Hampton Roads seems to have something for everyone seeing as though we have grown to claim our military transience and are very protective of our soldiers stationed here btw lol. There are high crime areas, but also low crime areas just like every major metropolitan area. I reiterate the problem mentioned that we (HR) cannot seem to unite on anything. We seem to be overlooked because we are a major cul de sac Interstatewise and we have have to face the fact that we are 1.7 million people strong with no real strong city to Unite us. Some would say Norfolk is, but some in the U.S. have never even heard of Norfolk, and it houses the largest naval base in the world! HR is also full of history for those who are history buffs. Um, the beach! :-) Many places in Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and VA Beach are revitilizing and catching on to the "city within a city" look and feel. These developments have been very successful.

Second, Richmond is also full of history. Richmond seems to have its own feel to it as HR does. The suburbs contain a more generalized view on certain issues (religion, politics etc...) but what suburbs are the same as an inner-city? Richmond has a decent night life with those looking for one. Crime is a problem but like in most cities that have it, it is mostly contained to street dealers and related issues etc...Richmond seems to be the victim of our economy moving away from industrial and mechanical to technical and high tech oriented jobs. Most places that are service oriented (no matter there location) seem to only pay low (low qualifications), so they attract the kind of people some would say are the "scum of the earth" Btw, HR is this way in many areas as well) P.S. For people wanting to make this into a racial issue dont waste your time, take it for what its worth.

Third, I couldn't talk about NOVA without starting with the very obvious. NOVA is one of the wealthiest areas in the nation, lowest crime per capita, great ethnic restaurants, good public schools, and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. These are great attributes. Some people complain and say NOVA has no "soul" and I could see why with all the same style housing developments. Overall if many people are saying it in threads then it must be a legit topic. However if one looks for "soul" one will find it there especially with all the diversity, not just white, black, but ALL kinds of people from many walks of life. Many times over people who come to NOVA are getting what they expected, so lets not dog them for the lifestyle that they seek/enjoy. I will bash the traffic though, but hey go to LA, Houston, Philly or ATL, you think you'll have it easy there?

Overall my heart and soul is in HR & I love the water and the idea of driving around Hampton or VA Beach and seeing numerous inlets, marshes and beaches. But I think there is something for everyone in either of the three. Also we may want to include discussions on trendy and fast growing Charlottesville or beautiful Roanoke in the mountains. Take care all!

[ToughLuv]

I thought it was obvious to everyone in VA, Hampton Roads was the best area in state..Really the life of VA in my opinion..

Hampton Roads gives you some of everything but not too much of it...NoVa is suburbia, it really has no life in it's own, and the people are as bad as the traffic.. Richmond is too Southern to me, You could say HR is Southern but not really, especially when in Norfolk-VA Beach-Newport News, I really don't feel that Southern vibe..I think people automatically match "laid back" with southern..When there really "Mid-Atlantic" cities..

[popalnet]

I cannot believe what I'm reading. You can't compare NoVa to HR! I've visited HR, Richmond, and NoVa - and there is no comparison between Richmond and HR to NoVa.

NoVa gives you the feeling of a large cosmepolitan area like around LA or SF in Cali. Richmond and HR gives you the small town feel.

So much diversity in NoVa, and only whites and blacks in HR and Richmond.

My top cities in America in order - NYC, LA, DC/NoVa, SF.

Please don't even waste the time to compare HR to NoVa. The DC metro area, which NoVa influences a large part, has the thrid largest GDP in America - Largest GDP in order - NYC, LA, then DC area. Yes, DC has a larger GDP than Chicago. Chicago is fourth.

NoVa is very much a part of DC so don't even try to separate NoVa from DC.

When I visit a mall in HR, I laugh at the style of people - clothes, hair styles and all. When I visit Virginia and I see a public place in the HR area all I realize is the NoVa/DC area is the hippest part of Virginia.

I had worked one time in a naval station in Norfolk a few years ago, and people who were locals laughed at me wearing a blue colored colored dress shirt. They were only used to white collared dress shirts. OMG - give me a break - no style - hahahahahahah.

If the HR are is so great, why don't they have a national sport team? They have none!

The NoVa/DC/Baltimore area have double the team of baseball and football. And of course hockey basketball and who knows else.

So much more to see and do in the NoVa DC area. No Comparison at all.

For the starter of this thread who compared the HR area to the NYC area - that is hilarious. Not even LA can even come close to NYC. LA is suburbia to NYC - and you're comparing HR to NYC! haahahaaahahahaha! OMG! Give me some of that stuff you're smoking.

[ToughLuv]

Originally Posted by popalnet

I cannot believe what I'm reading. You can't compare NoVa to HR! I've visited HR, Richmond, and NoVa - and there is no comparison between Richmond and HR to NoVa.

NoVa gives you the feeling of a large cosmepolitan area like around LA or SF in Cali. Richmond and HR gives you the small town feel.

So much diversity in NoVa, and only whites and blacks in HR and Richmond.

My top cities in America in order - NYC, LA, DC/NoVa, SF.

Please don't even waste the time to compare HR to NoVa. The DC metro area, which NoVa influences a large part, has the thrid largest GDP in America - Largest GDP in order - NYC, LA, then DC area. Yes, DC has a larger GDP than Chicago. Chicago is fourth.

NoVa is very much a part of DC so don't even try to separate NoVa from DC.

