Moving to Chesapeake, VA soon? This city in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia has a lot to offer. No matter what type of home you’re looking for, you’re likely to find it in Chesapeake. At Cova Collective Realty, we help our clients find amazing places to live in the Hampton Roads area. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best neighborhoods to live in Chesapeake and what makes this area so great.
Why Chesapeake?
One of the things we love so much about Chesapeake is that it strikes a balance between living in a big city and living in the country. Most neighborhoods in Chesapeake have a suburban feel that is very peaceful and quiet. Homes here tend to have big yards and lots of space. There’s even a nature preserve at the southern end of town for those who want to spend more time outdoors.
However, if you prefer the vibrant feel of a large city, you won’t have to go far from Chesapeake. Norfolk and Portsmouth are both close by and have a more urban feel. Within Chesapeake itself, you’ll still have access to plenty of great dining and shopping, especially at the Greenbriar Mall.
When compared to its urban neighbors, Chesapeake housing prices tend to be more affordable. This means you’ll get more bang for your buck and you can purchase a larger home. With so many neighborhoods to choose from, Chesapeake offers a little something for everyone.
Best Neighborhoods in Chesapeake
So where should you live in Chesapeake? There are plenty of great neighborhoods to choose from here. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites.
Great Bridge
This neighborhood was very quiet and sleepy until about 30 years ago when development really started to take off. Today, Great Bridge is a lively suburb with so much going on. This is where the Chesapeake City Hall and Central Library are located. Great Bridge also has excellent local schools for families with kids.
There are also several large shopping centers in Great Bridge as well as restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops concentrated around Battlefield Road. No matter where you live in the area, there’s always a grocery store nearby.
The homes in Great Bridge are a good mix of single-family homes and townhouses. The neighborhoods are well-established and the housing market is competitive when compared to the city as a whole.
Hickory
If you’d prefer to live somewhere with a more rural feel, consider living in Hickory. Hickory is just south of Great Bridge and stretches all the way down to the North Carolina border. When compared to other neighborhoods in Chesapeake, Hickory is very spread out.
Most of the homes in Hickory are large single-family homes, many of which have luxury features. The lots here are very big, so you can count on having plenty of space and privacy. There are also small farms and ranches, as well as undeveloped rural areas.
If you like to spend time outside boating, biking, or horseback riding, there are plenty of places in the Hickory area where you can do so. The downside of living in Hickory is that you will need to drive further to run most errands or commute into larger cities like Norfolk. However, there is a shopping center in the north side of the neighborhood that has essential stores, restaurants, and a movie theater.
Greenbrier
Greenbrier is often considered the commercial center of Chesapeake. It’s one of the best neighborhoods to live in Chesapeake VA , and it is a great place if you want to be right in the thick of everything. Many major highways converge in this neighborhood as well, making it very convenient if you need to commute to another city for work.
The Greenbrier Mall has hundreds of popular stores to choose from, and the area has a good selection of restaurants as well. This is also where most of Chesapeake’s hotels are located, which makes it a convenient option if you like to host out-of-town visitors.
Other amenities for Greenbrier residents include high-quality local schools and medical centers as well as plenty of parks and golf clubs. The housing market here is a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. Greenbrier is relatively dense compared to other areas of Chesapeake.
Western Branch
The Western Branch of Chesapeake is separated from the rest of the city by the Elizabeth River. This is a great place to live for anyone who needs to commute into Portsmouth or Norfolk.
Despite its proximity to the city, Western Branch has a quiet suburban feel. Residents love how laid-back this area feels. Here you’ll find a wide range of single-family homes. You’ll find some small bungalows under 1,000 square feet, but most homes here are larger. There are plenty of more traditional options with at least four bedrooms, garages, and large yards.
For those who like to shop, the Chesapeake Square Mall is located in this area, and there are many grocery stores and big box stores nearby. Most restaurants in the Western Branch neighborhood are concentrated around the mall. This area also has a large park with playgrounds and softball fields that’s great for families.
Deep Creek
The Deep Creek neighborhood is also located along the Elizabeth River and has a mix of suburban and rural characteristics. Many of the homes here are older and are situated on very large lots.
The southern portion of this neighborhood is adjacent to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Despite the name, this actually makes for some great outdoor scenery for residents. Local trails mean that there’s always a convenient place to go running or biking.
This neighborhood is also popular among members of the military who work at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which is a short drive away. Although Deep Creek is mostly residential, there are some small shopping areas and restaurants as well as excellent schools.
Contact us to learn more about our team and the the best neighborhoods to live in Chesapeake VA, and be sure to check out our blog about the best neighborhoods in Norfolk too!
