You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Virginia.
The median household income in Falls Church City, the richest county in Virginia is $164,536, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 132 counties in the Old Dominion. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Virginia For 2024
What is the richest county in Virginia? The richest county in Virginia is Falls Church City. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Buchanan County, according to the Census 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.
The Richest Counties In Virginia For 2024
1. Falls Church City
Biggest Place: Falls Church
Population: 14,576
Median Income: $164,536 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $1,026,176 (highest)
More on Falls Church City: Data
2. Loudoun County
Biggest Place: Leesburg
Population: 420,773
Median Income: $170,463 (highest)
Median Home Price: $722,198 (3rd highest)
More on Loudoun County: Data
3. Arlington County
Biggest Place: Arlington
Population: 235,845
Median Income: $137,387 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $763,340 (2nd highest)
More on Arlington County: Data
4. Fairfax County
Biggest Place: Centreville
Population: 1,145,354
Median Income: $145,165 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $694,980 (6th highest)
More on Fairfax County: Data
5. Fairfax City
Biggest Place: Fairfax
Population: 24,242
Median Income: $128,708 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $710,287 (5th highest)
More on Fairfax City: Data
6. Alexandria City
Biggest Place: Alexandria
Population: 157,594
Median Income: $113,179 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $716,957 (4th highest)
More on Alexandria City: Data
7. Prince William County
Biggest Place: Dale City
Population: 481,114
Median Income: $123,193 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $524,353 (8th highest)
More on Prince William County: Data
8. Fauquier County
Biggest Place: New Baltimore
Population: 73,290
Median Income: $122,785 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $571,698 (7th highest)
More on Fauquier County: Data
9. Stafford County
Biggest Place: Aquia Harbour
Population: 157,606
Median Income: $128,036 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $487,131 (12th highest)
More on Stafford County: Data
10. Poquoson City
Biggest Place: Poquoson
Population: 12,479
Median Income: $114,503 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $444,694 (15th highest)
More on Poquoson City: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Virginia county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Virginia, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. 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 the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Virginia for each of the criteria from one to 132, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Virginia.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Old Dominion.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Virginia. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Virginia For 2024
Living in Virginia can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Virginia are Falls Church city, Loudoun County, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Fairfax city, Alexandria city, Prince William County, Fauquier County, Stafford County, and Poquoson city.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Virginia according to the data:
- Buchanan County
- Martinsville City
- Dickenson County
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Richest Cities In Virginia
- Best Counties To Live In Virginia
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Virginia
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falls Church City | 14,576 | $164,536 | $1,026,176 |
| 2 | Loudoun County | 420,773 | $170,463 | $722,198 |
| 3 | Arlington County | 235,845 | $137,387 | $763,340 |
| 4 | Fairfax County | 1,145,354 | $145,165 | $694,980 |
| 5 | Fairfax City | 24,242 | $128,708 | $710,287 |
| 6 | Alexandria City | 157,594 | $113,179 | $716,957 |
| 7 | Prince William County | 481,114 | $123,193 | $524,353 |
| 8 | Fauquier County | 73,290 | $122,785 | $571,698 |
| 9 | Stafford County | 157,606 | $128,036 | $487,131 |
| 10 | Poquoson City | 12,479 | $114,503 | $444,694 |
| 11 | Clarke County | 14,882 | $107,475 | $495,538 |
| 12 | Goochland County | 24,906 | $105,600 | $484,416 |
| 13 | Rappahannock County | 7,422 | $98,663 | $503,430 |
| 14 | Manassas City | 42,620 | $110,559 | $430,699 |
| 15 | Albemarle County | 112,513 | $97,708 | $488,440 |
| 16 | Powhatan County | 30,503 | $108,089 | $417,223 |
