County housing intelligence
Virginia Housing Market by County
Virginia is not one housing market. Across 133 counties, the median county home value is $240,900 and the median county rent is $1,043/mo. The useful question is not whether Virginia is cheap. It is which county fits your income, tax tolerance, and buy-versus-rent plan.
County median home value
$240,900
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$1,043/mo
Gross rent includes rent plus utilities where Census reports it.
Counties compared
133
Every county with available ACS housing data in this state.
Fast answers
Start with the housing question.
Market brief
The state-level housing signal
These benchmarks use the median county in the state, not one metro-weighted average. That makes the brief better for county comparison and rural-to-urban screening.
Purchase price
State county median vs national benchmark
Rent
State county median vs national benchmark
Owner cost
State county median vs national benchmark
Income base
State county median vs national benchmark
Tax rate
State county median vs national benchmark
The Virginia Pattern
These are the signals a statewide average hides. Start here before choosing counties to compare.
Price geography
Falls Church city, Arlington County, Loudoun County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Covington city, Buchanan County, Martinsville city anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
Loudoun County, Arlington County, Fairfax County lead on rent, while Scott County, Norton city, Charlotte County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Covington city, Alleghany County, Buchanan County screen best for purchase affordability when home values are measured against local household income.
Best Counties by Housing Goal
Different households need different rankings. Price alone is not enough, so these groups compare rent, income, owner costs, and tax exposure.
Cheapest to buy
Lowest median home values. Useful for purchase-price screening.
- 1. Covington city
$80,200
- 2. Buchanan County
$91,400
- 3. Martinsville city
$92,500
- 4. Lee County
$98,700
- 5. Norton city
$100,700
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Covington city
1.9x home-value-to-income
- 2. Alleghany County
2.2x home-value-to-income
- 3. Buchanan County
2.2x home-value-to-income
- 4. Giles County
2.2x home-value-to-income
- 5. Martinsville city
2.2x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Scott County
$665/mo
- 2. Norton city
$670/mo
- 3. Charlotte County
$682/mo
- 4. Russell County
$682/mo
- 5. Bland County
$683/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Bland County
19.0% rent burden
- 2. Craig County
19.0% rent burden
- 3. Mathews County
19.0% rent burden
- 4. Carroll County
20.0% rent burden
- 5. Northumberland County
20.0% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Prince Edward County
0.40% effective tax rate
- 2. Bath County
0.40% effective tax rate
- 3. Nottoway County
0.42% effective tax rate
- 4. Mathews County
0.42% effective tax rate
- 5. Amelia County
0.43% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Emporia city
$382/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Buena Vista city
$374/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Buchanan County
$320/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Lee County
$317/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Dickenson County
$300/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Loudoun County
$178,707 income, 3.9x value-to-income
- 2. Stafford County
$133,792 income, 3.4x value-to-income
- 3. New Kent County
$120,125 income, 3.1x value-to-income
- 4. Poquoson city
$120,919 income, 3.3x value-to-income
- 5. Prince William County
$128,873 income, 3.9x value-to-income
Tradeoffs to Check
The best page is not the one that crowns a winner. It is the one that shows where a county can surprise you after the headline price looks attractive.
