Tell Me About Roanoke (Richmond, Franklin: rentals, crime, how much)

[Bass Daddy]

I made another thread about moving over in the Richmond Forum. CLICK HERE to read it if you'd like.

Roanoke is one of the areas we've talked about. It seems like the general consensus is that people are nicer in Roanoke.

I would like to know about some things in Roanoke...

• Are there meth heads and labs outside of it? If so, how far out? We like the outskirts of a town usually but don't want to be near any druggies and such. Areas to avoid?

• Is there any good bass fishing spots near Roanoke?

• Are there some good ATV trails or 4x4 parks near Roanoke?

• How is is the economy and job situation in Roanoke?

• How much are decent houses and rentals there usually?

• What month does your grass start showing green again after winter? Speaking of winter...what are your winter temps and snowfall like on average?

• Are your summers humid? If so...sticky humid?

• Extreme weather? If so...how often and what kind(s)?

• What are some of the main attractions and things to do there?

Thanks,


Jamey

[Scott94]

Originally Posted by Bass Daddy

I made another thread about moving over in the Richmond Forum. CLICK HERE to read it if you'd like.

Roanoke is one of the areas we've talked about. It seems like the general consensus is that people are nicer in Roanoke.

I would like to know about some things in Roanoke...

• Are there meth heads and labs outside of it? If so, how far out? We like the outskirts of a town usually but don't want to be near any druggies and such. Areas to avoid?

I'm sure there are some out farther in Franklin and Floyd counties but living on the outskirts of Roanoke you shouldn't run in to any problems with it.

• Is there any good bass fishing spots near Roanoke?

Your best bet would probably be Smith Mountain Lake, about 35-45 minutes out of town. Others might know of a more local spot, though.

• Are there some good ATV trails or 4x4 parks near Roanoke?

There are a good amount of parks in Roanoke and in the surrounding areas. I'm sure there are loads of trails once you get in the mountains, as well.

• How is is the economy and job situation in Roanoke?

Not great, but could be worse. Roanoke didn't experience a hard economic downfall during the recession, mainly because of the healthcare industry here. There are some places hiring but I wouldn't move here without a job lined up first.

• How much are decent houses and rentals there usually?

Average home price is around $150,000 I believe, but of course they will differ with the size of the house and the area its located in.

• What month does your grass start showing green again after winter? Speaking of winter...what are your winter temps and snowfall like on average?

Depends on the winter. This year there wasn't much of one, so it was back in February or early March. Usually it is sometime in March. Winter temps are not too bad, but it all depends on where you are coming from. Overall I would classify it as mild, I think the lowest average high temperature we have is around 45F in January, but winters of late have not been bad except '09-'10. Snowfall differs as well, but average is around 15".

• Are your summers humid? If so...sticky humid?

They are pretty humid and often sticky, but are usually not unbearable. Most of the time there is an afternoon storm to cool things down.

• Extreme weather? If so...how often and what kind(s)?

Besides the deracho last month, not so much. The mountains often beat down storms (both winter and summer), and tornadoes are quite rare. Flooding is of the most concern, but even its not a huge deal as the Roanoke River has had steps taken recently to help prevent flooding to some degree.

• What are some of the main attractions and things to do there?

Lots of outdoors stuff. Hiking, biking, Smith Mountain Lake, Splash Valley Water Park, lots of shops and restaurants downtown, museums, the Civic Center, Roanoke Star and Mill Mountain Zoo. You can find more here.


Thanks,


Jamey

Good luck!

[roanoker 4]

Roanoke, VA - the best outdoor town on the East Coast. Choose your adventure and GET OUTSIDE!
Bass fishing at Smith Mountain Lake is considered about the best on the East Coast
We are in a region with some of the most unspoiled natural resources, hurry while it lasts!
Jobs are not a huge problem in Virginia as we have one of the lowest unemployment rates statewide, I think in the Roanoke area it is around 6%. Healthcare is big but I don't know much about that topic.
The seasons are mild, winter temps tend to run around the mid 40's, summers in the 80's and it can get humid but since we are in the mountains the humidity is not unbearable like Washington DC or the eastern part of the state. We had a snowfall of 20" several years ago which buried the area but we survived! We have had temps of over 105 degrees recently which knocked out power for over a week in many places which was a first in history. The grass starts growing around April and sometimes ends in late September. In my observation Roanoke is a "Best Kept Secret", the locals have known it for years but it seems like we are being discovered and with it comes traffic congestion, more crime, more strip malls, etc etc....sound familiar? Right now it is a very nice place to live! Good Luck!

[Bass Daddy]

Thanks!

[Bass Daddy]

Here's what I put in the other thread...

Originally Posted by Bass Daddy

Hi there. My wife and I are in our early 40's. I make signs part time and do some property maintenance. My wife recently graduated college for Human Services and is looking for a job working with young kids. We're looking for a place with less harsh winters than that of upstate NY. We have read information from a lot of states here on the site and we got information overload. So I figured I'd make a thread to see if anybody knows of areas like we are looking for.

