Is Bluefield, VA or Tazewell, VA right for me? (rent, low crime)

[ne1512blvd]

I will start with answering these questions from the sticky;

Where you are working:
I am a graphic designer with an online business, but not profitable yet. My husband is a general laborer with skills and experience in factories, as a fork lift operator and as a caregiver to the mentally challenged.

-How much you are willing to spend on housing:
I am not sure without knowing how much we might be making once we move there and have job(s) in place. But, I saw a nice nice home in Bluefield, WV for $43,900. Hoping to find a house where we move that is as nice for as cheap or cheaper. If we rent first, I would say we could do no more than $400/mo. if that is possible. We have 3 kids and 1 on the way, so we need room to breathe.

-How long of a commute you're willing to tolerate
Depends on how mountainous and windy the roads are. I would think not more than half an hour if the commute was through very mountainous roads.

-If you have kids: Private school or public school?
I want to homeschool. If I am unable to do that or change my mind, I am unsure if I would choose or could afford a private school. So, I would be interested in a good school system. But, again if the schools were really bad, I would just homeschool.

-What type of neighborhood environment you are looking for: small town feeling? small city excitement? suburbia delight?
Small town feel but not secluded. I want to be near or in a town that has a Walmart, Lowes or similar businesses. But, I want to live in a place that has a low crime rate and a slower pace to life.

-Community amenities important to you
Fast internet, no dialup. Pizza delivery. Outdoor recreation and fun places to visit. Mountain views.

-Pie or cake?
If I have to choose, then cake if it is carrot cake. But, I prefer southern fired apples.


Some info:
I was born in Indiana. But, I lived in WV (McDowell county) from 8 mo. - 4 yrs. old. I have been planning my escape back to the mountains since we first moved to Indiana 25 years ago. My husband and I want to move to either WV or VA. But, the area is the same area, sort of where WV and VA meet near the Bluefield and Tazewell areas. We are not 100% decided on that though. We know McDowell county in WV fairly well. But, we know it i not very realistic to move there. So, we are on the WV forum getting info about the Bluefield, WV area and on this forum to see what you guys think about the Bluefield, VA and the Tazewell areas. We are willing to live in a dead town with just a handful of residents if we are close enough to a larger town. But, we do not want to live in a place that is huge and we do not want to live where the crime rate is high.

Some questions we have:
1. How does Bluefield, WV compare to Bluefield, VA?
2. Is Virginia cheaper of more expensive to live in as far as property taxes, food tax, state tax, general cost of living, etc? Specifically comparing the two Bluefields.
3. Is there any tourism in the area?

Thanks!