The 10 Best Small Towns In Virginia For 2024


The best small towns in Virginia are Belmont Estates and Pantops for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Virginia. Best sururbs in Virginia. Best counties in Virginia.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Old Dominion, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Virginia based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Virginia ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Virginia For 2024

  1. Belmont Estates
  2. Pantops
  3. Hayfield
  4. Ravensworth
  5. Piney Mountain
  6. Dayton
  7. Kings Park
  8. Rivanna
  9. Lovettsville
  10. Ruckersville
  11. Dahlgren
  12. Hampden-Sydney
  13. Bethel Manor
  14. Haymarket
  15. Chamberlayne

Best Small Towns To Live In Virginia Map

What’s the best small town in Virginia? Belmont Estates is the best small town in Virginia based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Belmont Estates, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Old Dominion check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Virginia For 2024

1. Belmont Estates

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,192
Median Income: $95,917 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $425,560 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

2. Pantops

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,189
Median Income: $87,417 (40th Best)
Median Home Value: $522,546 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

3. Hayfield

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,390
Median Income: $176,125 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $694,760 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%

4. Ravensworth

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,661
Median Income: $163,019 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $682,623 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%

5. Piney Mountain

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,415
Median Income: $122,564 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $269,528 (80th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

6. Dayton

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,915
Median Income: $81,346 (50th Best)
Median Home Value: $318,312 (47th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

7. Kings Park

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,003
Median Income: $146,583 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $658,896 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%

8. Rivanna

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,088
Median Income: $153,125 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $818,207 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%

9. Lovettsville

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,666
Median Income: $137,411 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $690,707 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

10. Ruckersville

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,275
Median Income: $101,875 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $352,157 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%

11. Dahlgren

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,517
Median Income: $104,508 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $375,918 (30th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%

12. Hampden-Sydney

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,936
Median Income: $143,941 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $165,434 (130th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%

13. Bethel Manor

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,422
Median Income: $76,083 (58th Best)
Median Home Value: $0 (175th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

14. Haymarket

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,572
Median Income: $153,125 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $739,446 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%

15. Chamberlayne

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,965
Median Income: $90,127 (38th Best)
Median Home Value: $339,360 (39th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.2%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Virginia

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Virginia possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 175 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 175, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Virginia. Top of that list — Belmont Estates.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Virginia.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Virginia are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Virginia are Belmont Estates, Pantops, Hayfield, Ravensworth, Piney Mountain, Dayton, Kings Park, Rivanna, Lovettsville, and Ruckersville.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Virginia:

  1. Appalachia
  2. Stanleytown
  3. Brookneal

For more Virginia reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Virginia

