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Virginia is one of the wealthiest states in the South and has been ranked No. 1 by various financial polls as having the best climate for business in the U.S.

Benefiting from a diversity of industries including agriculture, software, communications, and defense contracting, Virginia is also home to the world's largest naval base at Norfolk.

Statewide, the largest Virginia employers include Lockheed Martin, Accenture, and Verizon.

Visitors are also drawn to fun in the sun at Virginia Beach, the state's largest city, along with historical attractions such as George Washington estate at Mount Vernon, the home of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, and a re-created Colonial Williamsburg.

Virginia quality-of-life statistics

Demographics : (Virginia Census Data)
Major cities: Richmond (capital), Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Roanoke
Population : 7,642,884
White : 73.6%
Black, African American : 19.9%
Hispanic : 6.0%
High school graduates : 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher : 29.5%
Average household income: $51,103

Cost of Living: Sperling's Best Places - Virginia - Compared to the rest of the country, Virginia's cost of living is 4.79% higher than the U.S. average.

Property Taxes : Virginia Tax Climate - Virginia's combined per capita collection amounts to $1,031, making it 21st highest nationally.

Personal Income Taxes : Virginia imposes state taxes assessed over four income brackets with tax rates ranging from 2 percent to 5.75 percent. Residents must file state taxes using form 760 each year by April 15.

Housing & Real Estate Overview : also see Zillow - Virginia Real Estate
Home ownership rate : 68.1%
Average home price : $243,400
Average travel time to work : 25.5 minutes

Schools : see Virginia Department of Education

Weather : Although generally hot & humid in summer, Virginia climate varies depending on elevation, with cooler weather in mountain regions and especially cold winters in the northern Blue Ridge area.

Crime : see Virginia Crime Statistics

also see -> VA taxes | Virginia eviction laws | Virginia tourism

Virginia fall foliage | Virginia beaches | Virginia shopping outlets

Virginia kids party locations | Christmas in Virginia

More about relocating to Virginia around the Web:

Moving to Virginia - The official chamber of commerce guide in pdf format with information on state regions, quality of life, demographics, colleges & universities, weather & climate, related FAQ.

Virginia Beach Newcomers Guide - Resources and information on taxes & real estate, area schools and registration, city services, local bus & transportation schedules, building permits and related resources also available in downloadable pdf format.

Richmond.com - Information on jobs & employment, real estate, apartments & rentals, shopping, visitor attractions, local event calendar, news & feature stories and related resources.

Come Home to Norfolk - Official Web portal to information on Norfolk and Hampton Roads area real estate, schools, parks & recreation, neighborhood guides & maps, city utilities, motor vehicle registration.

Welcome to the City of Roanoke, Virginia - Virtual Downtown walking tour, information on city services, jobs & employment, schools, business climate, demographic data, tourist attractions.

Virginia real estate, apartments & job classifieds:

Norfolk & Virginia Beach : Virginian Pilot
Richmond : Times-Dispatch
Roanoke : Times