Short Pump vs Roanoke (Richmond, Mechanicsville: 2015, brokers, job market) - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

Chrisgator · 09-30-2019, 09:32 PM

Hi all! We'll be moving to VA from Florida this summer. So far we've visited the Short Pump/Glen Allen area and are very happy with what we've seen. The idea of being in a safe, quiet and beautiful neighborhood while also being very close to so many stores/restaurants is very appealing. The area we live in right now is extremely crowded and I felt like I could actually breathe when we were visiting. We have two children, so of course we're looking for great schools and a safe environment for our girls to grow up in. Short Pump area seems to check this box as well. Really the only downside is the expense associated with living in Short Pump. My question is this-do you think it'd be worth our while to also check out Roanoke? With the exception of COL being lower in Roanoke, the two areas look pretty similar to me, but I'd love to get some opinions from people who have knowledge of both places. For reference, we also checked out Midlothian, which is another possible option. We eliminated Mechanicsville from the list because it felt too rural for us.

mpier015 · 10-01-2019, 06:43 AM

Roanoke and Short Pump are about as different as two areas can be. Short Pump is an upscale suburb of Richmond which is a city in the middle of the state with about 1.2 million people in the metro. Roanoke is a mountain area city with about 300,000 people in the metro. Roanoke is more outdoorsy, more secluded. Short Pump is busier, standard suburbia. Roanoke is a stand-alone city in its own right, Short Pump is a suburb of a larger city. Henrico schools are likely better. If you want an area like Short Pump but cheaper I would suggest the Midlothian area, it's about 20ish min from Short Pump and has comparable amenities. If you don't mind a tad bit more rural(but still close to everything), I would suggest looking at Goochland which is directly outside of Short Pump over the county line.

cbl1 · 10-01-2019, 11:25 AM

Having moved from Roanoke 8 years ago, and visiting their last week, it is much different.

Having visited parts of Richmond I would say if you mixed Midlothian and mechanicsvile and gave it a small downtown that was like a mini-carytown (like half the size) then you would have Roanoke.

Honestly, Roanoke is a nice small city. There is not much for shopping and a small nightlife downtown … its biggest obstacle being location. Its 3 hours from Charlotte and Richmond. 4 hours from DC. 5 hours to the coast. Compared to Richmond being 2 hours to DC, 2 hours to coast, 2 hours to mountains. Roanoke just doesn't have the nice central location Richmond has. And Roanoke is not growing at all while Richmond continues to boom!

If you like Short Pump / upscale suburban - you will not find that anywhere in Roanoke.

Watchful · 10-01-2019, 10:01 PM

Richmond burbs are definitely closer to DC, closer to the beach, and closer to all of the amenities of a significantly larger metro area.

I like the mountains and a small metro area just fine myself.

There are plenty of prosperous, safe suburban areas in the Roanoke area, and you will likely get more bang for your buck.

If proximity to the outdoors/hiking/mountains appeals to you, then go Roanoke.

If proximity to the beach, DC, and a mall that has more stuff is what you want, then go Richmond.

Good luck!

goldenage1 · 10-02-2019, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisgator

.... My question is this-do you think it'd be worth our while to also check out Roanoke? ....

You have not said where you find employment. Richmond has much better options for jobs, as it has Fortune 500 corporations, the State government and Federal government options.

Roanoke has a proportionally smaller job market.

Hal Roach · 10-02-2019, 08:29 AM

Was doing business in Short Pump on Monday. Besides the Five Guys being a pigstye and no open registers at Macy's, it is upscale and nice. There is a reason all the big brokers are in Short Pump.

adriftinthebay · 10-02-2019, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watchful

If proximity to the outdoors/hiking/mountains appeals to you, then go Roanoke.

If proximity to the beach, DC, and a mall that has more stuff is what you want, then go Richmond.

Good luck!

That's true of the outdoors if you exclude boating, sailing, fishing,etc. Richmond and surrounding area have a lot of fall line rivers with rapids to paddle and fish. Also a short drive to the Blue Ridge and coastal areas. Also the James River park system is more wild than anything found within Roanoke city limits. In fact, if you like the outdoors then Richmond is a great place for you.

This is Richmond:

Proximity to DC is hardly a given -- it may take 2 hours in zero traffic to get there but typically takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours by car, sometimes 4 hours. Plus no one from Richmond goes to that cesspool.

NJRAMAL · 10-02-2019, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adriftinthebay

Proximity to DC is hardly a given -- it may take 2 hours in zero traffic to get there but typically takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours by car, sometimes 4 hours. Plus no one from Richmond goes to that cesspool.

Because Richmond is one big gushing pool of love and harmony.

turkeydance · 10-02-2019, 07:42 PM

if Mechanicsville is Too Rural For You...
Short Pump will make your short list.

mpier015 · 10-03-2019, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adriftinthebay

That's true of the outdoors if you exclude boating, sailing, fishing,etc. Richmond and surrounding area have a lot of fall line rivers with rapids to paddle and fish. Also a short drive to the Blue Ridge and coastal areas. Also the James River park system is more wild than anything found within Roanoke city limits. In fact, if you like the outdoors then Richmond is a great place for you.

This is Richmond:

Proximity to DC is hardly a given -- it may take 2 hours in zero traffic to get there but typically takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours by car, sometimes 4 hours. Plus no one from Richmond goes to that cesspool.

This isn't true at all lol. Maybe for the older generation but people my age from Richmond travel to DC all the time. Also, a lot of people in the Richmond area have business connections or work for companies out of DC. I, for one, work out of DC once a week and Amtrak from Staples Mill. There are a couple of other posters here who do similarly. You can hate NOVA and DC all you want but let's not make it a Richmond thing to do so...