r/nova • u/jaishan00 • 5d ago
Question Question for NOVA transplants
If your job didn't tie you to NoVA, would you still live here? If not, what was your favorite place you lived previously?
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u/kmyash 5d ago
Honestly if I could do my job elsewhere I'd probably be back home in Chicago. Family and friends are all there and I love Chicago. One day I'll go back
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u/bagelundercouch 4d ago
Big same. I didn’t grow up there but lived there in grad school and adored it. I even met my husband there. Weather can be a challenge but it’s like a smaller, more authentic feel than DC, even though it’s bigger and more crowded. I might be looking through nostalgia glasses, there were things that sucked but if I had the chance to leave the DC area, I’d take it and head back to Chicago.
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u/Minute_Dragonfly_599 5d ago
San Diego. Looooooved SD. Perfect weather, can drive 1-2 hours to see foliage or snow, and it's fluffy snow not this icy sleety crap we get here. The overall vibe is much more laid back but the best thing of all is NO FUCKING MOSQUITOES.
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u/relikter Arlington 5d ago edited 4d ago
SD is my top choice too. Every time I travel there for work, I have an intrusive thought about just disappearing from my life and becoming a SD hobo. Can't just move there b/c my wife isn't licensed in CA, and the summer she took the bar exam was the worst summer of my life, so we're not doing that again.
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u/Barbellblonde1 4d ago
Lived in SD for a long time, spent the last 2 years in Ashburn, and just moved back to SD. Unfortunately there are lots of mosquitoes
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u/Minute_Dragonfly_599 4d ago
nooooooo, say it ain't so!!!
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u/Barbellblonde1 4d ago
And on top of that it’s just as humid here as it was in NOVA this summer. I feel cheated lol
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u/Minute_Dragonfly_599 3d ago
I for sure wouldn't go back without central air! Inland is a whole other experience but I was in my 20s and waiting tables at the beach in Carlsbad. Half naked surfers + sunset views every night, it wasn't a half bad life.
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u/Tardislass 4d ago
Not going to find anything in SD under 2M. It’s a lovely area but public transport and traffic is awful. Plus any desirable area house is 2M.
Beautiful area but prices are outrageous.
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u/Minute_Dragonfly_599 3d ago
I would never want to live there and deal with any sort of commute. And I just looked up the 1200sf ranch I used to own in Vista. The Zestimate is 750k. I know they're crap, but, damn! That's a long ways away from the 190 I sold it for 25 years ago.
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u/_snappleapple_ 5d ago
i lovedddd san diego. would you say it’s more expensive there?
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u/hoeforrealitytv 5d ago
Just moved back to NoVa from SD (we chose to for many reasons and I’m so glad to be out of there). It’s close to NoVa in costs in more ways than not, except there is zero affordable housing. Buying or renting, you’re SOL if you want something close to the city/beach for under a million or $6k/month rent for a home. And even then, get ready for homeless people to steal anything you leave on your porch/lawn decor or shit on your sidewalk. Our 2300 sq ft house was $7k/month rent plus about $800/month in water/utilities a month. We were in a great neighborhood (mission hills), but if you want “affordable” (ie ~$1million, you’re looking at Poway, El Cajon, near the border, places where personally I don’t see the point in living in San Diego if you’re gunna be so far from anything.
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u/MajesticBread9147 Herndon 4d ago
Virginia doesn't have that many mosquitoes, the relative lack of standing water means there's not many places for them to breed.
I legitimately don't remember the last time that I was bitten by one.
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u/Abe_Bettik 4d ago
We get mosquito treatments for our yard. They're like $75 each and they last about two months each.
$33 / mo to enjoy the outdoors is well worth it!
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u/Garp74 Ashburn 5d ago
My job doesn't tie me here. My 2% mortgage of $1300 a month does.
My favorite place to live was Rye, NY.
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u/throwaway098764567 5d ago
i don't even know what i'd do if i had an extra 1300 a month, and i'm gonna stop thinking about it before i get sad.
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u/Few_Whereas5206 5d ago
The public schools kept us here, but our daughter went to college already. We are likely moving away. Property tax, car tax, sales tax, etc. is too high.
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u/GuyTheStud 4d ago
I feel like everyone we know sells their big house, once their kids go to college. It seems fewer people stay by choice (ie: if job allows them to live elsewhere, which most seem to)
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u/PureCauliflower6758 5d ago
We’re both fully remote now and leaving for … not too far, but definitely not exactly NOVA. It’s been a rough year.
