Small town VA with town center (Norfolk, Richmond: for sale, living, restaurants)

[cdeshano]

My family is moving to Virginia and we would like to live in a small town (less than 100,000 people) with a traditional town center (sidewalks, stores/restaurants). We'd also like to live close to a train station to DC. Any suggestions?

[EricD]

Fredericksburg, Manassas, Ashland, Culpeper, Front Royal, Charlottesville

[tgbwc]

Manassas city

Manassas, VA - Official Site

[ptpilot]

I think Fredericksburg would be your ideal place. There are many housing options available inside the town within walking distance to restaurants, shops, and the train station. It's a great town to live in, I lived there for four years. It still has somewhat of a small town feel and is family friendly. I found it easy to make friends with the locals and some of the shop/restaurant owners. Just be wary there is suburban sprawl and traffic to the south and west of town.

There is multiple daily commuter train service to Washington. The VRE commuter trains run Monday to Friday, and you can take Amtrak on the weekends.

Charlottesville would be another great place, a bit larger than Fredericksburg, but I never lived there and am not familiar with its train services. Culpeper is nice too, it is smaller and offers less in restaurants/shops than both Charlottesville and Fredericksburg. Overall, they are all nice places to live.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by ptpilot

I think Fredericksburg would be your ideal place. There are many housing options available inside the town within walking distance to restaurants, shops, and the train station. It's a great town to live in, I lived there for four years. It still has somewhat of a small town feel and is family friendly. I found it easy to make friends with the locals and some of the shop/restaurant owners. Just be wary there is suburban sprawl and traffic to the south and west of town.

There is multiple daily commuter train service to Washington. The VRE commuter trains run Monday to Friday, and you can take Amtrak on the weekends.

Charlottesville would be another great place, a bit larger than Fredericksburg, but I never lived there and am not familiar with its train services. Culpeper is nice too, it is smaller and offers less in restaurants/shops than both Charlottesville and Fredericksburg. Overall, they are all nice places to live.

Fredericksburg is good, especially if you are going to be using the train to go to DC for leisure and not for work.

[Teebyrd86]

Lynchburg has train service to D.C. Its small and I am not that familiar with it. Roanoke is about an hour from Lynchbrug and their train service to DC but could be an option. Also a bit larger city, Richmond has train service to DC and is only an hour and a halfs drive.

[BIGBOB]

Winchester meets all the criteria and is still rural, compared to some of the aforementioned. Or not, on second thought, don't look there, terrible decision. Would have to live there to understand. I've 10 acres for sale near there. Within 5 miles of town. But god, save yourself. It's only about perfect for living.

Can you tell the above was tongue in cheek?? Cause it was. And I do have a 10 acre ridge that looks down the Shenn. valley for sale. Great piece of property. Beautifull views......



Bob

[roanoker 4]

Train Service to DC? Fredericksburg is ideal. Charlottesville has a compact city center with rail service. Lynchburg is getting a new train to DC but the rail station is not downtown. Roanoke has the best downtown in VA and there are plans for train to DC. Norfolk has a great downtown but no train. Richmond has a downtown train and a developing city center.

[ToughLuv]

Why are you all saying Richmond and Norfolk? Those are cities, Those arent small towns, there's like 250,000 people in Norfolk..

[VA Yankee]

Try Ashland, small town amtrack comes right through town.