The Best Moving Companies in Hampton

Hampton, Virginia is a great place to call home, especially if you’re a fan of coastal living with a collegiate flair. And you wouldn’t be alone, over 130,000 folks currently call Hampton home according to the U.S. Census. And aside from its proximity to larger neighboring cities (think Norfolk and Virginia Beach), it’s an area steeped in American history. The city features sites like the oldest Anglican parish in America and Hampton University—a historical monument in its own right as one of the first universities established for Native Americans and former slaves after the Civil War.

History and scenic ocean views aren’t the only things that attract newcomers in Hampton, though. The city is also a well-known resting place for many military service members, with one of the largest populations of active duty members (more than 83,000) and the largest naval base in the world, according to the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.

Lastly, Hampton is a place that clearly values quality of living, as evidenced by its abundant arts community and cultural attractions. Additionally, the city’s website boasts that it has been named one of the most technology-advanced cities in the U.S. by the Center for Digital Government for the past 14 out of 15 years. All this, paired with the lowest crime rates in the region and regional leadership in National-Board certified teachers make Hampton a great place to settle for families and professionals alike.

While the majority of salaries in the Hampton area are between $37,122 and $65,238 (per ZipRecruiter), a comfortable salary ultimately depends on your own family’s individual needs. That said, MIT’s Living Wage Calculator indicates that a decent living wage for an individual is around living wage for an individual is $18.37 per hour, while it increases to about $24.97 per hour for a family of four for a family of four (with two working adults). Annually, this rounds out to about $38,210 for a single person, and about $50,938 per person for two adults with two children.

The cost of living in Hampton is considered average compared to other cities across the nation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an inexpensive place to live. In fact, Salary.com advises that the cost of living in Hampton is 2.5% higher than the national average, where you pay a bit more for things like transportation, food, and housing. That said, according to Zillow, the average price for a home in Hampton is around $247,378 which is lower than the state average of $364,208. While Hampton’s price for a home is lower than the national average per The Zebra, you’ll still need to budget for higher living expenses across groceries and transportation.

There aren’t many cons when it comes to making Hampton your home, but there are a few, according to Ablison:

1. A lot of traffic. Due to its popularity as both a tourist destination and military base installation, you can expect the highways to be congested regularly, especially if you plan to travel between Hampton Roads and nearby cities like Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Parking can also be tricky to navigate.
2. Limited job opportunities. There are plenty of large corporations like the NASA Langley Research Center or Hampton University’s Proton Therapy Institute, but job opportunities are ultimately limited to specific fields. This may pose an issue for professionals looking for work outside of these areas.
3. Dangerous weather conditions. As a coastal city, Hampton is subject to extreme weather during hurricane season. And although the city has weathered many a storm, potential residents should be mindful of learning how to prepare and protect their families during inclement weather.
4. Little option for public transportation. You can always find a taxi in Hampton, but bus lines and consistent transportation could be difficult without a vehicle of your own. So if you rely heavily on public transportation to get around, you might find navigating Hampton to be difficult.