Virginia is one of the smaller U.S. states, but it has a considerable population living on its territory. 8,642 million people call it home, and according to Beltway Movers DMV, the population has been steadily increasing in the past few years. Living in the Old Dominion has a certain allure, but of course, there are also bad sides to it as well. There is no need to talk about the good sides of this state anymore, so we will cover the biggest challenges of living in Virginia today.
What are some of the biggest challenges of living in Virginia?
Having both pros and cons of life in Virginia in mind will give you a better picture of what living there looks like. You should learn about them before you hire some interstate movers Virginia so that you don’t end up regretting your decision. Some of the biggest challenges of living in Virginia are the:
- High costs of living
- High tax rates
- Heavy traffic conditions
Living expenses are high
After the recent pandemic and inflation, almost every place in Virginia has seen a price surge. One of the biggest culprits for this is the gas price, but we cannot do anything but adapt to the changes. At least, the majority of movers Arlington VA give their best to still keep their prices affordable. The bad news is that Virginia has been expensive even before this, with the cost of living sitting high above the national average. The estimated amount of money a family needs per month is around $88,000, which is not a negligible amount. To avoid financial problems, you should save up a month’s worth of money, and find a job even before you move.
High tax rates
The majority of states in the USA require their residents to pay taxes, but taxes in Virginia are not so low. For example, the sales tax rate amounts to 5.3%, while individual income tax is 5,75%. There are taxes for all services and consumer goods, so keep that in mind when planning your next relocation. It is much lower than California with 13.3% for example, but it is still a considerable amount of money.
Heavy traffic in densely populated areas
Traffic is a problem in all big cities, and Virginia is no exception. This makes getting around more difficult, and the commute time gets longer thanks to this. The state average commute time in Virginia is 28 minutes but could be even more in densely populated cities like Virginia Beach. If you plan on moving from MD to VA, but just can’t stand the traffic, opt for smaller cities or the suburbs of metropolitan areas.
Conclusion on the biggest challenges of living in Virginia
The biggest challenges of living in Virginia might seem serious enough to keep looking at other moving destinations. But Virginia has so much to offer that it will be worth it. Taking into consideration the good job market, low crime rate, and excellent schools, these bad sides don’t seem so bad. Whatever place you choose to settle in, keep in mind that all of them will come with pros and cons alike. We wish you good luck and easy decision-making!
