pulaski; cheapest place to live; new river valley; cost of living

Pulaski is the Most Affordable Place to Live in Virginia

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Pulaski, VA – For the second year in a row, the town of Pulaski is the number one cheapest place to live in Virginia in 2020 according to HomeSnacks.net.

Housing in Pulaski is super cheap when taken as a proportion of income, whether you’re renting or buying. The median home price in Pulaski is $107,900 and the median rent is $628. With Pulaski residents earning a median income of $46,312, the mortgage or rent payments are a barely noticeable dent in the budget. If you move to Pulaski, you won’t know what people are talking about when they say that Virginia is one of the most expensive states in America. The median income in Pulaski comes in at $46,312 and the median home value is $107,900 for 2020.

HomeSnacks has been ranking the cheapest places to live in Virginia for six years considering the cost of living index along with housing affordability. Find out what other cities were ranked cheapest places to live in Virginia.

Explore more accolades won by NRV counties, city, towns, and universities here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Red Rooster Coffee Company Floyd County, VA

Red Rooster Coffee Ranked Top 50 Coffee Shops in the United States in 2020

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Floyd, VA – Big Seven Travel ranks Red Rooster Coffee at number 46, among best coffee houses across the United States.

From super Instagrammable cafes to those catering to digital nomads and straight through to the coffee shops serving up some world-class affogatos and nitro brew, you’ll find that the best coffee shops in the United States are just as wonderfully eccentric and unique as each state you’ll find them in.

The best coffee shops in the United States in 2020 are the ones committed to not only just the perfect pour but also ensuring that their processes benefit farmers at the source. Red Rooster is a company dedicated to roasting exquisite coffee while making an impact at origin and at home. And, it truly shows in their cafe culture and the quality of the beans they produce. In other words, the cafe’s trendy, the staff is friendly, and the coffee’s top-notch.

Find out who else made the 50 Best Coffee Shops list.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

The Palisades Wins Restaurateur of the Year Award

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Giles County, VA – Shaena Muldoon, owner and manager of The Palisades, received the Jim Wordsworth Award for Restaurateur of the Year from the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA).

This award recognizes an “Owner, GM, Manager, etc. for his/her extraordinary contributions to Virginia’s restaurant industry and his/her restaurant–and its patrons”. It is named for Jim Wordsworth who continues to set high standards for commitment to Virginia’s Restaurant and Tourism Industry. Shaena received this award for her creative and innovative work in the restaurant industry as well as her contributions to the community at the VRLTA Annual Dinner on October 10th in Richmond, VA. Every year the VRLTA selects winners for the Ordinary Awards to celebrate and honor all of Virginia’s restaurants, lodging establishments and hotels, DMOs, attractions, and more. A full list of all the winners can be found on their website.

Originally Pyne’s General Store, the Palisades Restaurant retains the unique features of its Historic Landmark building, including exposed brick walls, pressed tin ceilings and hardwood floors, in addition to displaying memorabilia from the Eggleston’s lively past.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

site selection; top metro

Virginia’s New River Valley Top 10 Metro for Site Selection

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New River Valley, VA – The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford metropolitan statistical area, known locally as the New River Valley, has been named a “Top Metro” for 2018 by Site Selection magazine. The 2018 rankings were split into three Top 10 lists based on population, including less than 200,000, 200,000 to 1 million, and over 1 million. Among metropolitan areas with populations less than 200,000, the NRV ranked No. 10 (tie) nationally with six new or expanding corporate facility announcements in 2018. The NRV has consistently held the 10th spot for the past two years. This past year in the New River Valley, six companies have announced projects that are investing a total of $405,702,500 million and creating 1,490 jobs. Published by Conway Inc., Site Selection delivers expansion planning information to over 48,700 readers including corporate executives, site selection consultants, and real estate professionals. The annual “Top Metros” rankings appeared in the March 2019 issue. In order to be considered in Conway Project Database, projects have to meet specific requirements. New construction must meet one or more of the following qualifying criteria:
  • 20 or more new jobs created
  • 20,000 sq. ft. or more
  • $1,000,000 or more investment
Office and/or industrial leases must have an investment of at least $1 million plus add 20 jobs or at least 20,000 sq. ft. of new space. Project also must fall into one of the following categories:
  • Manufacturing
  • Call Center
  • Headquarters
  • Data Center
  • Distribution Warehouse
  • Office
  • Research and Development
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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.” Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Blacksburg is 13th Best College Town to Start a Career

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Blacksburg, VA – According to Business Insider, Blacksburg is the 13th best college town in America to start your career in 2019.

Grand Canyon University conducted a study to identify the best college towns for starting a career. They collected data from the US Census, Yelp, Indeed, official government climate data, and more for all the cities included in the study. Six categories were used to compare the cities and included, similar state of life population, job market, climate, culture, city infrastructure, and financial. Cities were ranked on a scale of 1 – 10 in each category and then added together for a final score between 1 and 60; the higher the better.

In the 13th spot, Blacksburg scored an overall 36.05, falling just short of the 11th spot which Auburn, Alabama and Oxford, Mississippi tied for at 36.15. Notre Dame, Indiana, the top college town to start a career came in at 42.5.

