Virginia Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 133 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,170/mo
Average Home Value
$295,808
Average Owner Cost
$1,190/mo
17% below national average rentOpen national map
County cost atlas
Virginia housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
133
Avg rent
$1,170/mo
Owner cost
$1,190/mo
Avg score
36.1
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,170/mo
17% below national median
Average Home Value
$295,808
11% below national median
Avg. Monthly Owner Cost
$1,190/mo
13% below national median
Affordability Rating
Affordable
Median gross rent is under 30% of renter household income
Cost metrics are county medians from Census ACS 5-Year Estimates. They are useful comparison signals, but they do not include every household cost or reflect personal income, financing, commute, insurance, debt, or household size.
Housing Costs in Virginia: An Overview
The unweighted mean of county median rents in Virginia is $1,170 per month, which is 17% below the national ACS median of $1,413. This gives every county equal weight and is not an official statewide median.
Within Virginia, housing costs vary significantly by county. Loudoun County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $2,386 per month and a median home value of $743,800. Bland County has the lowest reported median rent at $644 per month and a median home value of $152,100.
The unweighted mean of county median home values in Virginia is $295,808, 11% lower than the national ACS median of $332,700. The unweighted mean of county median household incomes is $76,527; neither figure is a household-weighted statewide estimate.
Before comparing places in Virginia, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Virginia
How median rents are spread across 133 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Loudoun County
Virginia
$2,386/mo
Home: $743,800
Rent/Income: 27.8%
Arlington County
Virginia
$2,322/mo
Home: $895,000
Rent/Income: 26.5%
Fairfax County
Virginia
$2,276/mo
Home: $732,800
Rent/Income: 28.3%
Fairfax city
Virginia
$2,245/mo
Home: $722,600
Rent/Income: 30.6%
Falls Church city
Virginia
$2,190/mo
Home: $1,055,600
Rent/Income: 27.9%
Lowest Median Rent Counties
Bland County
Virginia
$644/mo
Home: $152,100
Rent/Income: 18.0%
Russell County
Virginia
$653/mo
Home: $120,600
Rent/Income: 25.2%
Norton city
Virginia
$692/mo
Home: $110,000
Rent/Income: 27.1%
Scott County
Virginia
$699/mo
Home: $143,000
Rent/Income: 30.3%
Craig County
Virginia
$713/mo
Home: $189,000
Rent/Income: 16.7%
All Virginia Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loudoun County | Over $1,500$2,386/mo | $743,800 | $2,928/mo | 0.3 | 27.8% |
| Arlington County | Over $1,500$2,322/mo | $895,000 | $2,966/mo | 0.3 | 26.5% |
| Fairfax County | Over $1,500$2,276/mo | $732,800 | $2,655/mo | 0.4 | 28.3% |
| Fairfax city | Over $1,500$2,245/mo | $722,600 | $2,537/mo | 0.7 | 30.6% |
| Falls Church city | Over $1,500$2,190/mo | $1,055,600 | $3,574/mo | 0.3 | 27.9% |
| Manassas Park city | Over $1,500$2,146/mo | $395,900 | $2,112/mo | 1.6 | 30.1% |
| Alexandria city | Over $1,500$2,089/mo | $735,100 | $2,701/mo | 0.9 | 28.3% |
| Prince William County | Over $1,500$2,067/mo | $530,100 | $2,389/mo | 1.3 | 30.4% |
| Stafford County | Over $1,500$2,020/mo | $485,100 | $2,220/mo | 1.6 | 28.5% |
| Manassas city | Over $1,500$1,850/mo | $449,900 | $2,200/mo | 2.4 | 30.9% |
| York County | Over $1,500$1,827/mo | $433,200 | $1,803/mo | 3.9 | 29.8% |
