Virginia Beach scores another ranking on 'best' list

Posted to: News Virginia Beach
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By Mike Hixenbaugh
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 18, 2012

VIRGINIA BEACH

Not only is Virginia Beach apparently the "best-run city in America," it's been called the second-best place in the country to raise kids.

Both recognitions are courtesy of the online investment news site 24/7 Wall St.

The New York-based news site crafts various "best of" city rankings. For the "10 best cities for raising a family" list, the writers considered acres of parkland, crime rates, unemployment rates, and the number of residents with a high school diploma.

A large military presence makes Virginia Beach prosperous, the writers said, and the city has one of the highest number of playgrounds per capita in the nation.

Six of the cities listed among the best places to raise a family were also listed among the top 10 best-run cities a week earlier.

Both lists relied on FBI crime statistics and U.S. Census data related to the economic demographics of residents.

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Lots of Recent Fluff-Piece Articles by Out of Towne..... Papers

Submitted by PuddinPop on Sat, 01/21/2012 at 9:36 am.

CoVB is a great place. That is why many live here in spite of odd-ball things council believes is in the best interests of its citizens. The article is from a site that CRAFTS various "best of" city rankings, so clearly this article was bought and paid for by someone and not just a flash in the dark. Raising the family issue? Heck, lets hope schools push kids through high school. Parks may be abundant at distance from the resort area, but at the oceanfront itself we enjoy only postage stamp sized mini-lawns structured to promote local hotels. If a large military presence makes Virginia Beach prosperous, then why do CoVB power brokers hope the Navy abandons NAS Oceana? Adds up, but not enough to buy an hour of parking in the season, a tax for play.

How is this possible..

Submitted by robjg on Wed, 01/18/2012 at 11:41 pm.

..without a convention center hotel???? Surely there must be a mistake.

Taxes And Fees

Submitted by muerte on Wed, 01/18/2012 at 10:27 am.

How about the top 10 cities where you should assume the position before you move in?

I have a suggestion

Submitted by squirrelly on Wed, 01/18/2012 at 8:10 am.

For the negative commentors: MOVE. I would honestly like any of you to find another city that offers as much as VB does. I have lived in a lot of cities, and VB beats them all hands down. Low taxes, great schools, low crime, so many activities, parks, beaches, etc. I agree that the council has made some poor decisions, and traffic has gotten a little heavier, but it's a lot better than anywhere else, and if you don't believe me, why not move there and complain even more.

As soon as retirement arrives and kids graduate High School

Submitted by PuddinPop on Sat, 01/21/2012 at 9:44 am.

Lived elsewhere also and find the CoVB acceptable for the time being. However, when the retirement check begins from the Commonwealth, if anything remains in the VRS, and the kids finish their basic education - Jacksonville or other nearby coastal towns in Florida just might be the next better choice. Full 12 months of comfortable coastal activities not just the 5 or so months we enjoy, vibrant downtown and total beach scene, white sands and clean clear waters, no state income tax, and not just another cul-de-sac wanna-be resort city inflated beyonds its needs and capabilities.

Thumbs down

Submitted by RequiredReading on Wed, 01/18/2012 at 3:37 am.

Obviously whom ever did this survey never had a loved one murdered in VA Beach and experience the inept handling of the crime by the VA Beach police.

The murder of a loved one is a tragedy

Submitted by FOP1811 on Wed, 01/18/2012 at 7:42 am.

Any time a loved one is murdered it is traumatic. However, VBPD consistently exceeds the national average in murder clearance rates. In fact, they far exceed these averages. While perfection is a goal, murder clearance rates in VB are far better than most police departments. According to the FBI uniform crime report the VBPD murder clearance rate has averaged 97.02% per year during the last 10 years. The national average for cities over 250000 in population was less than 62% in 2010. The VBPD does a great, but not perfect, job of arresting murderers. I understand that may be small comfort to surviving friends and families.