Virginia Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 133 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,140/mo
Average Home Value
$278,065
Average Owner Cost
$1,162/mo
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
$1,140/mo
Owner cost
$1,162/mo
Avg score
35.8
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 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.
Housing Costs in Virginia: An Overview
The median rent in Virginia is $1,140 per month, which is 2% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Virginia, housing costs vary significantly by county. Loudoun County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $2,317 per month and a median home value of $701,000. Scott County has the lowest reported median rent at $665 per month and a median home value of $122,300.
The average home value across Virginia counties is $278,065, 1% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $74,957, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
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
Lowest Median Rent Counties
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 | Expensive$2,317/mo | $701,000 | $2,897/mo | 0.3 | 27.0% |
| Arlington County | Expensive$2,275/mo | $864,800 | $2,893/mo | 0.3 | 26.0% |
| Fairfax County | Expensive$2,230/mo | $699,700 | $2,636/mo | 0.4 | 28.0% |
| Falls Church city | Expensive$2,205/mo | $1,005,400 | $3,549/mo | 0.2 | 25.0% |
| Manassas Park city | Expensive$2,175/mo | $381,200 | $2,060/mo | 1.4 | 30.0% |
| Fairfax city | Expensive$2,122/mo | $677,400 | $2,611/mo | 0.6 | 29.0% |
| Alexandria city | Expensive$2,031/mo | $696,800 | $2,635/mo | 0.9 | 28.0% |
| Prince William County | Expensive$2,002/mo | $500,600 | $2,374/mo | 1.2 | 29.0% |
| Stafford County | Expensive$1,925/mo | $458,800 | $2,206/mo | 1.6 | 29.0% |
| Manassas city | Expensive$1,835/mo | $434,700 | $2,154/mo | 2.0 | 29.0% |
| York County | Expensive$1,777/mo | $411,200 | $1,800/mo | 3.5 | 28.0% |
| Spotsylvania County | Expensive$1,733/mo | $375,000 | $1,720/mo | 4.2 | 30.0% |
| New Kent County | Expensive$1,653/mo | $371,500 | $1,663/mo | 5.1 | 32.0% |
| Virginia Beach city | Expensive$1,649/mo | $366,300 | $1,785/mo | 4.4 | 31.0% |
| Poquoson city | Expensive$1,634/mo | $403,000 | $1,932/mo | 3.9 | 33.0% |
| Albemarle County | Expensive$1,623/mo | $471,000 | $1,611/mo | 5.8 | 29.0% |
| Goochland County | Expensive$1,567/mo | $483,700 | $1,495/mo | 7.3 | 24.0% |
| Prince George County | Expensive$1,563/mo | $268,300 | $1,282/mo | 10.1 | 29.0% |
| Fauquier County | Expensive$1,561/mo | $543,700 | $2,110/mo | 3.7 | 23.0% |
| Chesterfield County | Expensive$1,542/mo | $336,700 | $1,570/mo | 6.7 | 30.0% |
| Chesapeake city | Expensive$1,523/mo | $359,100 | $1,787/mo | 5.2 | 33.0% |
| Fredericksburg city | Expensive$1,521/mo | $461,500 | $2,036/mo | 4.2 | 28.0% |