| Spotsylvania County | Over $1,500$1,779/mo | $404,900 | $1,789/mo | 4.3 | 31.3% |
| New Kent County | Over $1,500$1,721/mo | $393,600 | $1,673/mo | 5.5 | 23.1% |
| Virginia Beach city | Over $1,500$1,714/mo | $382,500 | $1,799/mo | 4.7 | 32.2% |
| Poquoson city | Over $1,500$1,707/mo | $400,300 | $1,872/mo | 4.3 | 36.7% |
| Albemarle County | Over $1,500$1,692/mo | $495,400 | $1,707/mo | 5.5 | 30.0% |
| Chesterfield County | Over $1,500$1,629/mo | $366,000 | $1,618/mo | 6.6 | 31.1% |
| Fredericksburg city | Over $1,500$1,619/mo | $483,700 | $2,099/mo | 4.1 | 29.5% |
| Goochland County | Over $1,500$1,614/mo | $500,600 | $1,495/mo | 7.9 | 24.3% |
| Fauquier County | Over $1,500$1,613/mo | $573,700 | $2,089/mo | 4.2 | 25.3% |
| Prince George County | Over $1,500$1,594/mo | $293,400 | $1,335/mo | 10.5 | 28.0% |
| Hanover County | Over $1,500$1,591/mo | $400,400 | $1,612/mo | 7.1 | 27.7% |
| Chesapeake city | Over $1,500$1,586/mo | $378,400 | $1,821/mo | 5.5 | 33.8% |
| Suffolk city | Over $1,500$1,563/mo | $347,400 | $1,833/mo | 5.7 | 33.7% |
| James City County | Over $1,500$1,552/mo | $447,200 | $1,687/mo | 6.7 | 33.7% |
| Henrico County | Over $1,500$1,541/mo | $359,200 | $1,515/mo | 8.3 | 30.8% |
| Charlottesville city | Over $1,500$1,540/mo | $486,700 | $1,683/mo | 6.9 | 33.5% |
| Frederick County | Over $1,500$1,507/mo | $386,000 | $1,456/mo | 9.4 | 28.0% |
| King George County | $1,000–$1,500$1,428/mo | $428,300 | $1,918/mo | 6.6 | 28.0% |
| Hampton city | $1,000–$1,500$1,427/mo | $245,700 | $1,424/mo | 10.6 | 34.1% |
| Culpeper County | $1,000–$1,500$1,423/mo | $409,200 | $1,726/mo | 7.7 | 27.8% |
| Williamsburg city | $1,000–$1,500$1,407/mo | $428,100 | $1,297/mo | 13.1 | 42.3% |
| Richmond city | $1,000–$1,500$1,372/mo | $353,000 | $1,590/mo | 9.6 | 31.1% |
| Clarke County | $1,000–$1,500$1,371/mo | $550,100 | $1,710/mo | 8.6 | 44.9% |
| Isle of Wight County | $1,000–$1,500$1,359/mo | $356,500 | $1,656/mo | 9.3 | 27.2% |
| Newport News city | $1,000–$1,500$1,339/mo | $260,600 | $1,443/mo | 11.7 | 30.6% |
| Norfolk city | $1,000–$1,500$1,321/mo | $289,900 | $1,584/mo | 10.4 | 32.3% |
| Winchester city | $1,000–$1,500$1,315/mo | $343,000 | $1,416/mo | 12.6 | 32.2% |
| Greene County | $1,000–$1,500$1,309/mo | $343,300 | $1,391/mo | 13.1 | 24.3% |
| Portsmouth city | $1,000–$1,500$1,300/mo | $246,900 | $1,459/mo | 12.3 | 35.4% |
| Caroline County | $1,000–$1,500$1,293/mo | $307,700 | $1,487/mo | 12.0 | 29.3% |
| Rappahannock County | $1,000–$1,500$1,290/mo | $506,400 | $1,548/mo | 11.3 | 24.1% |
| Montgomery County | $1,000–$1,500$1,240/mo | $304,600 | $1,028/mo | 23.6 | 31.6% |
| Colonial Heights city | $1,000–$1,500$1,234/mo | $246,600 | $1,203/mo | 17.9 | 31.8% |
| Dinwiddie County | $1,000–$1,500$1,224/mo | $257,800 | $1,199/mo | 18.1 | 26.0% |
| Roanoke County | $1,000–$1,500$1,224/mo | $286,000 | $1,197/mo | 18.1 | 27.1% |
| Louisa County | $1,000–$1,500$1,220/mo | $315,300 | $1,339/mo | 15.5 | 35.1% |
| Orange County | $1,000–$1,500$1,205/mo | $364,200 | $1,488/mo | 13.6 | 24.8% |
| Fluvanna County | $1,000–$1,500$1,204/mo | $314,100 | $1,460/mo | 14.0 | 26.3% |
| Warren County | $1,000–$1,500$1,199/mo | $348,400 | $1,426/mo | 14.6 | 27.6% |
| Harrisonburg city | $1,000–$1,500$1,184/mo | $299,100 | $1,234/mo | 18.3 | 28.6% |
| Petersburg city | $1,000–$1,500$1,174/mo | $189,000 | $1,058/mo | 23.9 | 30.7% |
| Powhatan County | $1,000–$1,500$1,168/mo | $416,000 | $1,549/mo | 13.9 | 28.7% |
| King William County | $1,000–$1,500$1,166/mo | $315,700 | $1,338/mo | 16.9 | 34.0% |
