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Lynchburg's cost-of-living is roughly 15% below the
national average, and housing is nearly 32% below the
national average, making the city one of the least expensive
pleasant places to live in the U.S. Many homes
are single-story red brick, and the median home price is
$145,000. This will purchase a newer, 2,200 square foot home with
four bedrooms, two and a half baths and a two car garage in a solid
middle to upper-middle income neighborhood. Bungalows
and doll houses (800 square feet) in quiet, shady
neighborhoods can be found for $85,000.
Magnificent, stately, brick Federalist-style residences with
four bedrooms, three baths and 3,000 square feet are for
sale in the $300,000 range. Housing dollars go a long
way in Lynchburg. For foreclosures, click
here (advertisement). Use zip code 24501. |
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Real estate taxes are $1.11 per $100 of a home's assessed
value; homes are assessed at 100%. The annual taxes on a
$150,000 home would be $1,665. Once home to Thomas Jefferson (he
built his delightful retreat Poplar Forest here), Lynchburg also
at one time gained a rowdy reputation because of its lack of
churches (this situation has since been rectified). It once
served as the capital of Virginia and once was one of the nation's
wealthiest cities. Today, it has a welcoming small town
ambiance and enough restaurants, shopping venues and libraries to
meet most needs; the population is primarily blue-collar; the
people are friendly; the neighborhoods are eclectic.
Lynchburg is often referred to as "Hill City," and with
good reason. Walking and bicycling here can be
strenuous. Luckily, there is a public bus system (GLTC);
those 65 and better ride for $.75. Three colleges, Lynchburg
College, Sweet Briar and Liberty University, make their home in
Lynchburg but do not overwhelm the city (Liberty, founded by
televangelist Jerry Falwell, is the largest of the three with
18,000 students). Lynchburg is growing (but not
booming) and has a strong, locally-based economy with J. Crew,
Genworth Financial, R.R. Donnelley and C.B. Fleet based
here. The cute downtown has shops and coffeehouses
nestled along tree-lined streets; in fact, for its efforts to
revitalize its downtown, the city won a Great American Main Street
Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in
2006. Downtown's distinctive Monument Terrace,
stretching up a hill from Church Street to Court Street, uses the
landings of its139 steps to commemorate the Lynchburg citizens who
fought and died in the Civil War, Spanish American War, World Wars
I and II, Korea and Vietnam and is rather inspiring.
There is a lovely River Walk path along the James River not far
from downtown, and 56-acre Percival's Island Natural Area is a
popular park right in the middle of the River.
For a small city,
there is quite a bit to see and visit. Appomattox
Courthouse, where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General
Ulysses S. Grant in 1865, is a must for any history buff and is a
few miles outside of town. The Old City Cemetery has an
extensive section of Confederate graves and an interesting, if
somewhat gruesome, medical museum. Booker T. Washington's
birthplace, with a recreated farm and slave cabin, is worth a
visit. The Natural Bridge, a 215-foot natural stone arch
bought by Thomas Jefferson from King George in 1774, is a fun
excursion (it is considered one of the seven natural wonders of
the world). And, of course, the surrounding Blue Ridge
Mountains and the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, particularly
in the spring and autumn, are beautiful. Nestled in those
mountains, too, are numerous wineries and vineyards, always worth
a visit! Lynchburg College and Liberty University both
have sports teams, and the Lynchburg Hillcats are the Class High-A
professional baseball team in the Carolina League; they are a farm
team for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lynchburg,
Virginia, Continued....
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