Two Virginia Cities Named Among Best Places To Live: U.S. News

VIRGINIA — Nearly one-third of Americans say the coronavirus pandemic has them re-evaluating where they live, according to a new ranking. With that in mind, some of them may want to consider moving to Virginia.

Two cities in Virginia — Richmond and Virginia Beach — were listed as the best places to live in the United States, according to a new ranking released this week by U.S. News & World Report.

The 2021-22 list ranks the country’s 150 most populous metropolitan areas based on affordability, job prospects and desirability. This year, researchers also looked at how the top communities fared throughout the pandemic and how much work is needed to recover.

“It shouldn’t be a surprise that many metro areas that saw unemployment levels skyrocket in 2020 fell in the rankings, but those with greater employment stability tended to fare well,” Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S. News, said in a news release.

For the second consecutive year, Boulder, Colorado, was named the No. 1 place to live due to high quality of life, a robust job market and high desirability scores. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, jumped nine spots to take No. 2 and Huntsville, Alabama, catapulted 12 spots to No. 3.

To determine which cities made the cut this year, U.S. News asked thousands of people across the country to share what factors are most important when choosing a place to live. Survey responses were categorized into five indexes: the value of living there, the quality of life, the health of the job market, whether people want to live there and whether people are actually moving there.

U.S. News also used data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sharecare and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Read more about the Best Places To Live methodology.

Overall, Richmond ranked as the 50th best place to live in the U.S., with a score of 6.7 on a 10-point scale. It was the highest-ranked city in Virginia. Here’s a look at how Richmond measured up in each category.

• Job market: 7.1
• Value: 7.0
• Quality of life: 6.1
• Desirability: 6.8
• Net migration: 6.7

More than 7.5 million tourists visit the Greater Richmond region each year to explore its rich American history. Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech in Richmond's St. John's Church and, as the former capital of the Confederacy, Richmond has attracted greater interest from tourists and historians as the state seeks to reckon with the past.

The only region in America with whitewater rapids running through its downtown district, Richmond is a major financial center. With a range of housing options, the Richmond metro area — which includes suburban areas in the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico —appeals to a varied demographic, from young families to retirees.

Downtown Richmond is anchored by Virginia Commonwealth University, which draws a large crowd of younger part-time residents. But this college town (also home to the University of Richmond) has plenty to offer families and older residents, as well. Each of Richmond's neighborhoods exudes a unique personality.

The other Virginia city to make the ranking of best places to live in the U.S. was Virginia Beach, which ranked as the 105th best place to live in the U.S., with a score of 6.3 on a 10-point scale. Also, here’s a look at how Virginia Beach measured up in each category.

• Job market: 6.7
• Value: 5.7
• Quality of life: 6.1
• Desirability: 7.5
• Net migration: 5.4

With its impressive coastline, Virginia Beach provides residents a choice of clean and easily accessible family- and pet-friendly beaches.

The Hampton Roads area also boasts cultural attractions such as the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Shoppers visit the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, as well as The Shops at Hilltop, Town Center of Virginia Beach and Lynnhaven Mall.

In general, residents here are outdoorsy and enjoy fishing, kayaking, waterskiing and stand-up paddleboarding during almost any season. Sporting events like the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships and North American Sand Soccer Championships bring the community together and shine a national spotlight on the area.

Nature and sports enthusiasts enjoy dozens of hiking, cycling and jogging trails, while skateboarders and BMX bike riders have access to multiple skate parks.

Virginia Beach also scored well among retirees, ranking as the 46th best place to retire, according to U.S. News. & World Report.

Pandemic-related unemployment played a big role in where cities landed on this year’s ranking. Some of the biggest changes include Boston, which fell 13 spots, and Las Vegas, which plummeted 50 spots. Meanwhile, San Diego fell 52 spots and Honolulu fell 42 spots.

To see where these and other cities ranked, check out the full list of 2021’s Best Places To Live.