| Greene County | Expensive$1,502/mo | $315,300 | $1,353/mo | 9.5 | 27.0% |
| Hanover County | Moderate$1,496/mo | $372,700 | $1,581/mo | 6.9 | 27.0% |
| James City County | Moderate$1,491/mo | $419,200 | $1,624/mo | 6.7 | 32.0% |
| Suffolk city | Moderate$1,484/mo | $329,600 | $1,803/mo | 5.5 | 33.0% |
| Henrico County | Moderate$1,474/mo | $333,600 | $1,483/mo | 8.1 | 30.0% |
| Charlottesville city | Moderate$1,453/mo | $448,400 | $1,661/mo | 6.7 | 33.0% |
| King George County | Moderate$1,426/mo | $395,900 | $1,896/mo | 5.8 | 29.0% |
| Culpeper County | Moderate$1,417/mo | $386,400 | $1,645/mo | 7.2 | 29.0% |
| Frederick County | Moderate$1,402/mo | $355,000 | $1,448/mo | 9.4 | 27.0% |
| Rappahannock County | Moderate$1,384/mo | $490,200 | $1,544/mo | 8.5 | 22.0% |
| Williamsburg city | Moderate$1,361/mo | $393,200 | $1,117/mo | 16.2 | 34.0% |
| Clarke County | Moderate$1,360/mo | $538,900 | $1,743/mo | 7.3 | 34.0% |
| Hampton city | Moderate$1,346/mo | $234,100 | $1,350/mo | 11.6 | 32.0% |
| Richmond city | Moderate$1,314/mo | $328,100 | $1,514/mo | 9.9 | 31.0% |
| Isle of Wight County | Moderate$1,313/mo | $333,600 | $1,588/mo | 9.3 | 26.0% |
| Winchester city | Moderate$1,298/mo | $325,900 | $1,367/mo | 12.1 | 30.0% |
| Newport News city | Moderate$1,285/mo | $243,300 | $1,409/mo | 11.7 | 30.0% |
| Portsmouth city | Moderate$1,266/mo | $229,400 | $1,378/mo | 12.4 | 34.0% |
| King William County | Moderate$1,246/mo | $276,500 | $1,329/mo | 13.4 | 31.0% |
| Norfolk city | Moderate$1,246/mo | $271,900 | $1,568/mo | 10.6 | 31.0% |
| Dinwiddie County | Moderate$1,242/mo | $246,100 | $1,238/mo | 15.2 | 22.0% |
| Louisa County | Moderate$1,208/mo | $275,600 | $1,244/mo | 15.6 | 33.0% |
| Montgomery County | Moderate$1,206/mo | $283,600 | $996/mo | 23.3 | 30.0% |
| Caroline County | Moderate$1,201/mo | $283,100 | $1,425/mo | 12.9 | 28.0% |
| Warren County | Moderate$1,199/mo | $315,800 | $1,418/mo | 13.1 | 26.0% |
| Fluvanna County | Moderate$1,173/mo | $281,700 | $1,386/mo | 14.1 | 24.0% |
| Colonial Heights city | Moderate$1,162/mo | $231,700 | $1,165/mo | 18.5 | 31.0% |
| Roanoke County | Moderate$1,148/mo | $267,300 | $1,155/mo | 19.2 | 26.0% |
| Orange County | Moderate$1,145/mo | $337,300 | $1,437/mo | 14.2 | 26.0% |
| Gloucester County | Moderate$1,144/mo | $289,200 | $1,294/mo | 16.3 | 26.0% |
| Petersburg city | Moderate$1,132/mo | $157,900 | $1,049/mo | 23.1 | 30.0% |
| Rockingham County | Moderate$1,125/mo | $287,900 | $909/mo | 29.3 | 26.0% |
| Harrisonburg city | Moderate$1,120/mo | $278,200 | $1,191/mo | 19.1 | 27.0% |
| Mathews County | Moderate$1,108/mo | $348,800 | $823/mo | 36.0 | 19.0% |
| Powhatan County | Moderate$1,107/mo | $381,300 | $1,548/mo | 14.0 | 28.0% |
| Hopewell city | Moderate$1,085/mo | $165,100 | $1,009/mo | 25.9 | 37.0% |
| Charles City County | Moderate$1,076/mo | $224,100 | $943/mo | 29.4 | 30.0% |
| Middlesex County | Moderate$1,071/mo | $299,800 | $905/mo | 31.4 | 29.0% |
