Are you sick of being a city slicker?
Do you long for life in suburban Virginia? Where you can drive an overly-large vehicle to the store for groceries and schlep the kids around to practices and appointments without worrying about a parking space.
We do, too.
If you wanted to move out to the suburbs of Richmond, where would you go? And how would you decide on the ranking factors to help you pick which Virginia suburb was best?
No worries. We got it all figured out here using Saturday Night Science.
These are the 10 best suburbs in the Old Dominion
Vienna is the place to be when it comes to being a soccer mom in suburban Virginia.
So if you’re thinking of packing up your mini van and making a move to a quiet place to live in Virginia, we’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading for a detailed methodology. Or, check out the best places to live in Virginia and the best places to raise a family in Virginia.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Best Suburbs In Virginia For 2023
/10
Population: 16,465
Median Income: $200,938
Median Home Price: $827,800
More on Vienna: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Vienna is located 8 miles west of Arlington.
/10
Population: 14,494
Median Income: $155,071
Median Home Price: $838,300
More on Falls Church: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Falls Church is located 3 miles west of Arlington.
/10
Population: 12,382
Median Income: $112,026
Median Home Price: $358,700
More on Poquoson: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Poquoson is located 14 miles north of Norfolk.
/10
Population: 48,223
Median Income: $116,350
Median Home Price: $490,500
More on Leesburg: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Leesburg is located 29 miles west of Arlington.
/10
Population: 158,185
Median Income: $105,450
Median Home Price: $579,100
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Alexandria is located 4 miles south of Arlington.
/10
Population: 24,574
Median Income: $117,741
Median Home Price: $470,200
More on Herndon: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Herndon is located 16 miles west of Arlington.
/10
Population: 23,980
Median Income: $118,492
Median Home Price: $596,800
More on Fairfax: Data | Cost Of Living
Fairfax is located 10 miles west of Arlington.
/10
Population: 8,513
Median Income: $92,913
Median Home Price: $313,300
More on Smithfield: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Smithfield is located 20 miles west of Norfolk.
/10
Population: 17,081
Median Income: $90,544
Median Home Price: $330,200
More on Manassas Park: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Manassas Park is located 20 miles west of Arlington.
/10
Population: 42,596
Median Income: $101,934
Median Home Price: $356,500
More on Manassas: Data | Crime Report | Cost Of Living
Manassas is located 22 miles west of Arlington.
Methodology:How we crunched the suburb numbers for the Old Dominion
We have to use Saturday Night Science and look at several metrics to give you the best suburbs in Virginia. We want to measure the type of place around major cities that people arguing at a bar would say makes it the “best suburb.”
First, we had to define a suburb. Using U.S. Census data produced for the state of Virginia, we looked at every town with at least 2,000 residents, and within 30 miles of a city that’s over 200,000 people.
In other words, suburbs.
We paid particular attention to the following criteria:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is Better)
- Unemployment Rates
- Commute Time
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We ranked each suburb in Virginia across these criteria from one to 20, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, with the town posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title “Best Suburb To Live In Virginia.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and ideal places to live in Virginia
Read on to see why Vienna is the ‘burb with the most, while Petersburg is probably not the best place to live in Virginia.
Summary: There You Have It – The Best Suburbs In Virginia
If you’re measuring the locations in Virginia where there are lots to do, and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
Here’s a look at the worst suburbs in Virginia according to the data:
- Petersburg
- Hopewell
- Portsmouth
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In Virginia
- Richest Cities In Virginia
- Safest Places In Virginia
- Worst Cities In Virginia For 2017
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Virginia
Detailed List Of The Best Suburbs In Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vienna | 16,465 | $200,938 | $827,800 |
| 2 | Falls Church | 14,494 | $155,071 | $838,300 |
| 3 | Poquoson | 12,382 | $112,026 | $358,700 |
| 4 | Leesburg | 48,223 | $116,350 | $490,500 |
| 5 | Alexandria | 158,185 | $105,450 | $579,100 |
| 6 | Herndon | 24,574 | $117,741 | $470,200 |
| 7 | Fairfax | 23,980 | $118,492 | $596,800 |
| 8 | Smithfield | 8,513 | $92,913 | $313,300 |
| 9 | Manassas Park | 17,081 | $90,544 | $330,200 |
| 10 | Manassas | 42,596 | $101,934 | $356,500 |
| 11 | Hampton | 136,748 | $59,380 | $191,000 |
| 12 | Dumfries | 5,669 | $71,784 | $226,100 |
| 13 | Windsor | 2,759 | $54,444 | $186,300 |
| 14 | Newport News | 185,069 | $57,463 | $204,900 |
| 15 | Suffolk | 93,268 | $81,883 | $273,600 |
| 16 | Colonial Heights | 18,127 | $65,570 | $188,900 |
| 17 | Ashland | 7,478 | $55,521 | $210,100 |
| 18 | Portsmouth | 97,454 | $54,020 | $182,700 |
| 19 | Hopewell | 23,020 | $44,209 | $127,300 |
| 20 | Petersburg | 33,229 | $44,890 | $119,200 |