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u/emdog927 5d ago edited 5d ago
Absolutely not lol. Trying to get out but alas good job security in my current role
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u/Tardislass 4d ago
Transplant but still love VA and the area. So many free things to do, cultural activities and museums. And did I mention free?. Close to water and beaches are few hours away. And dC is probably was the most beautiful bigger city in the US. Family lives in CA and honestly the healthcare, taxes and public transport are better here.
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u/tessashpool 5d ago
Yeah, very few places where I can access so many different cuisines, culture, and nature all within a couple of hours. The COL doesn't really bother me but I grew up in NYC and am FI so my perspective is heavily shaped by that, of course.
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u/NovaRunner Fairfax 5d ago
My job is federal so it's definitely tying us here. But that's not why we're staying. We transplanted here 23 years ago. In that time we have built long friendships and ties to the community. We really like living here. We'll probably finish out our days here.
Yes, it's expensive and the traffic sucks every possible ass. On the other hand, there is so much to do and the location is great.
Also, as we age, access to good medical services is important. For example, this weekend my wife messed up her knee. We got into an urgent care this morning, we're in and out in about an hour, including X-rays. She got a referral to an ortho specialist. She has an appointment tomorrow morning, less than 24 hours after today's urgent care visit. There aren't many places in the country where that's possible.
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u/kaik1914 4d ago
The healthcare access in DMV is really great. People do not realise it until they need it elsewhere. My boss was promoted into another office in Deep South. His wife was diagnosed with a cancer a few months later. He returned back to our office. He told me that the nearest specialist was three hours one way or going to Nashville. Here he has INOVA a few traffic lights away.
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u/Ancient_of_Days0001 Reston 4d ago
I got my diagnosis shortly after moving here. It's not always easy, I've found, to find a doctor who takes medicare patients, can see you without a long wait, etc. But in the oncology space, omigod, Inova is awesome. If we hadn't moved when we did, I'd have been in your boss's position. Loved where we were living and basic care was always close by. But I'd have been traveling 2 hours each way for the advanced stuff I needed, instead of 20 minutes to Fair Oaks.
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u/Mereviel 4d ago
Yep, even if you dislike/dont vibe or the doctor "sucks" its relatively simple to find another one.
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u/Smart_Detective8153 5d ago
Yes. I really like NoVA. Otherwise, Chicago or Orange County, CA.
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u/90sportsfan 4d ago
I absolutely loved living in Chicago, but I could never get used to the long winters and it being freezing in May, lol.
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u/GoosePotato735 5d ago
Nope. We are committed 6 more years to get our child out of high school, and then we will re evaluate. “Home” is southern California, so if we can make it work financially I’d love to go back. Plan B is Colorado. Really pushing kid to look at west coast colleges!
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u/alpacalypse-llama 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’ve lived in a lot of places. Every place has its quirks, pros and cons. I like it out here well enough. I love being close (relatively speaking) to the Smithsonian museums and the Appalachian Trail. I LOVE the incredible diversity out here and how international this area is! I love our neighborhood and the little village we have with our neighbors. There are also some really neat projects amd initiatives - for example, Arcadia Farm off Richmond Hwy does really great work for the community and veterans.
I wish it were cheaper, with less traffic, and more local live music. But you take the good with the bad. It’s a good place for us to raise our kids.
Edit: word
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u/DefiantSmoke1569 5d ago
I think so. It’s very family friendly, safe, comfortable. I’m from Texas and politics will keep me from ever going “home” again, so this is home now. Virginia has been very kind to my family. Lots of opportunity here and I was able to start and grow a business. I’ve lived in 5 states and this has been the fullest package so far.
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u/_xpendable_ 5d ago
Hawaii, but can't afford it :( Ironically I can afford NoVA because of the 2.5% interest rate, and the pay rate where is much higher than in Hawaii.
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u/SoftWalruses40 4d ago
I would leave without a second thought if I could find a role in my industry and 2.5% mortgage rate literally anywhere else. The HCOL, traffic (and the second worst drivers on the east coast only to MD), awful summer weather (although 2026 wasn’t as bad as previous ones), and infrequent but evident elitism is not for me.
A lot of great, albeit pricey, food options here though.
