Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Virginia a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Virginia.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Old Dominion based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Virginia, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 132 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Virginia For 2024
Poquoson City is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Virginia. And you should avoid Lee County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Virginia. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Virginia and the cheapest places to live in Virginia.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Virginia For 2024
1. Poquoson City
Biggest Place: Poquoson
Population: 12,479
Median Income: $114,503 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $444,694 (15th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4% (2nd best)
More on Poquoson City: Data
2. Goochland County
Biggest Place: Goochland
Population: 24,906
Median Income: $105,600 (15th best)
Median Home Price: $484,416 (13th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (9th best)
More on Goochland County: Data
3. Arlington County
Biggest Place: Arlington
Population: 235,845
Median Income: $137,387 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $763,340 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8% (16th best)
More on Arlington County: Data
4. Loudoun County
Biggest Place: Leesburg
Population: 420,773
Median Income: $170,463 (best)
Median Home Price: $722,198 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (28th best)
More on Loudoun County: Data
5. New Kent County
Biggest Place: New Kent
Population: 23,296
Median Income: $113,120 (11th best)
Median Home Price: $387,380 (26th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (23rd best)
More on New Kent County: Data
6. Powhatan County
Biggest Place: Powhatan
Population: 30,503
Median Income: $108,089 (13th best)
Median Home Price: $417,223 (2best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6% (14th best)
More on Powhatan County: Data
7. Hanover County
Biggest Place: Mechanicsville
Population: 110,513
Median Income: $104,678 (18th best)
Median Home Price: $395,277 (25th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (20th best)
More on Hanover County: Data
8. Falls Church City
Biggest Place: Falls Church
Population: 14,576
Median Income: $164,536 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $1,026,176 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.0% (105th best)
More on Falls Church City: Data
9. Albemarle County
Biggest Place: University of Virginia
Population: 112,513
Median Income: $97,708 (2best)
Median Home Price: $488,440 (11th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (25th best)
More on Albemarle County: Data
10. King George County
Biggest Place: King George
Population: 26,985
Median Income: $103,264 (19th best)
Median Home Price: $426,502 (19th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6% (12th best)
More on King George County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Virginia county is the best?
To give you the best county in Virginia, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Virginia across each of the criteria from one to 132, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Virginia.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Old Dominion.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best counties to live in Virginia.
Read on to see why Poquoson City is the best county, while Lee County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Virginia.
Summary: The Best Counties In Virginia To Call Home For 2024
Living in Virginia can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Virginia are Poquoson city, Goochland County, Arlington County, Loudoun County, New Kent County, Powhatan County, Hanover County, Falls Church city, Albemarle County, and King George County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Virginia according to the data:
- Lee County
- Buchanan County
- Danville City
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Retire In Virginia
- Best Places To Buy A House In Virginia
- Richest Cities In Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Virginia
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poquoson City | 12,479 | $114,503 | $444,694 |
| 2 | Goochland County | 24,906 | $105,600 | $484,416 |
| 3 | Arlington County | 235,845 | $137,387 | $763,340 |
| 4 | Loudoun County | 420,773 | $170,463 | $722,198 |
| 5 | New Kent County | 23,296 | $113,120 | $387,380 |
| 6 | Powhatan County | 30,503 | $108,089 | $417,223 |
| 7 | Hanover County | 110,513 | $104,678 | $395,277 |
| 8 | Falls Church City | 14,576 | $164,536 | $1,026,176 |
| 9 | Albemarle County | 112,513 | $97,708 | $488,440 |
| 10 | King George County | 26,985 | $103,264 | $426,502 |
| 11 | York County | 70,238 | $105,154 | $417,221 |
