Interested in Montpelier community north of Richmond (Mechanicsville, Glen Allen: crime, coop)

[gypsyjudy]

My family and I are considering Richmond as our next home. We've been through VA several times on our way to D.C. to visit family and find it such a beautiful state (from TN originally but have been moving throughout Midwest for 25 years, currently in St. Louis). I've been looking at houses on realtor.com and found one in Montpelier that is a new build. Anyone have any insight into the area? I am a Whole Foods nut, but would like to live a little away from Glen Allen (unless it's just a great place). I three kids, one who is approaching college age. We homeschool, so schools are only a consideration for property resale. Looking for middle to upper middle class area. Thanks for any replies. Hope you all are not getting too buried in the snow this weekend!

[gypsyjudy]

Here are a few things that come to mind, and I am sure there will be more. Thanks for replying!

Are people welcoming to outsiders (especially Richmond as a whole)? St. Louis is very cliquish and is very hard for outsiders to integrate into, so we don't want that.

We love 4 distinct seasons. We've lived in Knoxville, Memphis, Omaha, St. Louis (3rd time), Houston, Madison (WI), Clarkston (Detroit suburb) and really enjoy having snow in the winter and cool falls. Hate long, humid summers, and really prefer winters a little less harsh than WI. However, I do need late November to the end of February to be cold - like winter. (Jealous of the snow you are getting). Do you get that?

Topography. Would love to see something with natural beauty - hills, farms, etc. We live in a very urban area now and hate it. However, we would not mind the suburbs as long as the houses are not on top of one another.

Any organic farms nearby? Love cooking with fresh produce and never eat out, so that would be a plus.

How's crime in the area. A Madison friend's husband was a doctor in Richmond, and she complained incessantly about the crime. We lived in SL, as I said, and moved from Detroit a year and a half ago - two of the highest crime cities in the US! Really sick of that. Segregation and racial tensions are just mindboggling here. Not looking to repeat that.

Also looking for a Catholic community. Are there many Catholics in the area? Growing up in TN, I know they are a much smaller minority than in other areas of the US. We homeschool also, so that is usually how we make friends.

Also, how isolated is the area? My husband works remotely, so all he really needs is a good internet connection and a descent airport nearby (doesn't travel much, though). We would like to be a little out, but not "rural".

Schools very important, but only for resale value.

Excellent medical care, preferably at a major research hospital, is a plus. Need a great GI dr. for my son.

Love the arts, really can't stand sports. Looks like that would be sufficient from my research.

Sorry to go on and on. We can move pretty much anywhere, so Richmond has made it on the list after some limited research. Any thing you have to add is greatly appreciated. Many thanks and enjoy the snow!

[sls76]

I've been in Montpelier when DD played softball. It seems very isolated to me. I'm not sure how easy it would be to meet people. I assume your social network involves your church and maybe a homeschool coop or something like that--those will help a lot. There are plenty of Catholics in Richmond. DD has several friends from swimming who attend three different Catholic schools. As far as schools (for resale purposes), Hanover has good schools but they are in Mechanicsville and not in the more rural parts of the county (i.e., the school assignments are so-so at best). The area is extremely safe.