Best Places to Live in Radford (zip 24142), Virginia

Virginia Tech is especially known for its sports programs, bringing much excitement especially in fall and winter. Virginia Tech is not the only game in town, however – the state-supported, 10,000-student Radford University brings a college presence to Radford as well. While some big-city services and amenities are missing, the blend of available features and cost of living are attractive. Some might not like the isolation, particularly from air services, characteristic of many western Virginia locations. Some in Blacksburg may find the Virginia Tech presence a bit overwhelming at times.

The location along the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, in an area known as the Virginia Highlands, is comprised of a series of southwest-to-northeast low mountain ridges separated by narrow valleys. The terrain is mostly wooded except in the flattest locations where agriculture is feasible. The Virginia Highlands are known for a relatively pleasant climate in all seasons. The mountains provide a natural barrier to winter cold from the northwest and from the most severe effects of Atlantic tropical storms. Summers are warm and humid but mountain air and elevation bring relatively cool evenings. Winters are generally mild but feature snow each winter, producing significant accumulations if conditions are right. Flooding can be an issue with narrow valleys and summer thunderstorms or approaching storms from the Atlantic mainly in fall. First freeze is late October, last is mid-April.