| 12 | Clarke County | 14,882 | $107,475 | $495,538 |
| 13 | Fauquier County | 73,290 | $122,785 | $571,698 |
| 14 | Roanoke County | 96,653 | $80,872 | $296,336 |
| 15 | Stafford County | 157,606 | $128,036 | $487,131 |
| 16 | Fairfax County | 1,145,354 | $145,165 | $694,980 |
| 17 | Fairfax City | 24,242 | $128,708 | $710,287 |
| 18 | Botetourt County | 33,734 | $77,680 | $285,074 |
| 19 | Alexandria City | 157,594 | $113,179 | $716,957 |
| 20 | Lexington City | 7,346 | $93,651 | $245,692 |
| 21 | Henrico County | 333,120 | $82,424 | $355,658 |
| 22 | Gloucester County | 38,875 | $83,750 | $334,672 |
| 23 | King William County | 17,845 | $79,398 | $307,329 |
| 24 | Virginia Beach City | 457,900 | $87,544 | $375,809 |
| 25 | Bedford County | 79,761 | $74,773 | $313,557 |
| 26 | Fluvanna County | 27,442 | $90,766 | $336,663 |
| 27 | Chesterfield County | 366,019 | $95,757 | $367,890 |
| 28 | Chesapeake City | 249,377 | $92,703 | $371,216 |
| 29 | Augusta County | 77,433 | $76,124 | $323,821 |
| 30 | Salem City | 25,372 | $68,402 | $253,564 |
| 31 | Prince William County | 481,114 | $123,193 | $524,353 |
| 32 | Madison County | 13,828 | $74,586 | $360,567 |
| 33 | Isle Of Wight County | 38,898 | $91,680 | $344,593 |
| 34 | Craig County | 4,898 | $66,286 | $239,787 |
| 35 | Spotsylvania County | 141,097 | $105,068 | $404,157 |
| 36 | Frederick County | 92,007 | $92,443 | $386,334 |
| 37 | Culpeper County | 52,822 | $92,359 | $427,668 |
| 38 | Manassas City | 42,620 | $110,559 | $430,699 |
| 39 | Montgomery County | 99,373 | $65,270 | $312,501 |
| 40 | Suffolk City | 94,856 | $87,758 | $343,772 |
| 41 | Williamsburg City | 15,486 | $66,815 | $421,623 |
| 42 | Orange County | 36,593 | $87,309 | $337,723 |
| 43 | Prince George County | 42,634 | $80,318 | $315,737 |
| 44 | Rockbridge County | 22,673 | $61,903 | $285,363 |
| 45 | Middlesex County | 10,738 | $69,389 | $368,485 |
| 46 | Greene County | 20,631 | $81,338 | $337,649 |
| 47 | Giles County | 16,711 | $61,987 | $175,899 |
| 48 | Bland County | 6,241 | $59,901 | $166,887 |
| 49 | Franklin County | 54,838 | $66,275 | $318,885 |
| 50 | Manassas Park City | 17,123 | $91,673 | $405,331 |
| 51 | Pulaski County | 33,841 | $59,740 | $197,633 |
| 52 | Rappahannock County | 7,422 | $98,663 | $503,430 |
| 53 | Rockingham County | 83,905 | $73,232 | $321,160 |
| 54 | Caroline County | 31,181 | $83,562 | $297,886 |
| 55 | Charlottesville City | 46,289 | $67,177 | $435,619 |
| 56 | Mathews County | 8,537 | $79,054 | $329,239 |
| 57 | Fredericksburg City | 28,258 | $83,445 | $479,356 |
| 58 | Dinwiddie County | 28,057 | $77,225 | $264,520 |
| 59 | Floyd County | 15,532 | $57,146 | $233,485 |
| 60 | Amelia County | 13,309 | $63,438 | $283,578 |
| 61 | Shenandoah County | 44,337 | $62,149 | $304,514 |
| 62 | Louisa County | 38,106 | $76,594 | $354,712 |
| 63 | Colonial Heights City | 18,158 | $72,216 | $242,083 |
| 64 | Nelson County | 14,773 | $64,028 | $339,665 |
| 65 | Campbell County | 55,518 | $59,022 | $244,437 |
| 66 | Charles City County | 6,760 | $65,573 | $257,469 |
| 67 | Southampton County | 18,003 | $67,813 | $224,971 |
| 68 | Northumberland County | 12,007 | $64,655 | $350,418 |
| 69 | Richmond County | 8,968 | $62,708 | $224,199 |
| 70 | Cumberland County | 9,697 | $56,497 | $250,451 |
| 71 | Appomattox County | 16,253 | $60,041 | $259,442 |
| 72 | Bath County | 4,177 | $55,699 | $206,356 |
| 73 | Staunton City | 25,581 | $59,731 | $240,006 |
| 74 | Surry County | 6,546 | $68,655 | $253,988 |
| 75 | Prince Edward County | 21,922 | $57,304 | $217,603 |
| 76 | Warren County | 40,800 | $79,313 | $348,011 |
| 77 | Patrick County | 17,660 | $49,180 | $168,267 |
| 78 | Hampton City | 137,217 | $64,430 | $240,334 |
| 79 | Washington County | 53,985 | $59,116 | $238,870 |
| 80 | Amherst County | 31,426 | $64,454 | $234,423 |
| 81 | Newport News City | 185,118 | $63,355 | $255,204 |
| 82 | Lancaster County | 10,866 | $62,674 | $363,338 |
| 83 | Wythe County | 28,275 | $53,921 | $187,921 |
| 84 | Lynchburg City | 79,166 | $56,243 | $214,310 |
| 85 | Highland County | 2,247 | $57,070 | $255,781 |
| 86 | King And Queen County | 6,681 | $70,147 | $264,670 |
| 87 | Franklin City | 8,194 | $57,537 | $216,388 |
| 88 | Alleghany County | 15,159 | $52,546 | $153,290 |
| 89 | Radford City | 16,379 | $51,039 | $223,823 |
| 90 | Winchester City | 28,103 | $62,495 | $327,917 |
| 91 | Page County | 23,753 | $56,760 | $264,266 |
| 92 | Buena Vista City | 6,639 | $48,783 | $162,701 |
| 93 | Richmond City | 227,171 | $59,606 | $337,102 |
| 94 | Covington City | 5,722 | $45,737 | $87,583 |
| 95 | Portsmouth City | 97,384 | $57,154 | $233,227 |
| 96 | Waynesboro City | 22,341 | $52,519 | $247,878 |
| 97 | Smyth County | 29,799 | $45,061 | $142,449 |
| 98 | Mecklenburg County | 30,367 | $51,265 | $180,041 |
| 99 | Scott County | 21,536 | $44,535 | $160,507 |
| 100 | Pittsylvania County | 60,541 | $52,619 | $171,086 |