| Buena Vista city | Moderate$1,067/mo | $153,500 | $693/mo | 46.5 | 30.0% |
| Emporia city | Moderate$1,060/mo | $131,100 | $678/mo | 48.3 | 28.0% |
| Augusta County | Moderate$1,057/mo | $281,400 | $978/mo | 28.3 | 26.0% |
| Northumberland County | Moderate$1,053/mo | $333,100 | $810/mo | 38.7 | 20.0% |
| Madison County | Moderate$1,048/mo | $331,400 | $1,199/mo | 21.4 | 29.0% |
| Salem city | Moderate$1,046/mo | $244,800 | $1,168/mo | 22.1 | 29.0% |
| Lynchburg city | Moderate$1,043/mo | $211,800 | $979/mo | 28.8 | 28.0% |
| Richmond County | Moderate$1,011/mo | $214,200 | $858/mo | 36.7 | 21.0% |
| Nottoway County | Moderate$1,009/mo | $179,800 | $936/mo | 32.1 | 26.0% |
| Franklin city | Affordable$995/mo | $227,200 | $1,180/mo | 24.1 | 26.0% |
| Staunton city | Affordable$993/mo | $239,300 | $1,040/mo | 28.8 | 26.0% |
| Westmoreland County | Affordable$991/mo | $244,000 | $1,087/mo | 27.1 | 34.0% |
| Lexington city | Affordable$985/mo | $275,300 | $926/mo | 34.0 | 28.0% |
| King and Queen County | Affordable$982/mo | $240,900 | $1,083/mo | 27.6 | 24.0% |
| Lancaster County | Affordable$978/mo | $307,600 | $917/mo | 34.6 | 31.0% |
| Accomack County | Affordable$973/mo | $193,100 | $686/mo | 51.4 | 27.0% |
| Amelia County | Affordable$972/mo | $239,700 | $919/mo | 35.0 | 26.0% |
| Waynesboro city | Affordable$972/mo | $236,600 | $1,181/mo | 25.4 | 29.0% |
| Shenandoah County | Affordable$968/mo | $265,800 | $1,092/mo | 28.2 | 27.0% |
| Essex County | Affordable$967/mo | $228,600 | $942/mo | 34.5 | 30.0% |
| Radford city | Affordable$966/mo | $211,700 | $867/mo | 38.8 | 35.0% |
| Roanoke city | Affordable$964/mo | $180,500 | $1,003/mo | 31.7 | 28.0% |
| Greensville County | Affordable$960/mo | $159,200 | $753/mo | 47.1 | 32.0% |
| Rockbridge County | Affordable$956/mo | $238,700 | $783/mo | 45.4 | 27.0% |
| Bedford County | Affordable$955/mo | $276,600 | $935/mo | 35.5 | 27.0% |
| Sussex County | Affordable$952/mo | $178,500 | $831/mo | 42.5 | 28.0% |
| Botetourt County | Affordable$951/mo | $268,900 | $978/mo | 33.6 | 21.0% |
| Nelson County | Affordable$950/mo | $283,000 | $913/mo | 36.8 | 26.0% |
| Southampton County | Affordable$930/mo | $208,800 | $976/mo | 35.0 | 30.0% |
| Prince Edward County | Affordable$898/mo | $203,700 | $915/mo | 40.5 | 30.0% |
| Appomattox County | Affordable$883/mo | $189,200 | $794/mo | 49.8 | 21.0% |
| Buckingham County | Affordable$874/mo | $167,800 | $661/mo | 60.8 | 27.0% |
| Brunswick County | Affordable$864/mo | $132,700 | $703/mo | 58.2 | 25.0% |
| Highland County | Affordable$859/mo | $195,700 | $571/mo | 68.2 | 37.0% |
| Surry County | Affordable$858/mo | $235,200 | $940/mo | 43.1 | 27.0% |
| Pittsylvania County | Affordable$856/mo | $153,000 | $645/mo | 63.8 | 29.0% |
| Campbell County | Affordable$853/mo | $199,200 | $779/mo | 54.0 | 26.0% |
