The Best Small City for Young Families
-
6/1/2020
The Forest/Lynchburg area is probably the best area on the East Coast for adults with young families/kids. We have lived here for one year now, and couldn't be more thrilled with the area.
Overall: This place has it all. It has almost all of the amenities of a large city (local specialty restaurants, beautiful downtown scene, running paths everywhere) with the feel of a small town. There are beautiful woods/trees everywhere which makes the area feel less busy and peaceful. You can easily find a house in the country with beautiful rolling pastures and land, and still be only 15 minute drive from all the stores/downtown, etc. It's one of the largest cities I know of without a major highway going through it. It's not on the way to anywhere important, so it stays pretty quiet/calm. Nowhere else that I know of allows you all of these opportunities! The city is growing rapidly, and there are stores/houses being built every day as it expands westward.
We get the beautiful view of the mountains out here every day, without the mountain weather (cold, snow and clouds/rain). Also, it is central to everything on the east coast (Beach, mountains, cities, Washington DC, Florida). You can drive 6 hours in any direction and be at most major cities on the east coast.
Economy: The cost of living is LOW, and you get more for your money here. Housing market it great, and not too expensive. The unemployment rate is very low and there are plenty of job opportunities. Great for young people or families.
Weather: We moved from up north down here, and the weather here is perfect! It's sunny probably 75-80% of the days, and the fall and spring are around 70 degrees and sunny and calm. Beautiful! Winters are mild (rarely going below 30 degrees), and summers are hot but not unbearable in the morning/evening hours.
Traffic/Transit: The traffic is a growing problem because the city is growing so rapidly, but not terrible if you know the roads to take. The airport is growing rapidly and adding flights due to the rapid population growth. I think it will be a more major airport soon.
Schools: There are plenty of school options: Private, Public, and many homeschool co-ops. We chose this area in part because of the amazing homeschool and Christian school opportunities. There are 5 Universities nearby which make it a very active/green area.
Outdoor Activities: Paths, paths, paths. There is a huge running/ultrarunning scene here and there are parks everywhere. Free
Robert | Forest, VA