Study: Best Cities to Raise a Family in Virginia

Virginia has the winning combo of top-notch education, strong employment, and outdoor adventure for young families. Read on to find the 10 best cities to raise a family in Virginia.

Study Methodology

We first narrowed our scope by looking at cities with populations over 25,000. To rank these cities, we analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and scored them based on the following factors:

• Percentage of residents with a high school degree or higher: the more high school graduates, the better the school systems
  
• Average commute time: the lower the number, the less time you have to spend in gridlock and the more time you get with your family
  
• Percentage of families with children under 18: you want friends for your kids and friends for yourself who can commiserate with you
  
• Percentage of residents living in the same residence for one year or longer: this figure indicates a whether existing residents have a confidence and commitment in their local community
  
• Percentage of income for housing: while you want a great place to live, you also want some level of affordability, and this figure will give you some idea how a home in a particular area will fit into your budget

Top 10 Cities in Virginia for Families

10. Norfolk

• Residents with high school degree: 85.3%
  
• Average commute time: 21.9 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 27.3%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 77.5%
  
• Income for housing: 29.5%

While Norfolk has the highest percentage of income going towards housing on our list, it also has one of the shortest commute times for the Hampton Roads area, making it a convenient location if you hate spending a ton of time in traffic. Home to the largest U.S. Naval base in the world, the city’s other notable employers include NATO, Norfolk Southern Railway and Old Dominion University. Norfolk is also the home base for the Virginia Opera.

9. Manassas

• Residents with high school degree: 82.2%
  
• Average commute time: 33.5 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 39.2%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 82.5%
  
• Income for housing: 25.8%

Manassas may have the longest commute time in the top 10, but it does appear to be conducive to young families. The city also has the smallest population of our list, making it a strong option for families preferring a smaller atmosphere to a densely populated urban space. As part of the Washington metropolitan area, Manassas is a prime spot for residents who have to commute to Capitol Hill each day, but they also have access to other major employers besides the federal government, like Colgan Air, Micron Technology and Lockheed Martin. History buffs will appreciate the proximity to two early Civil War battlefields, the First and Second Battles of Bull Run.

8. Roanoke

• Residents with high school degree: 82.2%
  
• Average commute time: 18.6 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 21.9%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 80.7%
  
• Income for housing: 24.4%

Located in southwest Virginia, Roanoke has the lowest percent of families with kids under 18 on our list. In its favor, however, is the fact it has one of the lower housing expenses. Not only that, the city’s downtown has witnessed a sweeping revitalization over the past several years, making it a hot spot for live music, boutique shopping and more. The youthful vibe is contributed to by several nearby colleges and universities, including Roanoke College, Hollins University and Virginia Tech.

7. Lynchburg

• Residents with high school degree: 85.2%
  
• Average commute time: 16.9 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 24.6%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 75.7%
  
• Income for housing: 24.6%

Lynchburg has the shortest commute time in our top 10, but its housing turnover rate is high, so don’t expect to have the same neighbors for very long. Fortunately, the local economy is faring well, with a variety of industries including nuclear technology and pharmaceuticals. The area also boasts many features for outdoor-loving families, such as Crabtree Falls, the longest waterfall in the eastern part of the country.

6. Newport News

• Residents with high school degree: 89.8%
  
• Average commute time: 22.1 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 29.9%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 76.1%
  
• Income for housing: 25.4%

With one of the highest populations of high school graduates, Newport News is another great option for young families in the Hampton Roads region. The local economy is heavily reliant upon the military and maritime industry, with an expansive shipbuilding yard, coal piers and the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Accordingly, Newport News is home to the Virginia War Museum and the U.S. Army Transportation Museum.

5. Leesburg

• Residents with high school degree: 87.6%
  
• Average commute time: 31.6 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 43.6%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 84.9%
  
• Income for housing: 24.2%

The city of Leesburg has one of the higher commute times, but that’s not surprising for a community in Northern Virginia. On the plus side, Leesburg has the highest percentage of families with kids under 18, which will help you build a strong community of support. It also has one of the lower amounts of income spent on housing, leaving you room in your budget to peruse the popular Leesburg outlet malls. Other family-friendly events include a well-attended celebration during the Fourth of July and a Halloween parade.

4. Hampton

• Residents with high school degree: 89%
  
• Average commute time: 21.7 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 27.5%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 85%
  
• Income for housing: 25.8%

Out of all the Hampton Roads cities on our list, Hampton has the shortest commute time. The city is home to several notable institutions, including the NASA Langley Research Center, the National Institute of Aerospace and Langley Air Force Base. When you’re ready for some family fun, visit Buckroe Beach, which has a performance pavilion, fishing pier, food vendors, playground and kayak rentals.

3. Virginia Beach

• Residents with high school degree: 93.1%
  
• Average commute time: 22.7 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 32.6%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 81.5%
  
• Income for housing: 26.1%

Virginia Beach has the highest percentage of people with at least a high school degree. On the flip side, it also has one of the higher housing costs on the list, perhaps owing to the price of waterfront properties. While the beach is, of course, one of the biggest draws, the area also offers employment opportunities through Amerigroup, the Christian Broadcasting Network, Stihl and more. When you’re not soaking in the sun, your family can take advantage of the skate part at Mount Trashmore, hike through woods and marsh at First Landing State Park and participate in the Rock ’n’ Roll half marathon, which draws tens of thousands of runners.

2. Suffolk

• Residents with high school degree: 86.1%
  
• Average commute time: 27.9 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 34.9%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 86.6
  
• Income for housing: 23.9%

Suffolk may have the highest commute time of our top Hampton Roads cities, but that is mitigated by the city having the lowest percent of income spent on housing out of our entire top 10. It also has the highest percentage of people in the same house as the previous year, so it may be a good place to plant some roots. The city’s economy is anchored by agriculture, including Planter’s Peanuts, and technology, such as Lockheed Martin’s Center for Innovation. Bike-loving families will appreciate the area’s miles of trails.

1. Chesapeake

• Residents with high school degree: 89.6%
  
• Average commute time: 24.4 minutes
  
• Families with children under 18: 35.1%
  
• Residents living in the same house as last year: 86.1%
  
• Income for housing: 24.9%

Topping our list is Chesapeake, another Hampton Roads city that ranks solidly across each category, making it a well-rounded option for young families. There are also a number of corporate employers, such as HSBC Finance, Sentara Healthcare, Cox Communications and Hewlett-Packard. Explore the Chesapeake Arboretum with the family for free, or take a boat ride through the Intracoastal Waterway’s Dismal Swamp Canal.

Virginia offers tons of accessible attractions for young families throughout the entire state. Whether you already live there or plan on making a move, there are plenty of places worth calling home.