Most Northern Virginia-like area in the state outside of Northern Virginia (Virginia Beach: public schools, universities)

[Kbank007]

Northern VA is known for massive growth, largely suburban/pseudo urban and newer developments, wealthy residents, multi-cultural population, terrible traffic, top-notch schools, and a robust economy. What areas of VA most resemble Northern VA, or have Northern VA-like qualities on a smaller scale throughout the state? Obviously no other area of the state will be exactly the same. I believe VA Beach and the Short Pump area of Richmond/Henrico could be classified as being Northern VA-like.

[NOVA_guy]

Lol none.

Short Pump is nice, similar to Tysons in some aspects but honestly, not really. There's really no other part of the state that is across the board (culturally, politically, economically) similar to NoVa. I do like the Short Pump area though.

NoVa is kind of its own entity within the state.

[MDude25]

I agree there are none.

[RVAbornandbred]

I agree with NOVA_guy: Short Pump is as close as you'll get to "NoVa", but it's not really like NoVa.

Charlottesville probably is the most similar in terms of political ideology (progressive) and has some international diversity, though not nearly as much as NoVa.

Albemarle and Henrico have some top notch public schools that could compete with NoVa schools, but neither has a top-to-bottom portfolio of public schools that could compare with Fairfax or Loudoun public schools.

I think the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina is probably more similar to "NoVa" than anywhere else in Virginia. It's got a lot of tech employers, large population, major research universities, international airport, etc.

[spencer114]

Depends on what part of NoVa...

Langley = the River Road/ Tukahoe area of Richmond

Sterling = Newport News, VA Beach

Reston= Virginia Beach Town Center

Tyron's = no equal or even similar place

Alexandria = Richmond

Arlington = no equal

Fairfax County Parkway = Chippingham Parkway in Richmond

George Washington Parkway= Colonial Parkway in Tidewater

VA Beach, Charlottesville and Henrico are very diverse (but in somewhat isolated areas unlike say Fairfax).

Other parts of the state share similarities with NoVa, albeit on a much smaller scale.

[Kbank007]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

Lol none.

Short Pump is nice, similar to Tysons in some aspects but honestly, not really. There's really no other part of the state that is across the board (culturally, politically, economically) similar to NoVa. I do like the Short Pump area though.

NoVa is kind of its own entity within the state.

I agree that Nova is an anomaly as a whole; however, I think Short Pump has some aspects of Nova. Similarly, the Town Center area of Va Beach, reminds me of a larger Short Pump and other affluent areas of Va Beach remind me of parts of Nova.

[Kbank007]

Originally Posted by spencer114

Depends on what part of NoVa...

Langley = the River Road/ Tukahoe area of Richmond

Sterling = Newport News, VA Beach

Reston= Virginia Beach Town Center

Tyron's = no equal or even similar place

Alexandria = Richmond

Arlington = no equal

Fairfax County Parkway = Chippingham Parkway in Richmond

George Washington Parkway= Colonial Parkway in Tidewater

VA Beach, Charlottesville and Henrico are very diverse (but in somewhat isolated areas unlike say Fairfax).

Other parts of the state share similarities with NoVa, albeit on a much smaller scale.

I like how you broke down the different sections of Nova for this post. I agree with you regarding Newport News for parts of Nova also. Specifically the newer developments/areas around Oyster Point have somewhat of a NOVA vibe.

[NOVA_guy]

Oh, when you said "like Northern Virginia" I thought you meant not just in appearance but overall.

I mean, a new residential building or new shopping center doesn't automatically make somewhere similar to NoVa though? What makes places similar goes far deeper than two places having a lot of development going on at the same time.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Kbank007

Northern VA is known for massive growth, largely suburban/pseudo urban and newer developments, wealthy residents, multi-cultural population, terrible traffic, top-notch schools, and a robust economy. What areas of VA most resemble Northern VA, or have Northern VA-like qualities on a smaller scale throughout the state? Obviously no other area of the state will be exactly the same. I believe VA Beach and the Short Pump area of Richmond/Henrico could be classified as being Northern VA-like.

Take out the diversity and you have York County in Hampton Roads region of the state.

[lovnova]

Originally Posted by Kbank007

Northern VA is known for massive growth, largely suburban/pseudo urban and newer developments, wealthy residents, multi-cultural population, terrible traffic, top-notch schools, and a robust economy. What areas of VA most resemble Northern VA, or have Northern VA-like qualities on a smaller scale throughout the state? Obviously no other area of the state will be exactly the same. I believe VA Beach and the Short Pump area of Richmond/Henrico could be classified as being Northern VA-like.

Even on a smaller scale.I can tell you VA Beach is absolutely nothing like NOVA. In any way, shape or form.