Williamsburg vs Yorktown? (Richmond, Newport News, Hampton: construction, good schools, living)

[futureenterpriser]

Hi, military family of 5 moving to Ft. Eustis in December. We'll have on freshman, one 6th grader, one second grader. From what we've read, the schools in Williamsburg and Yorktown are fairly close with Yorktown having better scores.

Understand that traffic from Yorktown would be easier and worse coming from Williamsburg.

We're trying learn about the major differences between the two. We've read that there's a lot of tourists in Williamsburg so it can get congested while Yorktown is more rural?

Any insight would help. We're not opposed to living on-post but want to make sure the kids are in good schools.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by futureenterpriser

Hi, military family of 5 moving to Ft. Eustis in December. We'll have on freshman, one 6th grader, one second grader. From what we've read, the schools in Williamsburg and Yorktown are fairly close with Yorktown having better scores.

Understand that traffic from Yorktown would be easier and worse coming from Williamsburg.

We're trying learn about the major differences between the two. We've read that there's a lot of tourists in Williamsburg so it can get congested while Yorktown is more rural?

Any insight would help. We're not opposed to living on-post but want to make sure the kids are in good schools.

York is more of a county and Williamsburg is like an urban county. York County is over 60,000 people. Yorktown is like 200 people. Williamsburg is like 15,000 people.

Where things get interesting is that York County is essentially the suburbs of the Hampton Roads area, whereas Williamsburg is one of the seven cities within that area. So that is the real difference.

York County is going to include any number of smaller municipalities to make up the population whereas Williamsburg is just Williamsburg. Williamsburg is also 3 times the density. So one of the reasons traffic from Yorktown is easier is because there are fewer people per square mile, and the fact that it is further out.

If you like to travel to Hampton or Newport News, York County will be further.

Either is going to be like exurban to suburban so schools should be great either way.

There are any number of municipalities between Richmond and Williamsburg one isn't sure which metro to count it as being part of. Going out towards Richmond from York County you will encounter these areas.

[djplourd]

Originally Posted by goofy328

If you like to travel to Hampton or Newport News, York County will be further.

Only if you’re in the far western portion of York County. The majority of York County is east of Williamsburg (and borders on Newport News).

[djplourd]

Originally Posted by futureenterpriser

Hi, military family of 5 moving to Ft. Eustis in December. We'll have on freshman, one 6th grader, one second grader. From what we've read, the schools in Williamsburg and Yorktown are fairly close with Yorktown having better scores.

Understand that traffic from Yorktown would be easier and worse coming from Williamsburg.

We're trying learn about the major differences between the two. We've read that there's a lot of tourists in Williamsburg so it can get congested while Yorktown is more rural?

Any insight would help. We're not opposed to living on-post but want to make sure the kids are in good schools.

Williamsburg and James City County have a combined school system. The eastern part of James City County is just as close as much of Yorktown County to Fort Eustis.

[marid4061]

York County has great schools and you are just a few minutes from Ft. Eustis. Traffic is not bad either. Traveling to Williamsburg would require taking interstate and dealing with all the construction and slow downs. Williamsburg has good schools too. York County is closer to Hampton and Newport News. You can be to either one in just a few minutes. You have more restaurants and shopping there and more options. Housing in expensive in both places, but Williamsburg has more options that are less expensive. Check out both areas and see what is more to your liking.

[futureenterpriser]

Thank you everyone.