Check out the full list of the top 20 schools here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Christiansburg is 2nd Best City to Live in Virginia

Christiansburg is 2nd Best City to Live in Virginia

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Christiansburg, VA – Christiansburg is ranked as the second best city to live in Virginia by creditdonkey.com.

CreditDonkey scored the cities in Virginia based on:
  • Odds of being a victim of a violent crime
  • Commute time
  • Income
  • Residents who attended some college
  • Restaurants per capita

    • Only cities with an average commute of 30 minutes or less were included.

    Christiansburg’s scores were:
  • Odds of being a victim of a violent crime: 1 in 709
  • Commute time: 19.1 minutes
  • Income: $50,276
  • Residents who attended some college: Bachelor’s Degree or higher 33.6%
  • Restaurants per capita: 1 per 316 inhabitants

    • The atmosphere of Christiansburg was described as “progressive small town living at its best”.

    Explore more accolades won by NRV counties, city, towns, and universities here.

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    Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

    Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

    Pulaski Has 8th Lowest Cost of Living in Virginia

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    Pulaski County, VA – Pulaski comes in with the 8th lowest Cost of Living Index (COLI) at 86 in the state of Virginia.

    The index includes cost of retail goods and services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), cost of private/public transportation (9%), and utilities (10%). Overall, the state of Virginia ranks at 108 with the national average being 100. With a variety of affordable housing options, the housing index for Pulaski is 55 which has a significant impact on the overall score.

    Read more about the breakdown of the COLI here.

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    Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

    Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

    Aerial of Downtown Blacksburg, Virgnia

    Blacksburg Named Top Ten Safest College Town

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    Blacksburg, VA – SafeWise names Blacksburg ninth safest college town in America.

    Each year SafeWise assesses the safety of college towns by analyzing the number of violent crimes and property crimes in each area. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault while property crimes, which were only considered if there was a tie in violent crime rate, are burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Blacksburg moved up 13 spots this year as a result of cutting the number of violent crimes nearly in half to 0.53 per 1,000, 3.96 below national average. Property crimes also decreased to 7.46 per 1,000, 19.65 below national average. This improved safety climate is in part due to the ongoing relationship between Blacksburg police and the Virginia Tech police force. The two departments signed a memorandum of understanding allowing them to share jurisdiction and resources including radio and security camera access.

    Blacksburg is only one of two cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia that made the Top 50 list.

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    Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.”

    Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

    cnbc

    Virginia Named Top State to Do Business in 2019

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    New River Valley, VA – CNBC ranks the Commonwealth of Virginia as the overall #1 state to do business in 2019. All 50 states are put through a rigorous test, scoring each state on more than 60 measures in 10 overarching categories. Then each category is weighted based on how often the state uses that category as a selling point in their economic development marketing materials. This ensures that the states are only being assessed on the attributes they use to promote themselves. The criteria for scoring was developed using existing business and policy experts, official government sources, and the input from the individual states. The 10 categories of evaluation include:
    1. Workforce
    2. Economy
    3. Infra-structure
    4. Cost of Doing Business
    5. Quality of Life
    6. Education
    7. Technology & Innovation
    8. Business Friendliness
    9. Access to Capital
    10. Cost of Living
    Not only did Virginia rank #1 overall, but the state also received the top spot in workforce and education. Educational attainment of workforce, number of available employees, and net migration of college-educated workers are all considered when calculating the workforce category, which is allocated the largest sum of points, 450, of all 10 categories. The state’s concentration of STEM workers, workforce productivity, and even union membership and right-to-work laws are also considered. In the category of education, which is slotted for up to 175 points, the number of higher education institutions as well as the test scores, class size, and spending of K-12 schools is calculated. Another notable ranking for Virginia, is the 3rd place score in the category of business friendliness. Business friendliness is also awarded 175 points and looks at the legal and regulatory climate of the state and the economic freedom for business individuals. Learn more about the categories and grading system here or check out the list of all 50 states and their rankings here. For those searching for a beautiful place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both a small-town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative and business-friendly culture. It also offers a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. With magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, and exceptional arts, entertainment, and education — Virginia’s New River Valley is quite simply, A Natural Fit.
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    Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.” Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.
    BT

    Blacksburg Transit Named Outstanding Transit System of North America

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    Blacksburg, VA – American Public Transportation Association (APTA) selected Blacksburg Transit (BT) the 2019 Outstanding Transit System award for North America. Each year, APTA chooses a transit system that performs exceptionally as an organization as well as benefits the community. The award was received for the small urban system category which is defined by annual ridership of four million or less and includes bus systems and rail transportation in North America. Transit systems were scored on their performance in 24 quantitative and qualitative criteria.
    “We’ve had unprecedented ridership growth of 22 percent over the last three years when most systems in our industry are facing declines. Through employee dedication, innovation and the support of our stakeholders we’ve taken the organization to new heights while never compromising our high standards.” – Tom Fox, BT Director
    Blacksburg Transit has 50 buses that serve 13 routes in Christiansburg and Blacksburg, including on Virginia Tech’s campus. Virginia Tech students and employees can even ride for free when they use their Hokie Passport. BT passengers can also make connections to other bus lines that serve Radford, Roanoke, and Washington, D.C. Click here to learn more about Blacksburg Transit including maps, routes, and schedules.
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    Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly-skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “A Natural Fit.” Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.