What to Know About the Cost of Living in Virginia
On average, Virginia is more affordable across all categories, from groceries to housing, than other states in the United States. But beyond Virginia’s cost of living, its cities have broad appeal, thanks to their unique quality-of-life amenities. Ahead, three residents speak to life in their pocket of Virginia, from their city’s perks to its cost of living. MaryClaire Hudson grew up in Norfolk and serves as the marketing specialist for Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. Kathryn Lucas, who spent her childhood in Roanoke, is the director of public relations for Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Stephanie Duffy was raised in Waynesboro and is assistant director of economic development and tourism for the City of Waynesboro.
MaryClaire Hudson
What do you love about living in Norfolk, Virginia?
I love living in Norfolk because there’s always something to do. There are a lot of local events. I live close to Town Point Park, and we have several festivals there, like the fall and spring wine festival and Norfolk Harborfest, which celebrates its history as a port city. I’m an hour from Busch Gardens (I’m a big roller coaster person), and I’m about 20 minutes from several beaches, so I can have my pick.
What should people know about the city?
It doesn’t get too hot or cold here, so you can go outside and enjoy the area year-round. There’s so much to do, too. People are always getting out there, building connections and working together to improve the area we live in. It’s a very vibrant community.
What’s your favorite low-cost activity in Norfolk?
I love hiking the Elizabeth River Trail. It is a 10-mile trail that offers many scenes. It runs along the Elizabeth River, through historic neighborhoods, past the Harbor Park baseball stadium and the Freemason Historic District, etc. It’s beautiful. It’s a very cool urban trail that is accessible for biking, walking and running throughout the city.
Kathryn Lucas
What do you love about living in Roanoke, Virginia?
I’ve always loved Roanoke. Living in Roanoke County, you have the benefit of having access to great schools and being close to grocery stores, plus the city’s walkability makes it easy to get around. You’re close to restaurants and activities. We’ve had boutique hotels, several great breweries and a distillery open recently.
What should people know about the city?
It’s a welcoming and friendly community. There’s no shortage of groups and events to get involved with. It’s easy to find your community and meet people. We are a metro-mountain destination, so you can access the Blue Ridge Parkway and McAfee Knob hike, which is part of the Appalachian Trail, but you can go eat Afghan food and have moonshine from a third-generation distiller, too. We are three hours from many cities like D.C., Charlotte and Richmond, and the beach is just four hours away.
What’s your favorite low-cost activity in Roanoke?
We have an amazing greenway system. I can walk out my door, and in less than half a mile, I’m on the greenway, where I can walk along the river, stop at a coffee shop or brewery, and go to one of the little neighborhoods downtown. There are 35 miles of paved greenway. Another is to rent a tube and get on the Roanoke River or rent a kayak and float on the Upper James River. For indoors, the Taubman Museum of Art is free, and I love going there. They specialize in American art and have a couple of special exhibits every year. I also love to go down Williamson Road, which is home to all these different international restaurants where you can get good meals for very low prices.
Stephanie Duffy
What do you love about living in Waynesboro, Virginia?
It’s home. It’s right in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. We’re surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, and you can’t match that. There’s so much natural beauty, and with that comes all the recreational assets we have, like hiking trails, biking trails, and rivers and streams for fishing.
What should people know about the city?
We’re the gateway to the Skyline Drive, a scenic road that goes through Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We’re on the Appalachian Trail, so every year, hikers come to town. We’re a very friendly trail town and have Hiker Fest, which celebrates outdoor adventure each year. We have the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forests close by. But we’re also only two-and-a-half hours from D.C. and one-and-a-half hours from Richmond, so you get that small town and all the natural beauty and recreation, but you can be in a big city pretty quickly.
What’s your favorite low-cost activity in Waynesboro?
I have two daughters – 10 and 12 – and we definitely prefer to be outdoors. There are so many options. We have seven amazing city parks, each with their own amenities. There are tons of hiking trails nearby, too. We have a ton of street art around town, and we go to free concerts in the park. If we can’t be outside, there are several museums in downtown Waynesboro. We have a history museum, the Waynesboro Heritage Museum, and they also operate The Plumb House Museum. We also have the Augusta County Railroad Museum and Russell Museum, and all of those are free. If you’re looking for something indoors to do that is low cost, that’s your ticket.
This article is sponsored by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
