Miller Off Main Street Galleries illustrates the allure of Blacksburg’s Bennett Hill-Progress neighborhood. The 50-year-old art gallery has been in the neighborhood since 1993, located 350 yards from Main Street. Someone could easily walk from the heart of downtown Blacksburg to the gallery, but it’s far enough off the beaten path that it’s not flooded with pedestrians wandering in from Main Street. Likewise, residents in this pocket of 120 homes can walk to a downtown coffee shop or restaurant in minutes without living in the direct path of Virginia Tech students, gameday visitors and others who frequently walk Main Street.
Blacksburg Golf Course is for any skill level near Bennett Hill-Progress.
Enjoy the day with friends and family at Rising Silo Brewery near Bennett Hill-Progress.
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HOU-Aerial
Restaurants and museums along Main Street
The ability to walk five or fewer blocks and reach downtown is a major part of the neighborhood’s appeal, says Jay Mandell, a co-owner of MR Real Estate Team who has worked in the Blacksburg market for 25 years. The nearly mile-long stretch of Main Street through the center of town is lined with restaurants and bars. Gillies has served vegetarian food since 1974, while patrons can grab drinks and hear live music at The Cellar. There’s more to downtown than dining rooms and bar rooms. Virginia Tech’s Moss Arts Center displays student artwork in its galleries and hosts musicals and dance performances in its theater. The Museum of African American Heritage is housed in St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, built in 1905 as a community center for New Town, an African American community within Blacksburg. Shoppers can pick up health foods at Eats Natural Foods on Main Street or drive less than 2 miles to Kroger. Local churches include St. Phillip’s Anglican Church and Church on Main. Both support local organizations that serve the community, such as the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry. Blacksburg Jewish Community Center just outside the neighborhood hosts Shabbat services, holiday events and Jewish musicians.
Lifestyel
Music downtown, sports on campus
Only a couple of blocks separate the neighborhood from downtown, where most of Blacksburg’s community events happen. The liveliest season is the summer when most students have left town following the spring semester. Outdoor concerts are held on Friday nights in June and July. Those who prefer old-school fiddle and banjo tunes can catch performances at Market Square Jam, held weekly from June through September. Across Main Street from the neighborhood, sports fans can catch Virginia Tech games. Football is the most popular, but 21 other men's and women’s sports are played on campus.
Wong Park
Garden plots at Wong Park
Homes are less than a mile walk or bike ride from Wong Park, where swings, a slide and a picnic pavilion stand among the park’s rolling landscape. Locals can rent one of the 15 plots at the Wong Park Community Garden, with priority given to those who live within walking distance of the garden. There are additional picnic tables and a playground at Owens Street Park, less than a mile from Wong Park. Mountainous treks await just outside of Blacksburg; for example, hikers can go about 15 miles from the neighborhood to follow a 4-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail to the top of a rocky overlook called Kelly Knob.
Small established homes
Home construction started in the 1930s, with Cape Cods, bungalows and minimal traditional houses rising over the next couple of decades. Lots tend to be small, averaging less than a fifth of an acre, but yards are usually kept neat and bordered by picket fences or manicured hedges. The neighborhood is primarily single-family homes, with some rented to Virginia Tech students. Prices start in the low $200,000s for two-bedroom houses, while a six-bedroom home can sell in the low $600,000s.
Small home
Houses
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Blacksburg High School
Mythology, Appalachian history studied at Blacksburg High
On the eastern edge of the neighborhood is Harding Avenue Elementary School, graded an A by Niche. Older students can attend B-plus-rated Blacksburg Middle School and Blacksburg High School. Blacksburg High gets an A-plus, and teens there can study electives including world mythology, film study and Appalachian history. Dayspring Christian Academy is the nearest private option; the school for kindergartners through 12th graders gets a C-plus.
Route 460 Bypass
Quick highway access
Homes are within walking and biking distance of downtown, so residents can visit restaurants and shops without having to search for a parking spot. The U.S. Route 460 bypass a mile away provides a speedy way to get from the north side of Blacksburg to the south. Drivers can take the bypass 11 miles south to Interstate 81 to get to Roanoke or elsewhere.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Rayne Stenger,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Wong Park
Transit
Airport
Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field)
59 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Bennett Hill-Progress
US
Homicide
3
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Bennett Hill-Progress, Blacksburg sell after 151 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Bennett Hill-Progress, Blacksburg over the last 12 months is $275,000, up 25% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
The 3-bedroom 1-bath apartment is in a beautiful corner lot house, 5 min walk to campus and downtown. Very convenient to town and campus!Large yard, front porch, and use of back deck. Available AUGUST 1st/1 year lease - one month's rent deposit. Pet friendly. On BT Bus Route/can walk to campus 1-year lease Available AUG 1st 2025
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Rayne Stenger,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
549
Median Age
28
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
15.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
6%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$34,520
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$58,041
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.7%
College Graduates
83.8%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
36.8%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
51.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
22°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
2''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
91/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
88/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
54/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