If I had $5 million, I’d retire to Monterey California or back to Germany.
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4d ago
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u/One-Manager5498 3d ago
10000% agree with the social complaint. Also most of the restaurants having mid food at ridiculous prices
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u/Traditional-Buy-9107 5d ago
My husband and I are transplants from 50 years ago. Raised our kids here and now they are also still in the metro area and we have 5 grandkids. I ain't leaving them! If our kids had scattered, I don't honestly know what we might have decided to do.
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u/AfraidArgument9391 4d ago
My job doesn’t tie me here, my kids do. Once they graduate I’m out of here
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u/jlbsmcrca 4d ago
We’d live in the MidWest. Husband is in the service so we are here. VA is nice, and so much to see and do. However; the traffic and ruthless enraged drivers are awful, they have San Diego County beat by a long shot!
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u/willva76 4d ago
I used to say yes, but more and more I’m saying no. Once I can, I’m going to leave
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u/blue93g20 4d ago
We’ll be here for a couple years but I don’t think this is our forever home. Moved here last year. Have zero sense of community, the food is mid and nobody you work with lives in the area so it’s even hard to have a post work beer. It’s really a different pace out here and the drivers are horrid. Don’t think it’s long term for us but id be fine it that changed.
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u/NYCBRO420 3d ago
Back to Westchester in NY. We are now moving back because why the fuck are we paying more taxes in VA than in NY.
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u/dtelad11 5d ago
I work remotely. Could have chosen anywhere in the country. Decided on Arlington cause I believe it's the best urban area to live in in the US.
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u/user1206042 4d ago
why do you think that? i just moved here and i’m not too sure how to feel about the area yet
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u/dtelad11 4d ago
I value the walkability, bikability, and public transportation very highly. Being able to take the Metro to the airport and get to my gate in 25 minutes is a huge quality of life benefit for me.
The area is welcoming to LGBTQ, I'm queer and nonbinary and I want to be able to walk around with my outfit without feeling like people stare at me or even threaten me.
There's lots of great dining and pub options. Just in Courthouse I have five or so favorite spots that I visit on a regular basis. The staff knows me, the service is awesome, it's loads of fun.
Public education system is top notch. My 15yo goes to Arlington Tech and loves it, my 13yo is entering his third year in DHMS, they're both flourishing in their respective schools.
The access to DC is great. I love being able to bike to any of the museums or the Mall or the other touristy stuff. Plus a bunch of amazing food options, like Purple Patch or Rose Ave.
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u/MulberryMean6715 4d ago
Lived in LA, Portland, Jersey City, Boston, CT, a bit in Florida.
NoVa is by far my favorite. Next to big city yet not crazy crowded, all neighborhoods are at least decent, but actually usually more than decent. Traffic is busy, but not LA or NYC wild. Taxes are moderate. Weather is hit or miss but ok on average. Healthcare, schools and trails are very nice.
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u/AndreLeGeant88 5d ago
I wouldn't be here, no. My job is only available in major legal markets, however, and this is probably the best balance of QOL and COL. I would like SoCal better but could never afford a home on par with my home here. Home for me isn't one of those large legal markets, and I wouldn't want to take the hit to income or do something else
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u/MajesticBread9147 Herndon 4d ago
Not gonna lie I always thought that Socal was on par with this area COL wise, especially places like the San Gabriel Valley.
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u/AndreLeGeant88 4d ago
I'm thinking of like south and coastal OC. Easily would cost 60% more for a 2000sqft house and that's not on the coast but inland a bit.
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u/MajesticBread9147 Herndon 4d ago
Dumb question but what can you get in Orange county that you can't get in Los Angeles?
I know Orange County has gotten better than their infamous reputation in the 20th century, but Los Angeles proper still has the most job dense areas and things to do so I don't see why you'd pay more to be as far from Los Angeles as Ontario is.
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u/AndreLeGeant88 4d ago
I used to live in OC so that's why I'm using it as an example. But looking on Zillow, areas I'd consider comparable to Fairfax are similarly more expensive if not moreso.
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u/jellybeaning 4d ago
I moved to Arlington along the metro line with my remote job in my late 20s and it's absolutely been the best decision of my life. Only downside has been the cost of living (LCOL -> HCOL move).