| Madison County | $1,000–$1,500$1,166/mo | $370,300 | $1,110/mo | 22.2 | 26.6% |
| Amelia County | $1,000–$1,500$1,164/mo | $282,400 | $1,065/mo | 23.8 | 23.8% |
| Rockingham County | $1,000–$1,500$1,160/mo | $313,000 | $1,026/mo | 25.5 | 27.5% |
| Augusta County | $1,000–$1,500$1,136/mo | $306,100 | $988/mo | 27.8 | 27.0% |
| Salem city | $1,000–$1,500$1,133/mo | $258,600 | $1,172/mo | 21.1 | 30.3% |
| Buena Vista city | $1,000–$1,500$1,112/mo | $156,200 | $736/mo | 44.7 | 29.7% |
| Hopewell city | $1,000–$1,500$1,106/mo | $181,600 | $959/mo | 30.2 | 31.7% |
| Charles City County | $1,000–$1,500$1,099/mo | $241,400 | $946/mo | 31.1 | 27.0% |
| Gloucester County | $1,000–$1,500$1,096/mo | $331,000 | $1,393/mo | 18.3 | 25.1% |
| Lexington city | $1,000–$1,500$1,081/mo | $275,200 | $948/mo | 31.6 | 29.2% |
| Lynchburg city | $1,000–$1,500$1,073/mo | $229,800 | $999/mo | 29.3 | 31.0% |
| Richmond County | $1,000–$1,500$1,067/mo | $231,500 | $936/mo | 32.8 | 22.4% |
| Middlesex County | $1,000–$1,500$1,059/mo | $352,200 | $965/mo | 31.7 | 34.6% |
| Northumberland County | $1,000–$1,500$1,038/mo | $346,800 | $883/mo | 37.3 | 22.3% |
| Emporia city | $1,000–$1,500$1,037/mo | $148,500 | $808/mo | 42.4 | 28.8% |
| Botetourt County | $1,000–$1,500$1,035/mo | $289,200 | $1,008/mo | 30.6 | 23.4% |
| Lancaster County | $1,000–$1,500$1,033/mo | $327,000 | $885/mo | 37.4 | 26.5% |
| Radford city | $1,000–$1,500$1,033/mo | $220,700 | $820/mo | 41.6 | 32.9% |
| Mathews County | $1,000–$1,500$1,032/mo | $360,900 | $878/mo | 38.0 | 25.2% |
| Staunton city | $1,000–$1,500$1,024/mo | $259,200 | $1,120/mo | 27.1 | 28.0% |
| Waynesboro city | $1,000–$1,500$1,020/mo | $245,500 | $1,187/mo | 25.1 | 29.1% |
| Westmoreland County | $1,000–$1,500$1,018/mo | $269,600 | $1,058/mo | 29.6 | 27.6% |
| King and Queen County | $1,000–$1,500$1,004/mo | $231,600 | $1,060/mo | 30.1 | 28.6% |
| Roanoke city | Under $1,000$996/mo | $190,500 | $1,007/mo | 32.5 | 28.4% |
| Franklin city | Under $1,000$988/mo | $256,600 | $1,265/mo | 25.1 | 32.7% |
| Shenandoah County | Under $1,000$984/mo | $294,900 | $1,108/mo | 29.6 | 26.5% |
| Surry County | Under $1,000$983/mo | $238,800 | $919/mo | 37.8 | 27.9% |
| Accomack County | Under $1,000$977/mo | $204,300 | $690/mo | 54.2 | 27.5% |
| Essex County | Under $1,000$972/mo | $238,100 | $955/mo | 36.5 | 32.4% |
| Nottoway County | Under $1,000$972/mo | $167,500 | $921/mo | 38.3 | 27.8% |
| Greensville County | Under $1,000$969/mo | $159,400 | $673/mo | 55.9 | 29.2% |
| Bedford County | Under $1,000$952/mo | $297,400 | $958/mo | 37.6 | 27.7% |
| Nelson County | Under $1,000$946/mo | $321,700 | $971/mo | 37.3 | 27.6% |
| Prince Edward County | Under $1,000$931/mo | $216,600 | $960/mo | 39.1 | 31.6% |
| Southampton County | Under $1,000$930/mo | $216,200 | $1,053/mo | 35.2 | 28.3% |
| Buckingham County | Under $1,000$927/mo | $173,400 | $753/mo | 53.0 | 28.7% |
| Rockbridge County | Under $1,000$925/mo | $248,800 | $789/mo | 50.7 | 27.9% |
| Sussex County | Under $1,000$907/mo | $183,800 | $865/mo | 46.9 | 32.3% |
| Campbell County | Under $1,000$891/mo | $211,600 | $771/mo | 54.8 | 24.8% |
| Page County | Under $1,000$879/mo | $233,200 | $887/mo | 47.7 | 27.2% |
| Floyd County | Under $1,000$878/mo | $225,400 | $615/mo | 67.0 | 23.4% |
| Cumberland County | Under $1,000$877/mo | $239,300 | $982/mo | 42.8 | 22.9% |
| Amherst County | Under $1,000$871/mo | $212,400 | $906/mo | 47.2 | 27.0% |
| Pittsylvania County | Under $1,000$861/mo | $161,400 | $620/mo | 68.4 | 28.9% |