| Signal | County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap price, weaker income base | Covington city $80,200 home value, $42,724 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Covington city $80,200 home value, 0.78% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Lee County $725/mo rent, 38.00% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | Falls Church city $1,005,400 home value, $154,734 income | Some high-price counties also have stronger incomes, so affordability depends on both sides of the equation. |
Lowest home values
Best value-to-income
Compare Every Virginia County
Sorted by home-value-to-income ratio so the first rows are not just cheap counties, but counties where purchase prices look smaller relative to local income.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Income | Value/Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington city | $80,200 | $822/mo | $42,724 | 1.9x | 0.78% |
| Alleghany County | $122,300 | $774/mo | $55,160 | 2.2x | 0.83% |
| Buchanan County | $91,400 | $712/mo | $42,216 | 2.2x | 0.44% |
| Giles County | $143,500 | $780/mo | $64,819 | 2.2x | 0.63% |
| Martinsville city | $92,500 | $784/mo | $42,434 | 2.2x | 0.81% |
| Dickenson County | $101,100 | $733/mo | $43,831 | 2.3x | 0.50% |
| Lee County | $98,700 | $725/mo | $42,269 | 2.3x | 0.59% |
| Wise County | $116,500 | $770/mo | $50,740 | 2.3x | 0.56% |
| Russell County | $119,600 | $682/mo | $49,020 | 2.4x | 0.54% |
| Brunswick County | $132,700 | $864/mo | $52,978 | 2.5x | 0.54% |
| Henry County | $120,300 | $705/mo | $48,445 | 2.5x | 0.50% |
| Tazewell County | $116,100 | $738/mo | $45,788 | 2.5x | 0.62% |
| Bland County | $157,100 | $683/mo | $61,375 | 2.6x | 0.55% |
| Danville city | $110,200 | $808/mo | $42,778 | 2.6x | 0.67% |
| Norton city | $100,700 | $670/mo | $38,497 | 2.6x | 0.78% |
| Carroll County | $144,200 | $687/mo | $52,575 | 2.7x | 0.60% |
| Emporia city | $131,100 | $1,060/mo | $49,375 | 2.7x | 0.76% |
| Lunenburg County | $145,500 | $780/mo | $54,460 | 2.7x | 0.44% |
| Scott County | $122,300 | $665/mo | $45,136 | 2.7x | 0.68% |
| Smyth County | $125,800 | $692/mo | $46,859 | 2.7x | 0.61% |
| Buckingham County | $167,800 | $874/mo | $59,199 | 2.8x | 0.52% |
| Buena Vista city | $153,500 | $1,067/mo | $54,458 | 2.8x | 0.94% |
| Greensville County | $159,200 | $960/mo | $56,759 | 2.8x | 0.59% |
| Pittsylvania County | $153,000 | $856/mo | $54,115 | 2.8x | 0.59% |
| Sussex County | $178,500 | $952/mo | $62,821 | 2.8x | 0.54% |
| Amherst County | $197,200 | $842/mo | $67,298 | 2.9x | 0.51% |
| Charlotte County | $144,000 | $682/mo | $48,892 | 2.9x | 0.51% |
| Dinwiddie County | $246,100 | $1,242/mo | $83,898 | 2.9x | 0.60% |
| Nottoway County | $179,800 | $1,009/mo | $62,161 | 2.9x | 0.42% |
| Patrick County | $146,500 | $721/mo | $50,938 | 2.9x | 0.58% |
| Appomattox County | $189,200 | $883/mo | $62,337 | 3.0x | 0.53% |
| Colonial Heights city | $231,700 | $1,162/mo | $76,250 | 3.0x | 0.92% |
| Halifax County | $148,900 | $769/mo | $49,244 | 3.0x | 0.49% |
| Prince George County | $268,300 | $1,563/mo | $88,225 | 3.0x | 0.78% |
| Pulaski County | $182,500 | $815/mo | $60,767 | 3.0x | 0.64% |
| Southampton County | $208,800 | $930/mo | $68,465 | 3.0x | 0.66% |
| Craig County | $210,500 | $728/mo | $67,778 | 3.1x | 0.46% |
| Fluvanna County | $281,700 | $1,173/mo | $91,959 | 3.1x | 0.65% |
| Galax city | $126,800 | $692/mo | $41,438 | 3.1x | 0.76% |
| Grayson County | $132,300 | $712/mo | $42,864 | 3.1x | 0.62% |
| Highland County | $195,700 | $859/mo | $62,946 | 3.1x | 0.56% |
| Lexington city | $275,300 | $985/mo | $89,598 | 3.1x | 0.86% |
| New Kent County | $371,500 | $1,653/mo | $120,125 | 3.1x | 0.68% |
| Petersburg city | $157,900 | $1,132/mo | $50,741 | 3.1x | 0.92% |
| Wythe County | $172,100 | $718/mo | $55,359 | 3.1x | 0.49% |
| Campbell County | $199,200 | $853/mo | $62,608 | 3.2x | 0.46% |
| Charles City County | $224,100 | $1,076/mo | $70,339 | 3.2x | 0.60% |
| King William County | $276,500 | $1,246/mo | $85,212 | 3.2x | 0.63% |
| Roanoke County | $267,300 | $1,148/mo | $82,931 | 3.2x | 0.88% |
| Washington County | $201,800 | $832/mo | $62,774 | 3.2x | 0.51% |
| Bath County | $206,000 | $825/mo | $61,709 | 3.3x | 0.40% |
| Botetourt County | $268,900 | $951/mo | $80,467 | 3.3x | 0.65% |
| Caroline County | $283,100 | $1,201/mo | $86,267 | 3.3x | 0.56% |
| Franklin County | $222,800 | $797/mo | $68,348 | 3.3x | 0.53% |