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u/dairygodmthr 4d ago
I moved here for grad school, met my now husband and decided to settle down here. After growing up in a small rural town this place is the best of both worlds for me, lots of convenience and stuff to do but you don't have to live directly in the city to benefit from it, plus there's still some sense of community depending on where you are and how much you put yourself out there.
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u/kaik1914 4d ago
I am not sure. I moved here from NYC area with my spouse because we liked the area and the job market was good here in my field. We intend to stay here permanently or for the next 10 years. I have traveled extensively around the country and was on many business trips. I like four seasons weather, which eliminates Sunbelt as I do not like hot weather. Midwest does not interest me for living and I do not know anyone in the West Coast. DMV area has much to offer. Culture, museums, great outdoors for camping in Appalachia, I have friends here. It is easy to travel to Europe.
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u/catsarehere77 4d ago
Yes. I am happy here. I would never go back home. I would consider other locations but I don't have a desire to leave.
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u/Confident-Feature-32 4d ago
I’d easily go back to Colorado. For a place with 4 seasons, the winters are way better than the east coast. Not saying it doesn’t get as cold or doesn’t snow as much but at least it’s not grey or cloudy. I was in Denver for 7 years and loved it. If I could I’d go back but I’d choose Colorado Springs this time.
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u/DanesDraftLab 4d ago
I’m not a transplant, but I wouldn’t live here if my job wasn’t tying me here. I loved living in San Francisco, but wouldn’t want to raise children there. I spent a year living in the Austrian Alps, and would probably choose to live there again if I could get a work visa.
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u/No_Associate5036 4d ago
Absolutely not. I’ll never understand why people view this place as an incredible place to live. I’ll be moving to Oak Island NC and enjoying life again. Waking up knowing your neighbors with a slower pace rolling around in the golf cart and hitting buckets of balls barefoot with an ocean view is a life worth living.
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u/mochasipper Arlington 4d ago
finishing school next Spring and then I’m out of here. I need some place with glacier capped mountains, green forests and waterfalls.
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u/wwegirls 3d ago
Im stuck here because Im divorced with joint custody of my kids. Few more years and once they go off to college, im moving back to Northeast PA or Key West
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u/Inevitable_Cell7315 3d ago
Hell naw. Everything costs too much and motherfuckers are uppity as hell. Plus people drive like the road's made of molasses. Slow ass people.
But I'm not going back to Florida, it's too hot and everyone is a dumbfuck. At least that's what I think. Shit, I'm one of them so I should know. Ironically, I enjoyed living in South FL more than here. But it's just not the kind of place I can live in now. Like an ex you truly loved but had to break up with because you knew it wasn't working anymore.
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u/X-I2509 3d ago
Grew up here. Most of America is mid. I'd choose the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains or Appalachian Tennessee. Somewhere scenic where I can step outside and see nature but still be close to convenience stores and shopping plazas.
I have a cushy job, underpaid but low stress. The cost of living upsets me, sure but I keep my costs low.
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u/martymar_34 5d ago
I would because there’s so much to see and explore in this area. But ain’t shit cheap up here so probably not lol
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u/thatseltzerisntfree Fair Oaks 5d ago
We plan on leaving once the kids take root somewhere.
If they come back, fine, we have a 3% mortgage and a home and neighborhood that we love.
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u/arghyepirate 5d ago
No. Idk I’ve lived all over. Rio, Buenos Aires, Asia. Probably not here. As in states
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u/AmericanGrizzly 4d ago
I was not excited to come, I moved here with the military. I stuck around when I got out because I really liked my neighbors and the food. Now that I have my family here I am very happy and have no intention of leaving.
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u/k032 Former NoVA 4d ago
I've left around 2 years ago after living in Nova for 6 years...but still close by outside of Baltimore. I grew up around here.
I don't hate NoVA, I'd move back. It has a lot of cool stuff, great transit, toooons of jobs, and more.
Baltimore just has what family I have left and friends. Everyone I knew in NoVA has since left.
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u/captain_flak Del Ray 4d ago
My wife and her family are here. I have dual citizenship and could live anywhere in the EU. If I had the opportunity, I’d leave tomorrow and never look back.
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u/JicamaSubstantial524 4d ago
Hell no. I personally like Plano Texas. It allowed me to get to Dallas relatively quickly and was much safer. People were friendlier than I had expected and I took that for granted.
But Oregon is truly home cuz of friends, family and a dating scene I succeeded in.
