Possibly Moving To Portsmouth/Advice? (Norfolk, Chesapeake: 2015, renting, condo)

[criss_bishop]

Moving to the area soon this summer and looking for safer places to live off base. Anyone have some advice?

[Spazkat9696]

My advice is don't move to Portsmouth.

Family, kids, budget?

[TN Lily]

I agree with Spazkat9696. I do not live in Portsmouth, but hear and read of its issues on tv and in the local newspapers. Most often it involves violent crime or the ineptness of the local government officials. In a June 2015 newspaper article about Confederate memorials in that city, this statement jumps out:

"Portsmouth is a city plagued by monumental problems. A 122-year-old Confederate marker is the least of them."

Confederate memorial is least of Portsmouth's monumental problems | Kerry Dougherty | pilotonline.com

I don't think this city's problems have been resolved since this article was published. Good luck with your move.

[HRVT]

Agree with the other advice. Don't move to Portsmouth. There is very little redeeming about it. Crime is sky high (and the safer areas of town are small pockets that are few and far between). Taxes are also high. Yet the town is mostly run down. Old Towne Portsmouth seems to have made some strides... but you're talking a few blocks that are surrounded by some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the state, if not the country. Schools are also really bad.

If you have to live in the general SW quadrant of Hampton Roads, I would recommend Western Branch in Chesapeake. Or maybe even Great Bridge if you can drive that far. In general, Chesapeake taxes are a bit lower, crime is FAR lower in these parts, and the schools are better. And depending on which base you will be working in, the drive may be only marginally further.

[midgeorgiaman]

Wow. I'm a native of Portsmouth and get back to visit often. If you don't need public schools, Old Town may work. There are some other very nice areas. All of Portsmouth is not a deplorable mess like some may lead you to believe. If you need schools, live elsewhere, but if you dont...Portsmouth offers good bang for your buck with housing. I also promise you won't die. Lol. Some folks need to get out more.

[Spazkat9696]

Unless you want a long drive, or a toll, you're not getting out of Ptown.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by criss_bishop

Moving to the area soon this summer and looking for safer places to live off base. Anyone have some advice?

No. Move to Norfolk instead.

[ORFian]

Originally Posted by goofy328

No. Move to Norfolk instead.

?

Picking Norfolk over Portsmouth is like picking being stabbed over being shot. What base are you talking about (there are tons of bases here). If you are being stationed in Norfolk and have kids, best bets are VB and Chesapeake for schools. If you are stationed in Portsmouth, I would say try finding a place in Northern Suffolk or Chesapeake (Western Branch). In this area, the old adage of "you get what you pay for" rings very true and maybe even "you don't even get what you pay for" would be better. If you are getting BAH trust and believe that each and every penny will be sucked up in housing costs. But if you have kids even the worst schools in VB and Chesapeake are leaps and bounds above the best schools Norfolk and Portsmouth have to offer. The one exception in Chesapeake would be the area that runs along I-464 called "South Norfolk". Avoid this at all costs. If you look at a map, anything in Chesapeake inside I-64 (the "beltway" that no one here calls a beltway) should be avoided. The areas inside the beltway in VB (College Park) can be iffy but nowhere near as bad as South Norfolk.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by ORFian

?

Picking Norfolk over Portsmouth is like picking being stabbed over being shot. What base are you talking about (there are tons of bases here). If you are being stationed in Norfolk and have kids, best bets are VB and Chesapeake for schools. If you are stationed in Portsmouth, I would say try finding a place in Northern Suffolk or Chesapeake (Western Branch). In this area, the old adage of "you get what you pay for" rings very true and maybe even "you don't even get what you pay for" would be better. If you are getting BAH trust and believe that each and every penny will be sucked up in housing costs. But if you have kids even the worst schools in VB and Chesapeake are leaps and bounds above the best schools Norfolk and Portsmouth have to offer. The one exception in Chesapeake would be the area that runs along I-464 called "South Norfolk". Avoid this at all costs. If you look at a map, anything in Chesapeake inside I-64 (the "beltway" that no one here calls a beltway) should be avoided. The areas inside the beltway in VB (College Park) can be iffy but nowhere near as bad as South Norfolk.

Thanks a lot. I lived in South Norfolk for several years renting a two story detached. I never had any problems but it was a bit depressing over there. It looks a lot better now.

[ORFian]

Originally Posted by goofy328

Thanks a lot. I lived in South Norfolk for several years renting a two story detached. I never had any problems but it was a bit depressing over there. It looks a lot better now.

My condolences.

I have in-laws who live over there. The schools are awful, retail is non-existent, borders one of Norfolk's worst areas (Berkeley) but still people get suckered in because it is in "Chesapeake". It should be called "East Craddock".