| Page County | Affordable$851/mo | $221,800 | $846/mo | 49.7 | 26.0% |
| Cumberland County | Affordable$847/mo | $220,100 | $850/mo | 49.8 | 22.0% |
| Amherst County | Affordable$842/mo | $197,200 | $867/mo | 49.0 | 29.0% |
| Washington County | Affordable$832/mo | $201,800 | $714/mo | 61.0 | 23.0% |
| Floyd County | Affordable$826/mo | $215,500 | $601/mo | 69.4 | 23.0% |
| Bath County | Affordable$825/mo | $206,000 | $660/mo | 66.1 | 24.0% |
| Covington city | Affordable$822/mo | $80,200 | $582/mo | 71.5 | 28.0% |
| Pulaski County | Affordable$815/mo | $182,500 | $841/mo | 53.8 | 25.0% |
| Danville city | Affordable$808/mo | $110,200 | $707/mo | 64.1 | 27.0% |
| Mecklenburg County | Affordable$804/mo | $169,400 | $710/mo | 64.6 | 29.0% |
| Franklin County | Affordable$797/mo | $222,800 | $786/mo | 60.0 | 21.0% |
| Martinsville city | Affordable$784/mo | $92,500 | $710/mo | 67.3 | 26.0% |
| Giles County | Affordable$780/mo | $143,500 | $595/mo | 75.8 | 23.0% |
| Lunenburg County | Affordable$780/mo | $145,500 | $653/mo | 72.3 | 27.0% |
| Northampton County | Affordable$780/mo | $279,100 | $895/mo | 54.6 | 28.0% |
| Bristol city | Affordable$775/mo | $168,700 | $879/mo | 56.2 | 27.0% |
| Alleghany County | Affordable$774/mo | $122,300 | $529/mo | 80.8 | 28.0% |
| Wise County | Affordable$770/mo | $116,500 | $615/mo | 76.0 | 24.0% |
| Halifax County | Affordable$769/mo | $148,900 | $606/mo | 76.7 | 31.0% |
| Tazewell County | Affordable$738/mo | $116,100 | $552/mo | 83.9 | 27.0% |
| Dickenson County | Affordable$733/mo | $101,100 | $433/mo | 88.8 | 32.0% |
| Craig County | Affordable$728/mo | $210,500 | $884/mo | 61.5 | 19.0% |
| Lee County | Affordable$725/mo | $98,700 | $408/mo | 90.0 | 38.0% |
| Patrick County | Affordable$721/mo | $146,500 | $512/mo | 87.8 | 27.0% |
| Wythe County | Affordable$718/mo | $172,100 | $598/mo | 83.0 | 27.0% |
| Buchanan County | Affordable$712/mo | $91,400 | $392/mo | 91.7 | 36.0% |
| Grayson County | Affordable$712/mo | $132,300 | $438/mo | 91.2 | 31.0% |
| Henry County | Affordable$705/mo | $120,300 | $569/mo | 86.5 | 27.0% |
| Galax city | Affordable$692/mo | $126,800 | $827/mo | 69.3 | 23.0% |
| Smyth County | Affordable$692/mo | $125,800 | $491/mo | 91.2 | 27.0% |
| Carroll County | Affordable$687/mo | $144,200 | $470/mo | 92.3 | 20.0% |
| Bland County | Affordable$683/mo | $157,100 | $466/mo | 92.8 | 19.0% |
| Charlotte County | Affordable$682/mo | $144,000 | $574/mo | 87.9 | 34.0% |
| Russell County | Affordable$682/mo | $119,600 | $467/mo | 92.8 | 26.0% |
| Norton city | Affordable$670/mo | $100,700 | $582/mo | 88.0 | 27.0% |
| Scott County | Affordable$665/mo | $122,300 | $472/mo | 93.7 | 26.0% |
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
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How does Virginia's cost of living compare to the national average?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.