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Belmont Estates, VA 1,192 $95,917 0.0%
2 Pantops, VA 4,189 $87,417 3.1%
3 Hayfield, VA 4,390 $176,125 3.6%
4 Ravensworth, VA 2,661 $163,019 4.6%
5 Piney Mountain, VA 2,415 $122,564 0.0%
6 Dayton, VA 1,915 $81,346 4.0%
7 Kings Park, VA 4,003 $146,583 4.8%
8 Rivanna, VA 2,088 $153,125 5.7%
9 Lovettsville, VA 2,666 $137,411 1.3%
10 Ruckersville, VA 1,275 $101,875 3.4%
11 Dahlgren, VA 3,517 $104,508 3.9%
12 Hampden-Sydney, VA 1,936 $143,941 1.1%
13 Bethel Manor, VA 4,422 $76,083 0.0%
14 Haymarket, VA 1,572 $153,125 4.3%
15 Chamberlayne, VA 4,965 $90,127 7.2%
16 Weyers Cave, VA 2,212 $93,384 0.0%
17 Falmouth, VA 4,689 $121,463 7.2%
18 Oak Grove, VA 2,533 $175,161 0.9%
19 University Center, VA 4,223 $106,461 4.9%
20 Massanutten, VA 2,368 $102,102 2.4%
21 Bealeton, VA 4,670 $105,449 0.6%
22 Nellysford, VA 1,396 $126,250 0.0%
23 Occoquan, VA 1,072 $126,927 5.1%
24 Union Hall, VA 1,071 $108,750 1.8%
25 Arcola, VA 2,437 $119,659 2.3%
26 Daleville, VA 3,169 $100,363 8.5%
27 Broadway, VA 4,169 $62,123 1.6%
28 Mason Neck, VA 1,932 $164,625 4.9%
29 Prince George, VA 1,964 $75,991 0.0%
30 West Point, VA 3,396 $72,305 2.6%
31 Fairlawn, VA 2,400 $65,426 3.2%
32 Laymantown, VA 1,685 $76,397 0.0%
33 North Shore, VA 3,588 $109,688 3.9%
34 Prices Fork, VA 1,014 $72,266 5.4%
35 Lake Wilderness, VA 3,122 $111,638 4.1%
36 Stafford Courthouse, VA 4,996 $94,653 1.7%
37 East Lexington, VA 2,034 $75,470 0.0%
38 Lake Holiday, VA 2,233 $103,313 1.8%
39 Gloucester Courthouse, VA 3,513 $82,955 1.5%
40 Apple Mountain Lake, VA 1,584 $120,539 1.9%
41 Grottoes, VA 2,904 $78,750 4.0%
42 Mount Hermon, VA 4,434 $85,357 5.6%
43 Wattsville, VA 1,480 $63,023 3.4%
44 Cloverdale, VA 3,501 $64,929 5.1%
45 Blue Ridge, VA 2,994 $84,766 4.5%
46 Emory, VA 1,052 $61,667 8.0%
47 Lake Land’or, VA 3,179 $112,833 3.7%
48 Glade Spring, VA 2,249 $70,000 2.4%
49 Verona, VA 4,582 $65,067 2.6%
50 Cape Charles, VA 1,183 $50,972 7.5%
51 Berryville, VA 4,598 $91,089 4.9%
52 Amherst, VA 2,299 $59,306 1.2%
53 Bull Run Mountain Estates, VA 1,525 $178,462 8.2%
54 Enon, VA 4,087 $72,852 4.1%
55 Riverdale, VA 1,046 $65,469 0.0%
56 Lake Caroline, VA 2,652 $83,371 0.0%
57 Dublin, VA 2,673 $58,667 3.2%
58 King George, VA 4,826 $83,750 3.5%
59 Matoaca, VA 2,374 $54,966 0.0%
60 Maurertown, VA 1,019 $79,318 2.5%
61 Penhook, VA 1,390 $96,583 0.9%
62 Onancock, VA 1,434 $51,830 9.7%
63 Westlake Corner, VA 1,815 $69,297 0.0%
64 Benns Church, VA 1,157 $67,114 11.4%
65 New Market, VA 2,162 $47,855 1.9%
66 Southern Gateway, VA 2,551 $79,278 4.2%
67 Chatmoss, VA 1,064 $68,945 0.0%
68 Central Garage, VA 1,393 $98,125 5.0%
69 Stephens City, VA 2,107 $90,588 3.4%
70 Edinburg, VA 1,321 $54,737 3.4%
71 Chincoteague, VA 3,303 $46,319 7.2%
72 Elkton, VA 2,948 $54,482 0.9%
73 Brightwood, VA 1,775 $85,735 3.0%
74 Blairs, VA 1,015 $46,750 0.0%
75 Bowling Green, VA 1,538 $69,167 3.9%
76 Middl, VA 1,558 $54,198 0.0%
77 Basye, VA 1,341 $86,028 0.0%
78 Clarksville, VA 1,629 $59,375 6.8%
79 Lebanon, VA 3,139 $50,287 0.0%
80 Chilhowie, VA 2,371 $60,313 2.7%
81 Narrows, VA 1,990 $58,411 2.0%
82 Chatham, VA 1,637 $55,865 2.9%
83 Ridgeway, VA 1,095 $55,125 1.3%
84 Marshall, VA 3,033 $127,633 2.4%
85 Loch Lomond, VA 3,851 $106,024 10.0%
86 Shawsville, VA 1,529 $68,684 3.5%
87 Gate City, VA 1,910 $37,543 2.2%
88 Pembroke, VA 1,005 $56,667 0.7%
89 Merrimac, VA 2,719 $52,612 5.7%
90 Lyndhurst, VA 1,750 $81,806 3.2%
91 Rural Retreat, VA 1,531 $56,042 2.2%
92 Captains Cove, VA 1,189 $66,083 12.4%
93 Timberville, VA 2,966 $54,646 2.9%
94 Dooms, VA 1,040 $56,116 0.0%
95 Harriston, VA 1,033 $86,544 0.0%
96 Rocky Mount, VA 4,916 $58,678 4.9%
97 Wise, VA 2,962 $42,944 4.2%
98 Twin Lakes, VA 1,374 $63,351 0.0%
99 Warsaw, VA 2,330 $80,000 4.7%
100 Pearisburg, VA 2,876 $70,905 5.9%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings