Apartments for Rent in Virginia

Virginia

Virginia varies from the Blue Ridge Mountains, famous for wildlife and great camping, to the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Beach, both famed for seafood and water sports. The rich variety and its rich colonial history make Virginia a wonderful place to rent an apartment for almost anyone. In fact, Virginia consistently ranks in the top five states for great family living by most polls based on climate, cost of living, activities and services (including healthcare).

Soybeans are the largest agricultural product here, but tomatoes, potatoes and peanuts are also major exports. Industrial products include electronics, lumber and furniture. Military bases in the state are a significant presence, with military families contributing heavily to the economy. The Marine Corps University is also located here.

Tourism is the top revenue earner in Virginia because of the state’s central importance in Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War history. The state has encouraged this through their impressive restoration and preservation of sites such as Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello and Mt. Vernon.

Although Washington State has a reputation for being cool and rainy, there is a great variety of climates here, ranging from desert steppes in the eastern half of the state to the cold mountains of the Cascade Range. Washington is also one of the few states that have subtropical rainforests that are home to a rich variety of rare animals. If you want to rent an apartment in Washington, you can find a climate to suit you.

Washington has long relied on heavy logging of its huge conifer forests, although this has been slowed somewhat by the environmental concerns. Today, agriculture (including raspberries, cherries, pears, grapes and asparagus) and high tech are both major contributors to the economy. Some of the most prominent companies in Washington include Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Nintendo and Starbucks. Software and biotech are both major players, with biotech quickly growing in the last ten to fifteen years.

West Virginia, known for its \"wild, wonderful\" beauty, is a largely rural, mountainous state with four distinct seasons, so if you love the great outdoors, it's a great place to look for an apartment. The best cities for plenty of choice in apartment rentals are Charleston, Huntington and Parkersburg.

The state's economy is largely based on coal mining, with numerous major mines dotting the state. Long-wall coal mining is the basis for the state’s economy, although it has diversified into manufacturing in recent years (particularly glass, aluminum and steel). Poultry and eggs are the main agricultural products, primarily for regional distribution.

Tourism in West Virginia centers on the great outdoors and the heritage of the Appalachian regions, where music and art have developed unique styles and preserved a rich pioneer and mountain history. For those seeking luxury, the Greenbriar Resort is one the country's most exclusive spa/hotels, often entertaining world dignitaries.

Wisconsin is an interesting combination of industry, agriculture and natural beauty that has a little something for everyone looking for an apartment to rent. Although many people think of Wisconsin as a farming state, industries like breweries and food products are just as important. In fact, one of the key industries is paper production, with both Kimberly Clark and Georgia Pacific located here. Other major employers include Kraft, Oscar Mayer and Johnsonville Brats and Miller Brewing Company.

The agriculture centers around large dairy farms in the central part of the state, with milk, cheese and butter being the primary exports. The northern part of the state is densely forested (in fact, almost half of the state is forest lands). Part of the state lies along Lakes Superior and Michigan, with about 15,000 additional lakes dotting the state.

Wyoming

Outdoor Attractions

The Blue Ridge Mountains provide wonderful camping, hiking and hunting opportunities. Naturalists and photographers also love this picturesque wildlife area. For those who worship the sun, Virginia Beach is popular for its white sand beaches, boating, water skiing and great seafood.

The Appalachian Trail and 35 state parks all offer exceptional hiking in the warmer months and, in higher elevations, great cross country skiing in the winter. Virginia is also wonderful for horse lovers – steeplechase and polo are both extremely popular here and horse ranches abound.

Outdoor enthusiasts love the many opportunities in Washington for fishing, hiking, camping, mountain climbing and exploring. The rainforests draw groups of eco-tourists and the challenges of the Cascade Range draw mountain climbers from across the country. Two active volcanoes – Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens – are major attractions for their potential power and the natural beauty that surrounds them.

With numerous Indian reservations, Washington also offers a rich heritage of Native American arts and crafts. Festivals throughout the year celebrate Indian art and culture. There are also several Indian owned and operated casinos throughout the state.

Puget Sound is home to major fisheries and is also an important trading post for Alaska and the Pacific Rim.

Almost any outdoor sport that you can do in a land-locked state can be done in West Virginia. Camping and hiking are particularly popular in the Allegheny Highlands and the Monongahela National Forest, where Spruce Knob is a particular challenge for climbers.

The New River Gorge area offers some of the best whitewater rafting to be found in the eastern half of the U.S. Cheat Lake is another popular spot, offering great fishing and water sports such as wake boarding. The vast tracts of forestland offer exceptional hunting.

