Virginia is your classic urban vs. rural voter split. The vast majority of counties lean strongly in support for Republicans, but they have a much lower population that the left(ish) leaning counties with large urban centers. A lot of states are like this and more are on their way as urban centers grow at a much greater rate than their rural counterparts. Having said that, Virginia's urban centers are not that left leaning when compared to those in the North East, just when compared to the rest of Virginia. They are not so far gone that they are safe for Dems. They could easily turn for Republicans with the right candidate. It's just not likely to happen consistently.
It's become a lot like Pennsylvania because there's a few Democratic counties in presidential elections with the rest being Republican. Without their urban areas, Virginia is still light red. You pretty much know what you're going to get in Virginia and it's just a matter of voter turnout in cities.
I think it is pretty similar to Pennsylvania or the Upper Mid West but probably nudged a little more Republican because it basically a midwestern state built on top of a "solid south" state. The part of the state that is still "solid south" are just a few towns in the western hills. There aren't large resort towns that make up "solid south" Florida. Otherwise, the voting patterns in Virginia are a lot like what they are in the North.
I would go so far to say that in general, a Northern state is 2:1 in large cities, about 50-50 in suburbs and midsize cities and 1:2 in exurbs and rural counties. In Southern states, its abut 50-50 in large cities and 1:2 or even 1:3 everywhere else unless its a majority-minority place. This is probably a function of "southern" states being out of reach to Democrats despite cities and minority voters simply because a majority of white being evangelical.
