Virginia Beach, VA - Beach Living At Its Best

Located in the state of Virginia, Virginia Beach (VB) is an independent city with a population of approximately 450,000, which makes it the most populous city in the state. It is also part of Hampton Roads metropolitan area and lies at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Virginia Beach is renowned for its resort city lifestyle, together with its miles of beaches and hundreds of restaurants, hotels, and motels that line the oceanfront. It possesses the world's longest pleasure beach, situated at the south end of Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which in turn is the world’s longest bridge-tunnel.

Virginia Beach is the largest city within the state of Virginia with a total of 497 square miles, 249 square miles of which is land and 248 square miles is water.

Virginia Beach popular neighborhoods and communities.

Getting Around

Interstate 64 connects the city to Interstate 264 which journeys from oceanfront and on through Norfolk and Portsmouth. Both roadways are part of the Hampton Roads Beltway. Among the other major roadways that travel through the city are U.S. Route 58 (Virginia Beach Boulevard), U.S. Route 60 (Shore Drive), U.S. Route 13 (Northampton Blvd), State Route 165 (Princess Anne Road), and the former State Route 603 (Indian River Road).

The primary domestic airport to serve the city is Norfolk International Airport which is near Chesapeake Bay. The seven airlines that function from the airport provide services to 25 different destinations. The closest international airport is Richmond International Airport at Richmond, VA, situated just over 100 miles away.

Amtrak serves Virginia Beach via the Newport News train station. The line journeys westerly with Richmond being the primary destination.

Long distance buses are provided by Greyhound/ Trailways from nearby Norfolk, though there is also a Greyhound station in Virginia Beach on Laskin Road. Regional buses are serviced by Hampton Roads Transit.

Real Estate

The median price of homes sold in Virginia Beach at the end of 2021 is $325,000, with an average price per square foot of $188.

Home prices have been going up steadily for several years and they are forecast to continue to go up.

If you are in the market for a home, this is a good time to buy.

Find Condos and Townhouses, Colonials, Golf Course Homes, Beachfront and Waterfront homes, plus many more.

Education

Virginia Beach City Public Schools, based on the number of students enrolled, is among the largest school systems within the state. The system has 56 elementary schools together with 14 middle schools and 11 high schools.

Some of the public high schools are: First Colonial; Frank W. Cox; Green Run; Kellam; Kempsville; Landstown; Ocean Lakes; Salem; Tallwood.

The city also hosts a number of independent, private schools including Hampton Roads Academy, Norfolk Academy, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School and Parish, Cape Henry Collegiate School, Virginia Beach Friends School, and Baylake Pines School.

The city is home to two universities: Atlantic University and Regent University.

Employment

Though Virginia Beach gains most recognition for its tourism, the city's economy also enjoys a sizable contribution from both the military and agribusiness sectors.

Retail is likewise big business within the city due to the number of large shopping malls such as Lynnhaven Mall.

Among the major companies that are located within Virginia Beach are Amerigroup, Stihl, Operation Blessing International, the Christian Broadcasting Network, VT, and Geico.

Cost of Living and Crime

The cost of living in general in Virginia Beach is 17% higher than that of the national average though, the cost of housing is 47% higher than the national average. Violent crime rates are 63% lower than the national average and property crime in the city is 4% lower than the national average.

Climate

The city's climate is said to be humid subtropical where the summers are hot and humid (average high in July of 87 degrees) and the winters are mild (average low in July of 32 degrees). Spring and summer are the wettest seasons and average snowfall annually is no more than 6 inches.