A record number of Washingtonians are considering relocating to this idyllic beach town

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A recent Redfin report chronicles the American migration of professional workers from large urban centers into scenic smaller towns. This trend began in earnest a few years ago as more and more work became remote during the pandemic. Suddenly, people began to experience a freedom they'd never had before - the freedom to live outside the city of their employer.

Add to this the smoking hot real estate market during the pandemic, and many people felt priced out of the large metro areas they lived in. So they began looking for alternatives.

According to Redfin, Washingtonians are the fourth most likely to be considering leaving their city for greener pastures, behind only those in the mega-expensive real estate markets of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Almost one-in-five DC dwellers (18%) who use the Redfin site are looking at homes outside of Washington.

Where are Washingtonians considering relocating?

And where are Washingtonians considering relocating to? The number one destination is an idyllic beach town - Virginia Beach, VA.

Why Virginia Beach? For the most part, those considering relocating look for areas near their current home, which makes it easier to maintain their professional and personal ties. Virginia Beach is about a three-hour drive from DC, which makes it relatively "local" in a country the size of America.

Virginia Beach also has a more relaxed, laid-back lifestyle with plenty of natural beauty to enjoy, so remote workers can easily put in a full day and still get in a walk along the beach or a hike on a lush, green trail. This makes it easier to establish a better work-life balance.

If that isn't enough incentive, housing costs are much lower, with the median house price in Virginia Beach just shy of $350,000. Contrast that with the median house price in DC at $640,000 and it's a no-brainer.

While the housing market in Florida is white-hot, the housing market in Virginia Beach is only beginning to heat up. However, as more Washingtonians leave the city, the small coastal town can expect to grow exponentially in the next few years.