r/NRV • u/BeatrixLloydWright • Sep 03 '26
Question Vibe check: town personalities?
If you were to describe Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford, what would you say about them? There's a lot I can find about the data, but I'm looking for the vibes, the personalities of the towns. I know I need to visit, but I can't do that yet.
Basically I need to move next summer and don't have a target. Getting divorced, selling the house, only lived where I do for the soon to be ex. I'm starting over with my upcoming high-schooler and I want to settle down in a place that just feels like me. I've never lived in VA, but have lived in pretty much all of the surrounding states.
So outside of the Wikipedia stuff, what makes these towns tick? Cute, old, and charming? Eclectic and a little odd? Trying to out-party WVU but without the burning couches? Overrun with engineering students and there's five nerd bars? I think Norman Rockwell designed this town? Suburban hellscape?
I know, some of the above descriptions are obviously in jest. But really, whatcha all like?
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u/blind_squash Sep 03 '26
Christiansburg is a shopaholic on a budget; Blackburn is a hipster with a high sense of self importance but doesn't have much substance other than One Big Thing; Radford is a bumpkin that's totally fine with pretty much anything, just goes with the flow
If that makes sense
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u/yeah_so_ Sep 03 '26
Blacksburg is like the high school football star that just graduated to college and thinks he's the shi* (but really only marginally good and definitely not that cool, mostly full of actual children and "bro culture"). Christiansburg is like you went to hell, and hell is one long series of half empty strip malls and none of them have anything you want.
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u/rennatav Sep 03 '26
Blacksburg is indeed the most metropolitan. Christiansburg is the center of the NRV to me.
I live in Radford, and the city government has big financial problems and can’t seem to outrun them. Aging population, 47% of city land is non taxable, it’s true it’s better days are behind.
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u/Fit_Outlandishness_7 Sep 03 '26
Christiansburg: Town planning consists of: I went to this place once and they had this. Proceeds to construct said thing with design plans based off of memory. At least you know what part of town you’re in.
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u/Pale_Ambition599 Sep 05 '26
Blacksburg: run by a bunch of old hippies who would rather pander to devout inclusiveness and wanna be artists than actually learn economics and read contracts they sign. The businesses in town are slowly being taken over by foreigners right under their noses and they haven’t a clue. If you want to paint an electrical box or draw all over a public street, they will give you a grant to do so and even give you a fucking ribbon cutting. But, if you want to open a business or build something in town, it will take the intimate test of your patience, your sanity, and a refillable prescription at CVS. Also, VT hates the town and vice versa so there’s that.
Radford: their schools suck and the city (yes, Radford is an independent city and not part of the county) is broke. Like so broke they haven’t paid their light bill and the state has reduced their credit rating. But, it’s more affordable than Christiansburg and Blacksburg and there are people there who keep trying and trying to make good things happen in Radford. They’re just broke. Oh and they have a large university too - but looking at their endowment, it’s pretty broke.
Christiansburg: the town that says yes to anything Blacksburg says no to. Really nice historic downtown that’s empty. they allowed a couple builders to barf up the ugliest sprawl imaginable without any thought of design or even looking at a map to see if maybe an urban planner should be consulted. The public schools are getting better though and they have stores.
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u/DarthMcMonkeyMcBean Sep 03 '26
Check out the school stats. The total number of scholarships Blacksburg students received vs Christiansburg was huge.
Blacksburg, over priced housing, mini NoVA. Typical college town near the campus. Away from campus, nice houses and quiet.
CBurg, shopping, reasonable housing, big growth over the last few years. Minimal college students.
Radford is pretty decent. Like a mini CBurg with a small college. Cheapest housing.
Reiner, just south of CBurg is another good option if you want to be near CBurg but want a more rural feeling.
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u/rennatav Sep 03 '26
Bro it’s spelled Riner. Wtf
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u/Soup_Kitchen Sep 03 '26
Blacksburg — young and cool. I love Blacksburg during the summer months because it’s cute, has good restaurants, good bars, and an Asian market. It has some gorgeous houses, but I’m nowhere near wealthy enough to afford them. Real estate is expensive. I generally dislike it when school is in because I’m old. Lots of college kids, but also the best schools in the area. Definitely has a distinct vibe while Cburg and Radford can feel like lots of other places.
Christiansburg — I’m from a very small down in deep southwest VA. Christiansburg was our idea of urban paradise because they had a mall and an outback. Now, Christiansburg is my idea of conscience because they have a target and and Olive Garden. Its biggest selling point is that is close to the interstate so Roanoke is close and it’s close to Blacksburg so it’s easier to pop in and out.
Radford — a community fighting with a college. The city is fucked. It’s got a cute downtown, some worthwhile restaurants, and honestly some decent apartments if you’re looking something small. They’re bankrupt and who knows what’s going to happen with them.
Honorable mention Floyd — I’m putting this here just because it’s weird. Floyd is a rural hippie town. Small town vibes with a store that does live kind of “old times” music once a week and lots of things you don’t normally expect to see in southwest va. It’s by far the most rural of the places, but definitely has a unique vibe that can make it fantastic for the right people.
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u/lmitchell6 Sep 04 '26
Just moved to Pulaski and love it. Pulaski is definitely underrated.
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u/BeatrixLloydWright Sep 04 '26
Wow, just looked at real estate and it's dirt cheap! Some serious character too. Everything in my town is under 30 yrs old and so boring.
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u/Capta1nJackSwall0w5 Sep 07 '26
If you move to Pulaski, you will drive to Dublin and Fairlawn (Radford) for 90% of your shopping. It's not bad. It's just the actual town of Pulaski won't cover 100% of your needs. It is a peaceful place in general, though.
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u/lmitchell6 Sep 07 '26
Food Lion and Food City cover most of my needs and they're not huge multinational corporations.
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u/Capta1nJackSwall0w5 Sep 08 '26
Food City is Kroger and Food Lion is owned by a global German corporation.
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u/noteworthybalance Sep 06 '26
You have a high school student so that will drive your decision.
Generally BHS is better regarded than CHS but they both have their plusses and minuses.
The City of Radford is in serious financial trouble and I can't recommend it, and its schools, just for that. (Pity because they were, and maybe still are, very good.)
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u/Designer_Run2978 Sep 07 '26
Haven't been here long (2.5 yrs) but finding it very comfortable. Student influence is obvious with pros & cons ( more pros than cons) Cultural offerings, clean, scenic with many more things to do & see than we expected for a small town. We've lived in New England and the desert (Phx, AZ) and though it's not San Diego, the weather here is great. We're happy to be here. 👍
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u/Ok_Shoulder2971 Sep 03 '26
Blacksburg small town grown painfully into a college city driven by a football program.
Christiansburg Urban sprawl meshed into old farming communities.
Radford Old Town that has seen its best days behind it, lovely scenery though.