The thousands of lakes in Wisconsin offer fishing (including winter ice fishing), swimming and boating opportunities galore. If you rent an apartment in Wisconsin, find out where the nearest lake is for weekend fun. Fishing has given way to a peculiarly Wisconsin tradition – fish boils. These culinary events are a part of the Norwegian/German heritage of the state. Horseback riding and snowmobile races are both very popular, depending upon the season. In fact, the climate in Wisconsin is generally mild, with four seasons and temperatures between the mid-30's and the low 80's.

For those interested in architecture, you can see a multitude of examples of mid-century modern masterpieces in Milwaukee and Madison. Taliesin, the architectural school founded by Frank Lloyd Wright, is also located here in the famous architect's preserved home.

There are hundreds of Dude Ranches and Rodeos across the state and they draw record numbers just about every year, from Urban Cowboys to genuine ranchers looking to show off their skills. The horse and horseback riding is central to the culture of Wyoming, with even those living in cities often boarding horses for weekend use.

Yellowstone, one of the U.S.'s most famous national parks, features numerous hot springs and geysers, including Old Faithful. Tourists come to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park to enjoy the natural wonders and abundant wildlife. Also popular are rafting adventures on the Yellowstone and Snake Rivers.

There are three historic trails to travel in Wyoming – the Pony Express Trail, Mormon Pioneer Trail and the Oregon National Trail – all of which are reminders of the great western migrations. Small towns like Sheridan, Wyoming with small museums, historic downtowns and rustic historic buildings dot the landscape and encourage cross-state road trips.

Colleges and Universities

Virginia is home to two exceptional colleges that rank in the top ten for private colleges according to U.S. News and World Report – the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary. Virginia State University and Virginia Tech are the state's universities; in addition the state has various universities offering law, pharmacy and osteopath programs.

There are six state universities in Washington as well as over thirty community colleges. Twenty-four private colleges or universities add to the versatility, with Seattle alone having six universities, including the prestigious Art Institute of Seattle. This city is known for its college town atmosphere in a big city, making it a particularly good place to look for an apartment if you enjoy relaxed living combined with art and culture.

West Virginia University has a main campus in Morgantown as well as three branch campuses. The main campus features law, dental, medical and nursing schools as well as several regional hospitals. Marshall University in Huntington is another prominent university and has a great rivalry with WVU. There are also several community and private schools across the state.

Wisconsin was one of a handful of states that founded the State Universities system. The University of Wisconsin is a prime example of this system, with twenty-six branch campuses and an exceptional faculty. There isn’t a shortage of private colleges or universities either, including Lawrence University, Marquette University and schools of engineering and medicine.

Because there are only about a half million people in the entire state, Wyoming is unique in having only two four year colleges – the University of Wyoming, well known for its environmental research facility, and Wyoming Catholic College, which was established in Laramie in 2007.

Real Estate and Housing

Virginia housing and apartment rentals are generally about 5% below the national average, which makes the state even more alluring to those who want to live in one of the country’s most livable states. If you like apartment living in a city with stately charm, consider the state capital of Richmond. Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake all offer reasonably priced apartments and plenty of variety. Although you can find apartments in the Blue Ridge Mountain region, you may have to look a bit longer to find something that fits you.

Housing and rent is higher in Seattle than the rest of the state at about 5-6% more than the national average, but this is expected when almost half of the state's population lives in the Seattle area. If you are looking for an apartment, stay open-minded and act fast – Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. If you want to rent an apartment that's only about 2% higher than the average, check out Puget Sound, Spokane and Tacoma.

You can find a great place to rent in West Virginia for very little money – housing is typically 20% below the national average. Add in the low cost of living (almost 10% below the national average), and you can live here for very little money. Even in Charleston, apartments for rent are less expensive than in almost any other state. Huntington, Parkersburg and Wheeling have many apartments and lofts (in converted industrial era buildings) that are very affordable. If healthcare is a consideration, look for an apartment in or near Morgantown, which has a great college town atmosphere and the best hospitals and medical centers in the state.

The cost of living and the cost of apartment rentals are both steady at about 3-5% below the national average. Milwaukee apartments may be slightly higher, but are still very reasonable. One of the best places to live in the U.S. – according to several national publications – is Madison. Apartment dwellers in Madison can enjoy dozens of parks, a vital lakeshore nightlife and beautifully converted architectural buildings as well as newer apartments.

There is no individual income tax in Wyoming, so your dollar goes further when you're shopping for an apartment here. The cost of an apartment is in line with the national average, and with the largest city, Cheyenne, having only about 50,000 residents, you don’t have to worry about fierce competition or overcrowding. You can find reasonable apartments to rent in most of the larger towns, and all of them are family friendly with lots to do in charming downtown areas. If you enjoy grand scenery, look for apartments in Laramie or Casper, where you can see mountains in the near distance no matter where your apartment is located.