Let me first start by telling you about where we live and have lived...

Current (1995-Present): We currently live outside of Plattsburgh, NY. It's in the north eastern corner of NY state just south of Canada and right across the "pond" (Lake Champlain) from Vermont. It seems most houses around here go from 80k to 150k. We live in the country but are just 5 minutes from town. We have most of the chain stores and restaurants there. We have one hospital (which I am not crazy about). Lake Champlain has some great fishing which I love. It's nice here but the economy is not the greatest. The winters here are long and cold. We don't even see green grass til the end of April usually. Our summers can get humid but I can deal with some of it. Our evenings are usually cool.

Summer of 2009: We spent a couple months just outside (we tend to the outskirts) of San Antonio in Canyon Lake, TX. We loved how we could go into San Antonio and always find something different to do and see. We met some nice people. I didn't mind the heat there that summer. It was dry heat. Not too humid like NY. The land and rivers were mostly dried up. Being an avid outdoor guy who enjoys fishing and ATVs, I hated that. We decided that the area wasn't for us.

Pre-1995: We grew up and lived in the outskirts of Waterford, NY (she grew up in Troy, NY) more towards Halfmoon. This is on the outskirts of the Capital District (Albany, Troy, and Schenectady). We go there often and will use this place as a stepping stone towards moving south while she finishes up some of her Early Childhood certifications. We love how we can be anywhere in the Capital District within 30 minutes. There is lots to do. Great shopping. Many great places to eat. Good fishing. The weather there is much like that of Plattsburgh but a little warmer. The green grass comes around a month sooner and the winters are warmer. They get more snow than us typically. The summers can be very humid at times like here in Plattsburgh. The economy is great and everything is busy. But again...we want a shorter winter. I like longer springs and falls myself. My wife likes the heat as she is small and always cold...lol.


Not To Distant Future: We'd like to find a nice place (not Northern VA) where can live just outside a nice booming area with lots to do and much to offer. We're looking just south of Fredricksburg and also the Roanoke areas. Great southern hospitality is a must. We don't mind a diverse population. However, we don't want to be minorities either. We're a middle class white family. We are by no means racist, it's just what we prefer. Our daughter is 19 and "undecided" right now. We want good opportunity and friendly people around. We don't want to live way out in the country. We like the edges of fun and booming places. Having great places within 1-3 hours to vacation or go to once in a while is great too. You can get burnt out on one area. Good fishing is a must. We don't want to live near any high crime areas. We don't care about clubbing, partying, and nightlife. We like country music, fishing, and cookouts!


So then, if you've taken the time to read this and know of some places that might fit our bill...then please let us know. All of your help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Jamey & Dena

[912]

One piece of advice: Under NO circumstances should you go around talking about "how you did things back up north" or "how much you miss it back home" or "how this or that is better back home". You'll be cordially given directions to I-81 northbound, if you catch my drift...

In other words, welcome to the South. Embrace her entirely, or go home.

[Bass Daddy]

We plan to. However, we'll never forget or abandon our roots. As we make roots in the south, we will never abandon them either.

By describing what we liked and didn't like about certain places, it helps others who know the area to better answer our questions.

Home is not just where you hang your hat, it's where you make it.

[headnsouth]

Originally Posted by 912

One piece of advice: Under NO circumstances should you go around talking about "how you did things back up north" or "how much you miss it back home" or "how this or that is better back home". You'll be cordially given directions to I-81 northbound, if you catch my drift...

In other words, welcome to the South. Embrace her entirely, or go home.

I haven't encountered this sentiment at all. We're from DC metro but lived in upstate NY for 5 years and I really, really miss the snow and cold weather. Everyone has been 100% welcoming even when I whine about the heat. I also really miss Trader Joe's but pretty much everyone around here wants a Trader Joe's.

In fact when we moved to upstate NY we had a harder time with the locals than we have here. That was just a little village though, the kind of place people spend their entire lives.

[Tony in Roanoke]

Hi Jamey,

If you liked Albany you will be happy with Roanoke. Similar sized cities, somewhat similar geography (lakes, mountains, nearby open spaces). Of course the weather is a lot better here, plus unlike downtown Albany which is quiet on the weekends, Roanoke is most active then.

Compared to the Northeast, in general, here

- it cost less to live (property taxes, heating costs, electric rates, gasoline, etc)
- the pace is a little slower, people tend to be more courteous
- the winters are much milder, shirt-sleve days can pop up in Feb or March
- lots of interesting places are a few hours away (N. Carolina, W. Virginia, etc), and the Blue Ridge Mountains are right here
- there are a lot of little things that add up, there are more sunny days here than in Albany, it stays light a little bit later, you can throw your EasyPass in a drawer...

[Bass Daddy]

Thanks guys! Great info! And Headnsouth...I know just what you mean about the people here staying here.