Hampton Crime
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10/26/2006
Heather is exagerating, which is typical of people who post in these forums. I left Langley a year ago, lived there for 6 years (active duty AF). Lived on base, Hampton, Newport News. The crime is in the numbered streets in NN, and some on the south side of Hampton. Base housing is in York County, considered one of the better places to live in the area. Crime is not non-existent, but certainly there are not drive-bys in base housing. In addition, the Hampton Roads area is known as the Seven-Cities, so the crime reported on WAVY10 encompasses a much larger geographic and demographic area. Norfolk and Virginia Beach are on the middle tier of mid-size cities and growing. All seven city limits are contiguous, so leave one and you are in another. My wife and I didn't feel threatened outside of any normal caution one should have in an urban environment. Beyond that, housing costs are increasing (but that means value is increasing if you own one!). Hampton has a HUGE plan for revitalization and new urbanization of many of the areas. It's available online if you are interested (might have to dig a little). Lot's of history in the James County/Williamsburg area. I lived 15 minutes from Busch Gardens (go on a weekday!). Three hours to D.C., 1.5 hours to the NC Outer Banks. Culturally the area is a melting pot of northerners, southerners, in-betweeners, and military which lends itself to a mildly bland feel. However that means many types can "fit in". All in all, Hampton may not win a Best Places to Live award, but certainly not a bad place to live by any means.
Joe | Key West, FL