What is the best area to live in? This is a very important question that I ask myself every time I move to new town or city, and I know many other people ask this question when planning their own moves as well. This can be very subjective depending on what you and your family’s needs are, but here are, in my opinion, Lyncburg, Virginia’s top 5 areas to live in.
5 – Downtown
For those who prefer city living, downtown Lynchburg offers a variety of apartments, condos, and lofts within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions. Now, Downtown Lynchburg is a Historical Downtown, which means that rather than the traditional metro style with skyscrapers and major shopping centers and major brands, Downtown Lynchburg has historical architecture, and the shops and dinning are typically small and local. The Waterdog is a great local bar to grab some food and drinks on a weekend night. There’s also a great cinnamon roll place called Cinn City where they put all these toppings on the cinnamon roll and it’s amazingly sweet and tasty. Additionally, Downtown Lynchburg is also a very walkable area with a WalkScore of 81.
Families with children may be wary of this area due to the schools available here. There are many schools that your child could be attending in the Downtown Lynchburg area including Paul Munro Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 8/10), Perrymont Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 2/10), Sandusky Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 4/10), Linkhorne Middle (Great Schools Rating: 3/10), PL Dunbar Middle (Great Schools Rating: 4/10), Sandusky Middle (Great Schools Rating: 3/10), EC Glass High (Great Schools Rating: 2/10), and Heritage High (Great Schools Rating: 2/10).
4 – Rivermont
This historic neighborhood is known for its beautiful homes, tree-lined streets, and proximity to the James River. It is also home to several parks, walking trails, and popular restaurants. One such amazing restaurant is called Rivermont Pizza, which is one of my favorite restaurants inn all of Lynchburg. Rivermont is also within close proximity to downtown and is somewhat walkable with a WalkScore of 34.
Once again, families with children may be wary of the schools in this area. The schools that service the Rivermont area are Linkhorne Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 2/10), Linkhorne Middle (Great Schools Rating: 3/10), and EC Glass High (Great Schools Rating: 2/10).
3 – Boonsboro
This suburban neighborhood is in the northeastern part of Lynchburg and is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, excellent schools, and close-knit community. With a WalkScore of 14, Boonsboro is not very walkable. Boonsboro is also split between Lynchburg City and Bedford County which does affect whether your child will be in those excellent schools.
On the Lynchburg City side of things the schools follow the same trend that we’ve already seen in other Lynchburg schools, so families with children may be wary of this side of Boonsboro. The schools that service the Lynchburg side of Boonsboro are Paul Munro Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 8/10), Linkhorne Middle (Great Schools Rating: 3/10), and EC Glass (Great Schools Rating: 2/10).
On the Bedford County side of Boonsboro we have much better school options. The schools that service the Bedford County side of Boonsboro are Boonsboro Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 7/10), Forest Middle (Great Schools Rating: 6/10), and Jefferson Forest High (Great Schools Rating: 7/10).
2 – Wyndhurst
This newer development is a popular choice for families and young professionals, with its mix of townhouses, condos, and single-family homes. It also offers plenty of amenities, including a YMCA, and plenty of restaurants. One popular restaurant is a sports bar called Scoreboards. Wyndhurst has a WalkScore of 46 and I often see people walking, running or biking when I pass through the area.
As with other areas serviced by the Lynchburg school system, families with children may be wary of this area. The schools that service this area are Heritage Elementary, (Great Schools Rating: 3/10) Sandusky Middle (Great Schools Rating: 3/10), and Heritage High (Great Schools Rating: 2/10).
1 – Forest
Located just outside of Lynchburg, Forest is a quiet, upscale neighborhood with plenty of green space, great schools, and convenient access to shopping and dining. Forest is a rapidly growing area, and many new homes and apartments are being built currently. As Forest grows, we should see even more things to do in that area as well. With a WalkScore of 48 Forest is somewhat walkable, though this will depend on what part of Forest you are in.
Forest is serviced by Bedford County schools, and just like we saw on the Bedford side of Boonsboro we have some good schools available in this area. The schools that service the Bedford area are Thomas Jefferson Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 8/10), Forest Elementary (Great Schools Rating: 9/10), Forest Middle (Great Schools Rating: 6/10), and Jefferson Forest High (Great Schools Rating: 7/10).
Personally, I’d like to move to forest when we buy our next house. But let me know, which area most appeals to you? If you’re considering moving to Lynchburg, then I hope this blog post has been informative and helpful in your decision-making process.
Lynchburg Living: Realtor Edition 