Staunton or Lexington ? (Washington: rentals, credit, how much)

[emsman]

Hospitals- Augusta Health is between Staunton & Waynesboro, primary hospital for a lot of the area. Certified Stroke Center, Cancer & Cardiac services, Surgeries, ect.. Sentara Health is in Harrisonburg, same services as Augusta Health, just bigger. Charlottesville & Roanoke are the closest Level 1 trauma centers and can do anything you need medically. The hospital in Lexington(Carilion) is a small center and does not offer all services, they have even cut their OB/pregnancy services.(that should give some idea).

There is an airport near Harrisonburg(Shenandoah Valley Airport, in Weyers Cave) that connects to D.C. and some other major hubs, the Roanoke airport gets you more options.

Malls & Shopping- Malls are dying except for Roanoke & Charlottesville, Harrisonburg is OK. All the necessary stores are around the cities with more in Roanoke, Charlottesville, & Harrisonburg.

Amtrak runs from Staunton to Charlottesville first I believe(when going East) before going to Roanoke. It's easier just to drive to Charlottesville and get on, you can go from there to D.C.'s Union Station if you want.

Culture & Art- Yes, more to find in Roanoke & Charlottesville, but they are only a 1 hour, & 30 minute drive away respectively. Washington D.C. is only 2 &1/2 to 3 hour drive.

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by emsman

Amtrak runs from Staunton to Charlottesville first I believe(when going East) before going to Roanoke. It's easier just to drive to Charlottesville and get on, you can go from there to D.C.'s Union Station if you want.

NOTE that the Staunton Amtrak train goes to Charlottesville and DC but does NOT go to Roanoke. That is the CARDINAL that has 3 times a week service between Washington and Chicago (via Cincinnati and Indianapolis).

At present, Roanoke is linked to DC by a connector bus - you take the bus to Lynchburg - and then there are two daily trains between Lynchburg and DC (only one of which times along with the bus). Plans are to extend the Amtrak all the way to Roanoke, eliminating the connector bus!

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/427/412/...ule-040615.pdf

[RVAbornandbred]

I will echo what others have said...I'd be wary of Lexington if you have health needs. Staunton's probably the better bet. If you're in Lexington, you will be going to Roanoke for any serious health condition.

Lexington and Staunton are both nice. But be warned, Lexington is so small that you better enjoy a true small town lifestyle. You will quickly recognize almost every face you see in town after you've been there a couple of years. Staunton provides a little more anonymity. Again, that's each person's preference, but you should realize that Lexington shrinks from May to August when W&L and VMI are out of session.

[John2064]

You won't go wrong with either city.

[cam4vt]

To me it depends on what you want in a location.

Personally I would actually choose Charlottesville over both Lexington and Staunton, but that all depends on budget. You can not go wrong, but both are more small town like (lexington being the smaller of the two). Either one you can live a great life, but will probably want to travel to C'ville or Roanoke a time or two a year.

[emsman]

Sorry for the mistake on my info saying the Amtrak went to Roanoke. Thanks for the catch and fix Watchful, I should have checked my info first before thinking I just knew. I hate to give wrong info and truly thank the correction. That was some good info on how the bus works to connect from Roanoke to Lynchburg to catch the Amtrak.

[cam4vt]

Originally Posted by emsman

Sorry for the mistake on my info saying the Amtrak went to Roanoke. Thanks for the catch and fix Watchful, I should have checked my info first before thinking I just knew. I hate to give wrong info and truly thank the correction. That was some good info on how the bus works to connect from Roanoke to Lynchburg to catch the Amtrak.

In about a year you actually would have been half correct. Roanoke is getting amtrak back, but they are doing everything needed for it to run into the city. So do not feel too bad you were just ahead of the time.

[slowlane3]

This is the Amtrak route that serves Staunton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_(train)

[badger74]

Lexington. Cleaner/cuter. Better colleges

[countryswan]

Are there a lot of empty storefronts and vacant buildings in downtown Staunton?