| 17 | New Kent County | 23,296 | $113,120 | $387,380 |
| 18 | York County | 70,238 | $105,154 | $417,221 |
| 19 | King George County | 26,985 | $103,264 | $426,502 |
| 20 | Spotsylvania County | 141,097 | $105,068 | $404,157 |
| 21 | Hanover County | 110,513 | $104,678 | $395,277 |
| 22 | Culpeper County | 52,822 | $92,359 | $427,668 |
| 23 | Fredericksburg City | 28,258 | $83,445 | $479,356 |
| 24 | Manassas Park City | 17,123 | $91,673 | $405,331 |
| 25 | Frederick County | 92,007 | $92,443 | $386,334 |
| 26 | Chesterfield County | 366,019 | $95,757 | $367,890 |
| 27 | Chesapeake City | 249,377 | $92,703 | $371,216 |
| 28 | Virginia Beach City | 457,900 | $87,544 | $375,809 |
| 29 | Isle Of Wight County | 38,898 | $91,680 | $344,593 |
| 30 | Suffolk City | 94,856 | $87,758 | $343,772 |
| 31 | Henrico County | 333,120 | $82,424 | $355,658 |
| 32 | Charlottesville City | 46,289 | $67,177 | $435,619 |
| 33 | Fluvanna County | 27,442 | $90,766 | $336,663 |
| 34 | Orange County | 36,593 | $87,309 | $337,723 |
| 35 | Williamsburg City | 15,486 | $66,815 | $421,623 |
| 36 | Gloucester County | 38,875 | $83,750 | $334,672 |
| 37 | Warren County | 40,800 | $79,313 | $348,011 |
| 38 | Greene County | 20,631 | $81,338 | $337,649 |
| 39 | Louisa County | 38,106 | $76,594 | $354,712 |
| 40 | Madison County | 13,828 | $74,586 | $360,567 |
| 41 | Middlesex County | 10,738 | $69,389 | $368,485 |
| 42 | Mathews County | 8,537 | $79,054 | $329,239 |
| 43 | Prince George County | 42,634 | $80,318 | $315,737 |
| 44 | Caroline County | 31,181 | $83,562 | $297,886 |
| 45 | Augusta County | 77,433 | $76,124 | $323,821 |
| 46 | King William County | 17,845 | $79,398 | $307,329 |
| 47 | Roanoke County | 96,653 | $80,872 | $296,336 |
| 48 | Northumberland County | 12,007 | $64,655 | $350,418 |
| 49 | Rockingham County | 83,905 | $73,232 | $321,160 |
| 50 | Bedford County | 79,761 | $74,773 | $313,557 |
| 51 | Lexington City | 7,346 | $93,651 | $245,692 |
| 52 | Lancaster County | 10,866 | $62,674 | $363,338 |
| 53 | Botetourt County | 33,734 | $77,680 | $285,074 |
| 54 | Nelson County | 14,773 | $64,028 | $339,665 |
| 55 | Franklin County | 54,838 | $66,275 | $318,885 |
| 56 | Dinwiddie County | 28,057 | $77,225 | $264,520 |
| 57 | Montgomery County | 99,373 | $65,270 | $312,501 |
| 58 | King And Queen County | 6,681 | $70,147 | $264,670 |
| 59 | Winchester City | 28,103 | $62,495 | $327,917 |
| 60 | Richmond City | 227,171 | $59,606 | $337,102 |
| 61 | Surry County | 6,546 | $68,655 | $253,988 |
| 62 | Shenandoah County | 44,337 | $62,149 | $304,514 |
| 63 | Salem City | 25,372 | $68,402 | $253,564 |
| 64 | Amelia County | 13,309 | $63,438 | $283,578 |
| 65 | Colonial Heights City | 18,158 | $72,216 | $242,083 |
| 66 | Charles City County | 6,760 | $65,573 | $257,469 |
| 67 | Rockbridge County | 22,673 | $61,903 | $285,363 |
| 68 | Norfolk City | 236,973 | $60,998 | $277,947 |
| 69 | Newport News City | 185,118 | $63,355 | $255,204 |
| 70 | Craig County | 4,898 | $66,286 | $239,787 |
| 71 | Southampton County | 18,003 | $67,813 | $224,971 |
| 72 | Hampton City | 137,217 | $64,430 | $240,334 |
| 73 | Appomattox County | 16,253 | $60,041 | $259,442 |
| 74 | Amherst County | 31,426 | $64,454 | $234,423 |
| 75 | Westmoreland County | 18,480 | $56,647 | $286,900 |
| 76 | Harrisonburg City | 51,784 | $56,050 | $288,335 |
| 77 | Richmond County | 8,968 | $62,708 | $224,199 |
| 78 | Page County | 23,753 | $56,760 | $264,266 |
| 79 | Highland County | 2,247 | $57,070 | $255,781 |
| 80 | Staunton City | 25,581 | $59,731 | $240,006 |
| 81 | Campbell County | 55,518 | $59,022 | $244,437 |
| 82 | Northampton County | 12,132 | $54,693 | $262,857 |
| 83 | Washington County | 53,985 | $59,116 | $238,870 |
| 84 | Cumberland County | 9,697 | $56,497 | $250,451 |
| 85 | Essex County | 10,602 | $52,335 | $266,858 |
| 86 | Floyd County | 15,532 | $57,146 | $233,485 |
| 87 | Portsmouth City | 97,384 | $57,154 | $233,227 |
| 88 | Buckingham County | 16,869 | $59,894 | $203,175 |
| 89 | Giles County | 16,711 | $61,987 | $175,899 |
| 90 | Pulaski County | 33,841 | $59,740 | $197,633 |
| 91 | Franklin City | 8,194 | $57,537 | $216,388 |
| 92 | Prince Edward County | 21,922 | $57,304 | $217,603 |
| 93 | Nottoway County | 15,638 | $62,366 | $167,980 |
| 94 | Waynesboro City | 22,341 | $52,519 | $247,878 |
| 95 | Bland County | 6,241 | $59,901 | $166,887 |
| 96 | Lynchburg City | 79,166 | $56,243 | $214,310 |
| 97 | Bath County | 4,177 | $55,699 | $206,356 |
| 98 | Sussex County | 10,866 | $59,195 | $166,416 |
| 99 | Accomack County | 33,367 | $52,694 | $213,277 |
| 100 | Wythe County | 28,275 | $53,921 | $187,921 |