| Highland County | Under $1,000$856/mo | $200,000 | $570/mo | 72.1 | 33.0% |
| Appomattox County | Under $1,000$855/mo | $207,600 | $805/mo | 55.8 | 22.9% |
| Washington County | Under $1,000$854/mo | $214,000 | $681/mo | 65.0 | 23.6% |
| Danville city | Under $1,000$836/mo | $119,100 | $713/mo | 64.8 | 27.7% |
| Brunswick County | Under $1,000$834/mo | $142,700 | $705/mo | 65.8 | 27.9% |
| Franklin County | Under $1,000$829/mo | $240,400 | $828/mo | 57.1 | 21.5% |
| Northampton County | Under $1,000$829/mo | $316,200 | $885/mo | 53.4 | 26.7% |
| Mecklenburg County | Under $1,000$823/mo | $192,600 | $734/mo | 64.8 | 24.4% |
| Pulaski County | Under $1,000$813/mo | $191,700 | $829/mo | 58.8 | 26.7% |
| Martinsville city | Under $1,000$808/mo | $98,400 | $767/mo | 64.0 | 24.6% |
| Bristol city | Under $1,000$801/mo | $184,100 | $870/mo | 57.5 | 27.1% |
| Tazewell County | Under $1,000$795/mo | $118,300 | $570/mo | 79.0 | 27.6% |
| Covington city | Under $1,000$794/mo | $83,500 | $633/mo | 75.3 | 28.8% |
| Halifax County | Under $1,000$790/mo | $155,700 | $617/mo | 76.7 | 30.2% |
| Wise County | Under $1,000$790/mo | $118,600 | $624/mo | 76.3 | 23.1% |
| Giles County | Under $1,000$789/mo | $151,100 | $664/mo | 73.9 | 21.6% |
| Alleghany County | Under $1,000$765/mo | $125,800 | $526/mo | 85.0 | 27.2% |
| Grayson County | Under $1,000$765/mo | $150,100 | $485/mo | 86.3 | 33.7% |
| Wythe County | Under $1,000$764/mo | $171,200 | $614/mo | 80.2 | 29.9% |
| Buchanan County | Under $1,000$743/mo | $94,900 | $404/mo | 89.8 | 50.0% |
| Galax city | Under $1,000$743/mo | $141,300 | $909/mo | 61.5 | 30.5% |
| Lunenburg County | Under $1,000$742/mo | $150,100 | $618/mo | 82.1 | 19.6% |
| Carroll County | Under $1,000$738/mo | $156,500 | $511/mo | 88.3 | 19.2% |
| Dickenson County | Under $1,000$738/mo | $102,700 | $472/mo | 89.3 | 28.9% |
| Lee County | Under $1,000$738/mo | $98,900 | $427/mo | 90.0 | 33.4% |
| Bath County | Under $1,000$736/mo | $206,700 | $690/mo | 77.8 | 24.6% |
| Charlotte County | Under $1,000$732/mo | $144,100 | $538/mo | 87.7 | 30.7% |
| Smyth County | Under $1,000$731/mo | $139,600 | $548/mo | 87.3 | 27.8% |
| Henry County | Under $1,000$728/mo | $134,800 | $590/mo | 84.9 | 27.7% |
| Patrick County | Under $1,000$716/mo | $153,400 | $501/mo | 90.4 | 27.0% |
| Craig County | Under $1,000$713/mo | $189,000 | $851/mo | 68.3 | 16.7% |
| Scott County | Under $1,000$699/mo | $143,000 | $495/mo | 91.7 | 30.3% |
| Norton city | Under $1,000$692/mo | $110,000 | $693/mo | 80.9 | 27.1% |
| Russell County | Under $1,000$653/mo | $120,600 | $490/mo | 94.8 | 25.2% |
| Bland County | Under $1,000$644/mo | $152,100 | $433/mo | 96.5 | 18.0% |
Compare Virginia to Other States
See how Virginia counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Virginia Housing Costs
Which Virginia county has the lowest median rent?
Bland County has the lowest median gross rent estimate in this ACS release at $644 per month.
Which Virginia county has the highest median rent?
Loudoun County has the highest median gross rent estimate in this ACS release at $2,386 per month; its median home value estimate is $743,800.
How does Virginia's cost of living compare to the national average?
The unweighted mean of Virginia county median rents is $1,170 per month, 17% below the national ACS median of $1,413.
What is the unweighted county-mean home value in Virginia?
The unweighted mean of county median home value estimates in Virginia is $295,808.
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.