I'm from VA, and the 'burbs of Northern VA is a very good place to live. I have lived in a place in Southern VA, delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut, for approximately four years, and I must say that those shotgun-toting, confederate flag waving, pickup truck driving, woman-beating hillbillies are a bunch of bigots. I prefer MD over VA to tell you the truth, partially because most job opportunities in my line of work is found in MD. Northern VA is a good place for educated individuals. Arlington is a haven for liberals. Fairfax is rather centrist. But if you go any more South, VA is basically a bastion for bible thumping, black hating zealots. Plus, since there are so many Military bases in VA, it's no surprise that people are so conservative leaning. The suburbs are always the most livable areas in any part of America. People in the 'burbs are either upwardly mobile or already affluent. This is just my impression from coming in contact withVA suburbanites. California has approximately 40% minorities. All signs are pointing towards a race riot. Mark my words, California will implode in the near future. I base it on some scathing, anti-immigration screeds I have recently stumbled upon on the net, all of which originate in California. Orange County might be a rich place, but it sure is very narrow-minded.