Chincoteague (Onancock, Parksley, Accomac: insurance, houses, employment)

[dentite21]

I first would like to thank everyone for responding to my various posts. As someone who hasn't been to Virginia, your information invaluable and helping to guide me. I recently spoke to a potential job offer in Chincoteague Island. Any information on this area would be great. Thanks in advance.

Is it rural?
What type of rural?
Cost of living?
Big box stores such as Walmart present?
Good Beaches?
Good quality of life in your opinion?
Closest Cities?
Things to do?

[cj2010]

I will try to answer. Let me start with easy Walmart and Lowes are in Pocomoke city Md. my guess would be a 30 minute ride. Because it will take 10- 15 minutes to get off the island and across the causeway if you choose to live on Chincoteague Island. Any other big shopping would be in Salisbury, Md another 30 to 45 minute ride past Pocomoke . Assateague Beach is simple and beautiful and a national park( so there is a fee to get in). You can sunbathe, swim, fish and look for the ponies all while being eaten by skeeters lol.
Rural? I guess because of the remoteness, but the island itself is more like a neighborhood I guess. Food store, restaurants hardware store, lots of tourist shops. The surrounding area is rural.
Cities? I think you mean like a place with museums, sports teams... Uhm I am not sure. Baltimore and D.C. I guess.
Things to do? Fish, hunt repeat. There has actually been something going on in the area almost every weekend car shows, Cook offs, carnivals.
It's a place you either love or hate. A slower pace. The island is a cool place not sure I would want to live out there myself.they have some flooding issues with nor'easter and tropical storms . Insurance is probably a bit pricier. Is the job actually on Chincoteague or is that just the landmark to find the area?

[dentite21]

Thanks for the reply. I am a dentist and the job is literally on the island. I don't have to live there to work there. I'd like less than a 40 minute commute though. Where would a good place to live with these parameters?

[Bigfoot424]

Much of the island stores and such close for winter, or at least it did but it's been a few years since I've been there. It's a beautiful place and I've got some great pictures of sunrise/sunsets, all kinds of birds and of course the horses.

[cj2010]

No farther south than the Onancock/ Onley area. The good part of that is there is a Walmart, Food lion, Peebles(small department store) and a Sears hometown store along with other small strip mall type stores on the highway in Onley. New hospital being built there too. Several small towns between Chincoteague and Onley. Depending on what you are looking for in town smaller lots older homes of different styles some needing renovations others beautiful. Or maybe a small subdivision outside of town limits (there are not too many of these). Or maybe a few acres out in the country or on the water. Towns that come to mind Atlantic close to the island, Parksley complete with a small hardware store, variety store, a cafe\ bar and sounds like the county library is going to move there. Not on the water. Accomac (county seat) and Onley small towns with very little in town center. Onancock has a marina, market street is full of art and antique shops. Other quirky little shops. Lots of places for food, a bank, a theatre, and a lumberyard. If looking in the country need to check for chicken houses they are here and you don't want to be next door to one. Hope this helps. We have a local weekly paper The Eastern Shore Post that you can read online to get a feel for things.

[dentite21]

Thanks for all the replies. I've done some research on the area. My biggest concern now is that my wife will not be able to find work. She is an occupational therapist that works in assisted living or nursing homes. Is there not a big community of elderly here? We cannot find many jobs for her within a 50 mile radius.

[cj2010]

Check the Virginia employment commission work board. I know several people that work in nursing home/ assisted living. Also many elderly here stay home and have in home care when needed. 3 of my neighbors work in that type of situation in different degrees. The Hermitage is the local home that I know the name of and I believe they have more than one location.

[dentite21]

Thanks for the good information

[cj2010]

You are welcome good luck