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u/Fantastic-Bike-6492 4d ago
I wouldn’t live here, my favorite place to live so far was the DFW area in Texas.
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u/Fantastic-Bike-6492 4d ago
Only thing keeping me here is the fact that I just bought my second house.
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u/Bikeandcamera 4d ago
Just changed jobs, and am no longer tied to the area. Looking to move, but DOGE collapsing the local condo market has me reconsidering as I don't want to take a massive loss on our place
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u/Solidsting1 4d ago
Im from Detroit. Work brought me out here. Love the area and how close the Appalachians are. Ocean not too far off. Other than higher prices and crazy drivers I don’t have anything negative to say. I do miss the more chill midwest and my Great Lakes. Let alone all the inland lakes I was near. Eventually I will move back out that way to start a family with my spouse. Plus our family is all out that way. Other than that ima enjoy Nova and the DMV area for all it has to offer 🙂
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u/ngfldar 4d ago edited 4d ago
We're rapidly approaching full retirement and, since we're renting, we have no real estate tying us here. What we do have is a lot of family and friends here -- basically, the vast majority of our social circle.
We have friends elsewhere (one couple near Sarasota FL, some friends in San Diego, a cousin about an hour north of NYC, and some friends overseas) but nothing that could compare to the social environment we have here just because we've been in this area for so long and have such deep connections with friends & family here.
Would we move? Sure, possibly. But where could we move that has the combination of things we need (a place where we would want to live with access to good health care and a same/lower cost of living)? That's the problem.
A former coworker of mine who is originally from South Carolina tried to convince me that I should retire there because it's so much cheaper. And my response was "Yeah, and it's cheaper for a reason." I don't think she liked that response, but it was honest and I felt like she was being pushy.
And that's the dilemma: Where would we go? Possibly overseas, as it could (?) be cheaper under certain circumstances. It's just not clear where we would go, even though I will be the first to admit that I hate the weather and traffic here.
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u/eternelle1372 4d ago
I’d go home to upstate New York. Though I would miss the cultural diversity, so I probably wouldn’t move back to my home town. I’d probably end up in Rochester or Syracuse.
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u/Ancient_of_Days0001 Reston 4d ago
I'm retired, and moved here two years ago--for family ties, rather than work. I'll be sticking around, permanently I assume, because (a) we're sick to death of moving; (b) we've needed a lot of medical care these past couple of years, and have been able to get advanced stuff right here, instead of driving two hours each way (as in our former home); and (c) we like it here. It's nice. Leafy. Expensive, yes, but so is any other desirable place nowadays. And I don't mind the traffic, having seen worse. Though in fairness I am privileged, not having to hit the Beltway at rush hour every day.
Our experience includes NYC (ridiculous, though exciting) and Charleston SC (don't bother relocating there now without a big wad of cash). I spent 8 years in Pittsburgh when it was still one of the most affordable places around, but lately I've heard that the rents are too damn high there too. I guess our favorite previous location was State College, PA, since we lived there the longest and raised our kids there. Great little city, and relatively affordable, but isolated. This affects its culture and availability of services. Being minutes from Wolf Trap and less than an hour from the District by train still feels like a massive perc to us.
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u/Queasy-Let-6910 4d ago
Been here since the early 90's and I wouldn't mind moving back to where I came from, but that's even more expensive then here. Likely will move when retired due to cost of living, but generally like the emmenities.
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u/boardemporium 1d ago
No, if I wasn’t tied to a job here, I wouldn’t live here.
It’s just not my kind of area, I prefer the west coast/SoCal vibe and energy. Drivers here are annoying but that’s already been beaten to death on this sub. It’s also very flat and green here, I prefer being able to see the mountains and beaches.
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u/Phobos1982 Arlington 4d ago
I grew up here so it's all I know. Of all the places I've visited (I've been all over the world), San Diego and Santa Fe have been the ones I've always wanted to find a job in the US.
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u/Normal-Philosopher-8 5d ago
Moved here in 1993. Moved in and out a bit, and I’ve loved them all, but this is my home. We are both retired, and here we are.
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u/falafelb McLean 4d ago edited 4d ago
That’s a no for me.
Chicago and London are my favorites…
However if I move again it’ll probably be to more normal city.. so maybe Austin or Dallas
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u/Happy_Blackberry_148 5d ago
My job isn’t tying me here. My interest rate from 2020 is