Martinsville vs Danville (and surrounding suburbs) (Norfolk, Richmond: apartments, loft, YMCA)

[highways29and150]

This is a Comparison between 2 major cities of Southern Virginia. They are both Convenient to Winston Salem NC and Greensboro/Burlington NC as well as Roanoke and Lynchburg VA, which makes them ideal destinations to many.



But which one has the edge over the other:

Infrastructure/Roads
Jobs/Economy
Crime
Housing/Cost of Living
Attractions/Things to do
Schools
Healthcare
People/Culture




Martinsville (Henry County)-







vs





Danville (Pittsylvania County)

[spencgr]

Based on these "things to do" lists, neither is a place I would willingly move to.


https://vacationidea.com/virginia/be...sville-va.html

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/13-...va-this-summer

[slowlane3]

Danville was the subject of 2 favorable articles last year in "The Atlantic" magazine. To summarize, the articles said it has an excellent new YMCA fitness center which is helping reduce obesity in local citizens, both black and white. Some of the old buildings downtown are being remade into loft apartments, and the downtown resident population has grown several-fold in recent years (It had been almost zero). There is a huge solar panel farm, and use of solar energy is increasing for minicipal public buildings, which will save money..... Not mentioned in "The Atlantic", but a more recent development is that with Virginia's new legalizing of casinos this year, Danville is one of 5 sites contemplated (along with Bristol, Norfolk, Richmond, and New Kent County/Colonial Downs) for a casino.

Martinsville has the state Science museum, and NASCAR's smallest racetrack.

[costellopresley82]

Not to be a debbie downer or anything but both cities do not offer much in comparison to the Triad or Lynchburg and Roanoke. Danville is an old textile mill town with a downtown that looked dead the last time I visited. The best thing about Danville is the close proximity to North Carolina, though. A commute to the Triangle (RTP) might be brutal (and a rural drive) but it's doable. Martinsville is a prettier town as it's in the foothills, but I would pick Danville for its closer proximity to Greensboro and the Triangle.

I've heard talk of a future casino around Danville and that would obviously be huge for the area. A casino would most-likely bring in tons of folks coming up from the Triad and Triangle.

[LM117]

Danville recently had the highest municipal-owned utility bills in the state (likely still does), and the healthcare here is awful. I know a lot of folks (including my family), that head to NC for healthcare, usually UNC or Duke (where I go). I would've left long ago if I had been able to. Visiting Danville is one thing, but living here? No...just no. As far as the casino goes, I'll believe it when I see it.

[LM117]

Originally Posted by costellopresley82

The best thing about Danville is the close proximity to North Carolina, though. A commute to the Triangle (RTP) might be brutal (and a rural drive) but it's doable.

NC-86 between Danville and Hillsborough can either be a quick, easy drive, or a slow, painful one. A lot of semis use it, and since there's usually a good deal of traffic, passing opportunities aren't always as plentiful as they would seem in a rural area. It also doesn't help that it's not uncommon for idiots to try their luck and attempt to pass 3 or 4 vehicles at once with no regard for incoming traffic.

I stopped using it and began picking up US-158 in Yanceyville and hopping over to Roxboro and dropping down US-501 to Durham. More mileage, but much less stressful.

[costellopresley82]

Originally Posted by LM117

NC-86 between Danville and Hillsborough can either be a quick, easy drive, or a slow, painful one. A lot of semis use it, and since there's usually a good deal of traffic, passing opportunities aren't always as plentiful as they would seem in a rural area. It also doesn't help that it's not uncommon for idiots to try their luck and attempt to pass 3 or 4 vehicles at once with no regard for incoming traffic.

I stopped using it and began picking up US-158 in Yanceyville and hopping over to Roxboro and dropping down US-501 to Durham. More mileage, but much less stressful.

I used NC-86 coming back from Danville once but I've never used US-501, I'll have to try that sometime. It is a shame because Danville has a cool downtown, but it seemed quiet when I visited although I visited in the dead of winter. I might have to go back, I do remember a cool brewery near the river.

Also, while we're on the topic of Southside Virginia, am I the only person who confuses Lynchburg, Danville, and South Boston? I've been to all three but I get them confused in my head. Danville looks like a smaller Lynchburg, and South Boston looks like a smaller Danville. It must be their downtown districts, especially since all three are located along rivers. However, I'll admit Lynchburg is hillier and clearly larger than Danville and South Boston. Maybe it's the general area (Virginia Piedmont), but I can't think of three towns that look more similar to each other throughout Virginia or North Carolina. I hope I'm not the only person who confuses them, LOL.