When I visit a mall in HR, I laugh at the style of people - clothes, hair styles and all. When I visit Virginia and I see a public place in the HR area all I realize is the NoVa/DC area is the hippest part of Virginia.

I had worked one time in a naval station in Norfolk a few years ago, and people who were locals laughed at me wearing a blue colored colored dress shirt. They were only used to white collared dress shirts. OMG - give me a break - no style - hahahahahahah.

If the HR are is so great, why don't they have a national sport team? They have none!

The NoVa/DC/Baltimore area have double the team of baseball and football. And of course hockey basketball and who knows else.

So much more to see and do in the NoVa DC area. No Comparison at all.

For the starter of this thread who compared the HR area to the NYC area - that is hilarious. Not even LA can even come close to NYC. LA is suburbia to NYC - and you're comparing HR to NYC! haahahaaahahahaha! OMG! Give me some of that stuff you're smoking.

Seems that the snobbish attitude of NoVA ppl always talk abotu is being shown here..
NoVA is almost not even respected as VA by REAL VIRIGINIANS..and also yall are not DC, so stop taking credit for the capital , you even tried to throw in Baltimore, wow! lol..HR can talk about things going on in our own area not 20 mins or a hour away...NoVa itself has nothing, other than what a SUBURB brings..Please dotn put Nova out there like its something its not...The only reason yall have any shine is because your apart of the DC Metro..

[CNI]

Each area has its major advantages and disadvantages. Maybe if this question were broken down into criteria for comparison it would be easier to see the pros and cons.
Example...
A) Tourism
1st place - NoVA/DC and HR TIE (both are pretty good destinations but in significantly different ways)
3rd - Richmond
B) Housing Affordability
1st place - Richmond and HR TIE
3rd - NoVA/DC (just not reasonably affordable)
C) Economy
1st - NoVA/DC
2nd - Richmond
3rd - HR
D) Sports
1st - NoVA/DC
2nd - Richmond and HR
E) National Prominence
1st - DC
2nd - Richmond and HR
F) Traffic
1st - Richmond
2nd - HR
3rd - NoVA/DC
G) Progressiveness
1st - NoVA
2nd - Richmond and HR

In the end, I think it depends on whether you're speaking from a tourist/vacation perspective or the perspective of a resident.

If I had to pick as a tourist/vacationer I'd pick NoVA (when including DC).
If I had to pick a place to reside I'd pick either Richmond or HR.

[jhrichmond]

Originally Posted by CNI

Each area has its major advantages and disadvantages. Maybe if this question were broken down into criteria for comparison it would be easier to see the pros and cons.
Example...
A) Tourism
1st place - NoVA/DC and HR TIE (both are pretty good destinations but in significantly different ways)
3rd - Richmond
B) Housing Affordability
1st place - Richmond and HR TIE
3rd - NoVA/DC (just not reasonably affordable)
C) Economy
1st - NoVA/DC
2nd - Richmond
3rd - HR
D) Sports
1st - NoVA/DC
2nd - Richmond and HR
E) National Prominence
1st - DC
2nd - Richmond and HR
F) Traffic
1st - Richmond
2nd - HR
3rd - NoVA/DC
G) Progressiveness
1st - NoVA
2nd - Richmond and HR

In the end, I think it depends on whether you're speaking from a tourist/vacation perspective or the perspective of a resident.

If I had to pick as a tourist/vacationer I'd pick NoVA (when including DC).
If I had to pick a place to reside I'd pick either Richmond or HR.

One adjustment I'd make, housing in Richmond is much more affordable than Hampton Roads in my experience.
I like Richmond because it's only a couple hours from NoVa or the beach, we have excellent schools and shopping, and traffic is nowhere near as bad as HR or NoVa. Richmond's suburbs are safer than HR or NoVa, as well.

[snosurfa7]

Just my opinion, but please don't compare Hampton Roads to NYC - that would be insulting and demeaning. I see Hampton Roads as a poor man's SoCal - beaches, mountains, pretty good weather (the water stays warm no wetsuit until October) and poor public transportation.

We don't have professional sports teams down here because we don't want to shell out 50 bucks to see our teams lose over and over again.

I guess living at the beach people have no "style" either? Because we choose to be more laid back I guess and don't care.

Not ethnically diverse? They don't call VA beach "little manila" for no reason...

Having lived in Nelson County, NoVA for high school (ugh), and Hampton Roads for awhile, it has to be between Hampton Roads and the mountain areas of VA. Just my two cents...

[7citiesVA]

Originally Posted by snosurfa7

Just my opinion, but please don't compare Hampton Roads to NYC - that would be insulting and demeaning

I like to compare HR to NYC because the 7 cities of HR remind me of NYC's 5 boroughs. Each borough has a distinct feel and culture to it just as each city of HR has a distinct feel and culture to it.

The unique geographical make up of HR and NYC is similar also. Look at the geography of NYC and HR and notice how bridges/tunnels and water play a big role in everyday life. There aren't many places like the two. I believe the geography of NYC is one of the many factors that add to its beauty and it being a one of a kind city. It would be another chicago if it werent for all the water around it.

But in no way is HR in the same league as a world class city like NYC but it is the most similar to it in certain cases and HR has the potential to be a major city/metro one day because it too is very unique. ***But i know this wont happen in my lifetime*****