Whether you grew up here, attended college or are just looking to relocate somewhere safe, beautiful, and vibrant, Lynchburg, Virginia may the spot for you.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains on the banks of the James River – just miles from the famous Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway – Lynchburg is a fun, urban center surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. The City has grown more than 25% since 2000 and was ranked #1 by Reviews.org in 2019 on the list of Best Places for Millennials to Move after reviewing 325 metro areas for low unemployment rates, positive net migration, low housing costs, and low rates of property crime.
Learn more about why many people are falling in love with Lynchburg and choosing to call this small city home. With a balance of smaller-city comforts and bigger-city amenities, Lynchburg offers:
Photo by Flowers Bakery.
A Stable, Flourishing Economy
Our industry makeup and workforce is made up of firms of all sizes, making our economy stable and diverse. This means more job security and peace of mind for our community. While employment is primarily driven by healthcare, higher education, and retail, these jobs are complemented by technology, professional services, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Lynchburg was named The Most Interesting Spot in the State by Business View Magazine which highlighted Lynchburg as being a Top 10 Digital City and one of the fastest-growing cities in Virginia. The growth of Lynchburg encourages our local industries to expand like Bausch + Lomb, who announced a $35 million expansion and creation of 79 jobs, as well as Flowers Bakery who announced a $25 million expansion to transform the bakery into an organic facility that produces brands like Daves Killer Bread, Natures Own and Tastykake.
Photo by the University of Lynchburg shows President Morrison-Shetlar speaking with students.
Outstanding Education Opportunities
The City is home to eight colleges, universities, and technical school campuses totaling the student population at over 21,000. Every year, more people in Lynchburg pursue higher education, and over 34.2% of the overall population has either a Bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree. In the last year, the University of Lynchburg announced Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar as the eleventh president. Though we missed having Randolph College’s student presence in the City this fall, we are excited to welcome the students back for the spring semester.
A family views out at the jet before taking flight.
Connectivity
It just got easier to visit Lynchburg! Strategically located with easy access to major markets, Lynchburg, Virginia, is a distinctive city with all the amenities and resources to live, learn, work, play, and prosper. Recently, the LYH Airport added an additional flight, increasing service to Charlotte to four round-trip flights. Just three-hours to Washington, DC or Charlotte, NC by car or train – and with multiple daily jet service flights to Charlotte – Lynchburg is easily accessed by Amtrak, air, and car. Commuting downtown also just got zippier with the addition of electric scooters downtown.
A Low Cost of Living
Rent, food, transportation, goods and services, and other essentials are generally more affordable in Lynchburg. In fact, the average cost of living is 14.2% lower than the United States average, which gives our community members a higher disposable income to invest in what they love. Lynchburg is even rated as one of the Best Value Cities in the U.S. by Kiplinger. Average annual wages have also continued to grow, more than 2.5% in the past year. In the last year, Lynchburg introduced several new condos and apartments downtown like the Krise Luxury Lofts, Penny Lane Properties, and Parkview on the Bluff. In the spring of 2020, Lynchburg was featured as a top retirement destination by Where To Retire Magazine.
Parkview on the Bluff condos stand tall during construction earlier this summer.
Fantastic Healthcare
Two Centra School of Nursing students practice in a hospital simulation room.
Equipped with a world-class health care system, Lynchburg has many walk-in clinics, urgent care, dentists, orthodontists, two major hospitals, and even alternative healthcare consultants to keep you healthy. Lynchburg’s largest healthcare employer, Centra Health serves over 500,000 people through Central and Southern Virginia. This year, more than ever we are endlessly thankful for our health care workers and first responders for their continued efforts to combat COVID-19 and keep our community safe and healthy. Learn how the Centra School of Nursing is preparing our workforce to become healthcare workers.
Safe Neighborhoods
Lynchburg is one of the top 10 most secure mid-sized cities in the United States, according to Farmer’s Insurance and Sperling’s Best Places. Our healthy neighborhoods is a key reason Lynchburg was ranked #6 in the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. The ranking identifies communities with an engaged workforce, less daily stress and physical pain, and lower rates of obesity and depression. In 2020, the Police Department announced plans for their new headquarters off of Kemper Street and efforts for more community engagement.
Lynchburg Police staff and City Officials pose in front of the new location for the Lynchburg Police Department.
Beautiful Location
Ideally located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg is a beautiful city that perfectly blends colonial architecture with modern developments. Fostering a vibrant, artistic, and welcoming community, Lynchburg is the perfect place for students, professionals, and those interested in starting or growing a family. Recent openings in our growing downtown include Starr Hill Brewery, Third Street Brewing, and Bacon Street Bagels.
But don’t just take our word for it.
So many have chosen to call Lynchburg home, from those that work in the thriving tourism industry to our anchor universities. Our relocation guide features why we love this City and choose to live, work and play here. Follow us on social media @Lynchburgva to stay up-to-date with LYHVA happenings!