Is Northern VA really *THAT* different from Richmond? (school, college)

[Anders15]

Hey all I've been in Richmond all my life, 2 decades. I've visited DC about 3-5 times including school field trips. Is living in Northern VA/DC really that much different? By different I mean better. I hear it is a lot more busy, a lot more diverse and a lot better over all. They even have a subway?! However I hear just as many bad things about the DC/Maryland area as well, mainly about crime.

Over all is Northern VA that much more different than Richmond VA? Is it for the good or bad? I am interested in the medical field.. How wise would it be to look into Northern VA even if I want to completely get away from Richmond? I ask this because people talk of Northern VA like it is a completely different state from rest of us..

[richmondpics]

It's different.... better in some ways, worse in others, but definitely different.

[PrinceTheo]

More job opportunities but be prepared for higher expenses.

[roanoker 4]

Northern VA is a great place for a young professional to grow career-wise. There is still a great influx of downstate college graduates who move there after graduation. If you live in Richmond I can't believe you haven't been to DC more often. Its only 2 hours away you know! Living in a world class high energy city like DC can be exciting for a while. When you are looking to retire(if thats possible anymore)move back to central or sw VA. Good luck with your future!

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by RonMaverick804

Hey all I've been in Richmond all my life, 2 decades. I've visited DC about 3-5 times including school field trips. Is living in Northern VA/DC really that much different? By different I mean better. I hear it is a lot more busy, a lot more diverse and a lot better over all. They even have a subway?! However I hear just as many bad things about the DC/Maryland area as well, mainly about crime.

Over all is Northern VA that much more different than Richmond VA? Is it for the good or bad? I am interested in the medical field.. How wise would it be to look into Northern VA even if I want to completely get away from Richmond? I ask this because people talk of Northern VA like it is a completely different state from rest of us..

I would say so. Because Richmond feels like you are truly in the South. Northern Virginia is much more transient. And also, Northern Virginians (many whom are not from the area originally), are all hung up about Virginia's Confederate History and want nothing to do with being a Virginian, and will declare they are not from Virginia but from "The DC Area"

They also like to believe they are more cosmo and sophisticated, when actually their culture is quite banal and vanilla. Richmond has more hipsters and artsy stuff that Northern Virginia could ever hope to have.

Richmond has a lot more charm than Northern Virginia.

There are some beautiful areas of Northern Virginia- mainly "hunt country"- I grew up there. And the people aren't so bad- don't get me wrong...


But to me- Richmond has much more personality.

[popalnet]

Originally Posted by Richmonder27

I would say so. Because Richmond feels like you are truly in the South. Northern Virginia is much more transient. And also, Northern Virginians (many whom are not from the area originally), are all hung up about Virginia's Confederate History and want nothing to do with being a Virginian, and will declare they are not from Virginia but from "The DC Area"

They also like to believe they are more cosmo and sophisticated, when actually their culture is quite banal and vanilla. Richmond has more hipsters and artsy stuff that Northern Virginia could ever hope to have.

Richmond has a lot more charm than Northern Virginia.

There are some beautiful areas of Northern Virginia- mainly "hunt country"- I grew up there. And the people aren't so bad- don't get me wrong...


But to me- Richmond has much more personality.

Based on what you are saying, "hunt country", then you will be much happier in Richmond. Not that Richmond is a hunting haven, but you will not like Northern Virginia. What is your point?

[ss20ts]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

Northern VA is a great place for a young professional to grow career-wise. There is still a great influx of downstate college graduates who move there after graduation. If you live in Richmond I can't believe you haven't been to DC more often. Its only 2 hours away you know! Living in a world class high energy city like DC can be exciting for a while. When you are looking to retire(if thats possible anymore)move back to central or sw VA. Good luck with your future!

Just because someone lives close to a huge metro area doesn't mean they visit it often or even have a desire to. Not everyone gets thrill out of these cities.

I live 2.5 hours north of NYC and HATE going there. I've been there about 5 maybe 6 times in my entire 34 years of life. If I never go back, I'm not missing anything. I have no interest in going down there. It does nothing for me.

I haven't been to Boston in over 13 years and would like to go back. I went to Atlanta last year and I'm going back this summer to see the zoo.

I'd much rather live in the Atlanta metro area than any other large metro I've ever been to. I don't feel the life being sucked out of me there. I feel the life being sucked out of me after being in NYC for a few hours.

And I personally didn't find DC to be spectacular. Filthy yes. In too big of a rush, yes. Nothing to make me say move there!

[01va571]

Yes.

[01va571]

Originally Posted by ss20ts

Just because someone lives close to a huge metro area doesn't mean they visit it often or even have a desire to. Not everyone gets thrill out of these cities.

I live 2.5 hours north of NYC and HATE going there. I've been there about 5 maybe 6 times in my entire 34 years of life. If I never go back, I'm not missing anything. I have no interest in going down there. It does nothing for me.

I haven't been to Boston in over 13 years and would like to go back. I went to Atlanta last year and I'm going back this summer to see the zoo.

I'd much rather live in the Atlanta metro area than any other large metro I've ever been to. I don't feel the life being sucked out of me there. I feel the life being sucked out of me after being in NYC for a few hours.

And I personally didn't find DC to be spectacular. Filthy yes. In too big of a rush, yes. Nothing to make me say move there!

I agree with this individual.

[01va571]

Originally Posted by Richmonder27

I would say so. Because Richmond feels like you are truly in the South. Northern Virginia is much more transient. And also, Northern Virginians (many whom are not from the area originally), are all hung up about Virginia's Confederate History and want nothing to do with being a Virginian, and will declare they are not from Virginia but from "The DC Area"

TRUE, TRUE, TRUE

I don’t know how many people I have known from Nova who have distanced themselves from the state of Virginia PERIOD. Ask someone from anywhere in Northern Virginia where they are from, 90% of the time you will get the "im from DC" answer. Because DC is more important you know, what good has ever came out of DC? I mean I know that’s the our capital but lets break this down Honestly, highest AIDS rate in the nation, Murder capital for about 9 years in the 90's to early 2003, The mayor gets caught with hookers and crack, The next mayor bragged about the murders, harshest gun laws in the US, open air drug markets all over the place, has one of the most polluted rivers in the US, and snobs and bad drivers, YEEEEAAAH!

And yet people associate themselves with that rather than they're own state they live in. SAD.