Lexington, VA

2 Apartments for Rent

If you are a history buff, you may be excused for feeling like a kid inside a candy factory when you visit Lexington, Virginia. After all, this is a city that was settled way back in 1777, is home to the oldest state-supported military college in the country and the resting place of two American icons -- Robert Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

With just a little under 7,000 residents and a location within 50 miles of Virginia's cultural epicenter (Roanoke), Lexington is the perfect place for anyone who values history, tradition and culture. If you can find a pad near Main St., you may not even have to own a car -- this area has a Walkscore of 89! Lexington residents often joke that they leave their homes with the doors unlocked. The reason? Extremely low crime rates -- nearly 52 percent lower than Virginia's average.

Moving to Lexington

If you're moving from an east coast big city to small town Lexington, be prepared for a realty check (pun definitely intended). Your cupboard-sized big city apartment with its teeny-tiny kitchenette and rent that would cause a Donald Trump Twitter meltdown is old history here. Homes in Lexington are as homes ought to be: big, comfortable and cozy with foundations older than the country itself.

What You'll Need

Nearly 41% of all homes in Lexington are renter occupied. This is a high figure for a historic small town (the national average is 27%), but the existence of a large student body can account for this statistic. Since property owners are used to seeing renters, getting a rental home here should not be a big issue, provided you have sufficient documentary proof of your paying abilities.

You _might _run into some issues if you try to rent any of the historic homes in the city. Most of these are hardly ever up for rent, and when they do go on the market, property owners like to make sure the renter would respect the heritage of the building. This means your credit score and employment history would get a closer scrutiny, so be ready with proof that you'll take care of the house like your own.

When to Start Looking

Depends on what you are looking for. If you have set your eyes on a small apartment for rent, your competition is most likely to be W&L students. This means optimum time to start house hunting would be before college starts in fall/spring.

Neighborhoods in Lexington

Lexington is spread over just 2.5 square miles, which is pretty small even by small town standards. There aren't a whole bunch of independent neighborhoods around, and most locals just know their places in relation to the city's major landmarks. W. Nelson St. and Main St. pretty much divide the city into four quadrants:

Northeast: The W&L University and Virginia Military Institute dominate the northeast part of the city. You will most likely find students and cadets here. This is also the place to look if you want to find an apartment for cheap.

West: The western part of the city (Western Lexington) is more thinly populated, relatively speaking. Homes here tend to be older three-bedroom apartments or bigger.

Southeast: The southeastern part of the city is where all the downtown action is. At its very edge, you have the Maury River.

Southwest: The southwestern part holds the important historic landmarks, including the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery and the historic Hampton Inn Lexington. At its western edge lies the beautiful Lexington Golf and Country Club.

T he intersection of W. Nelson Street and Main Street: This area holds a bulk of the city's cultural attractions, including Stonewall Jackson's House and the city's favorite restaurants (Bistro on Main and Salerno, just to name a few).

Living in Lexington

Lexington is a small town that doesn't quite feel like one. For starters, there is constant tourist traffic that lends the city an effervescent, youthful vibe that contrasts perfectly with its history-laden aura. Thanks to its history and cultural importance, there's tons to do in Lexington. The Front Campus of W&L University is one of the most important historic landmarks not just in the city, but also in the whole state. Fitting for a University founded by George Washington and nurtured by Robert Lee. Take a guided tour of the Virginia Military Institute and learn more about southern history. Head out on a "historic" drive through the city's many historical landmarks, including the Alexander-Withrow House, Col Alto, Stonewall Jackson House, Lee Chapel, Reid-White-Philbin House, Stono or the Virginia Military Institute Historic District.