| King and Queen County | $240,900 | $982/mo | $72,851 | 3.3x | 0.52% |
| Mecklenburg County | $169,400 | $804/mo | $51,691 | 3.3x | 0.49% |
| Poquoson city | $403,000 | $1,634/mo | $120,919 | 3.3x | 0.90% |
| Richmond County | $214,200 | $1,011/mo | $64,184 | 3.3x | 0.55% |
| Surry County | $235,200 | $858/mo | $71,458 | 3.3x | 0.63% |
| Accomack County | $193,100 | $973/mo | $57,500 | 3.4x | 0.50% |
| Chesterfield County | $336,700 | $1,542/mo | $98,910 | 3.4x | 0.78% |
| Hanover County | $372,700 | $1,496/mo | $109,504 | 3.4x | 0.67% |
| Hopewell city | $165,100 | $1,085/mo | $48,681 | 3.4x | 0.97% |
| Louisa County | $275,600 | $1,208/mo | $80,343 | 3.4x | 0.65% |
| Powhatan County | $381,300 | $1,107/mo | $110,667 | 3.4x | 0.63% |
| Roanoke city | $180,500 | $964/mo | $52,671 | 3.4x | 1.01% |
| Spotsylvania County | $375,000 | $1,733/mo | $109,576 | 3.4x | 0.60% |
| Stafford County | $458,800 | $1,925/mo | $133,792 | 3.4x | 0.72% |
| Augusta County | $281,400 | $1,057/mo | $79,972 | 3.5x | 0.49% |
| Floyd County | $215,500 | $826/mo | $61,401 | 3.5x | 0.52% |
| Franklin city | $227,200 | $995/mo | $65,125 | 3.5x | 0.74% |
| Gloucester County | $289,200 | $1,144/mo | $83,689 | 3.5x | 0.59% |
| Hampton city | $234,100 | $1,346/mo | $67,758 | 3.5x | 0.96% |
| Isle of Wight County | $333,600 | $1,313/mo | $96,118 | 3.5x | 0.72% |
| Lynchburg city | $211,800 | $1,043/mo | $59,808 | 3.5x | 0.84% |
| Amelia County | $239,700 | $972/mo | $66,339 | 3.6x | 0.43% |
| Bedford County | $276,600 | $955/mo | $77,644 | 3.6x | 0.46% |
| King George County | $395,900 | $1,426/mo | $110,517 | 3.6x | 0.56% |
| Newport News city | $243,300 | $1,285/mo | $66,718 | 3.6x | 1.03% |
| Orange County | $337,300 | $1,145/mo | $94,175 | 3.6x | 0.61% |
| Frederick County | $355,000 | $1,402/mo | $95,603 | 3.7x | 0.51% |
| Greene County | $315,300 | $1,502/mo | $85,268 | 3.7x | 0.64% |
| Manassas city | $434,700 | $1,835/mo | $117,919 | 3.7x | 1.10% |
| Page County | $221,800 | $851/mo | $59,396 | 3.7x | 0.67% |
| Prince Edward County | $203,700 | $898/mo | $55,082 | 3.7x | 0.40% |
| Rockbridge County | $238,700 | $956/mo | $63,975 | 3.7x | 0.60% |
| Rockingham County | $287,900 | $1,125/mo | $78,468 | 3.7x | 0.53% |
| Salem city | $244,800 | $1,046/mo | $66,716 | 3.7x | 0.91% |
| Suffolk city | $329,600 | $1,484/mo | $90,089 | 3.7x | 0.93% |
| Warren County | $315,800 | $1,199/mo | $84,331 | 3.7x | 0.59% |
| Bristol city | $168,700 | $775/mo | $44,706 | 3.8x | 0.77% |
| Chesapeake city | $359,100 | $1,523/mo | $94,189 | 3.8x | 0.82% |
| Manassas Park city | $381,200 | $2,175/mo | $100,668 | 3.8x | 1.14% |
| Staunton city | $239,300 | $993/mo | $62,586 | 3.8x | 0.71% |
| York County | $411,200 | $1,777/mo | $108,326 | 3.8x | 0.65% |
| Cumberland County | $220,100 | $847/mo | $57,057 | 3.9x | 0.64% |
| Henrico County | $333,600 | $1,474/mo | $86,397 | 3.9x | 0.72% |
| James City County | $419,200 | $1,491/mo | $107,046 | 3.9x | 0.66% |
| Loudoun County | $701,000 | $2,317/mo | $178,707 | 3.9x | 0.88% |
| Portsmouth city | $229,400 | $1,266/mo | $58,972 | 3.9x | 1.07% |
| Prince William County | $500,600 | $2,002/mo | $128,873 | 3.9x | 0.98% |
| Culpeper County | $386,400 | $1,417/mo | $96,098 | 4.0x | 0.55% |
| Essex County | $228,600 | $967/mo | $56,481 | 4.0x | 0.57% |
| Madison County | $331,400 | $1,048/mo | $82,972 | 4.0x | 0.59% |
| Middlesex County | $299,800 | $1,071/mo | $74,154 | 4.0x | 0.56% |
| Montgomery County | $283,600 | $1,206/mo | $70,769 | 4.0x | 0.77% |
| Radford city | $211,700 | $966/mo | $52,791 | 4.0x | 0.70% |
| Virginia Beach city | $366,300 | $1,649/mo | $90,685 | 4.0x | 0.80% |
| Goochland County | $483,700 | $1,567/mo | $118,695 | 4.1x | 0.50% |
| Nelson County | $283,000 | $950/mo | $68,525 | 4.1x | 0.54% |
| Shenandoah County | $265,800 | $968/mo | $64,437 | 4.1x | 0.55% |
| Westmoreland County | $244,000 | $991/mo | $59,766 | 4.1x | 0.62% |
| Fauquier County | $543,700 | $1,561/mo | $129,495 | 4.2x | 0.77% |
| Norfolk city | $271,900 | $1,246/mo | $64,017 | 4.2x | 1.01% |
| Waynesboro city | $236,600 | $972/mo | $56,364 | 4.2x | 0.67% |
| Albemarle County | $471,000 | $1,623/mo | $102,617 | 4.6x | 0.74% |
| Lancaster County | $307,600 | $978/mo | $67,169 | 4.6x | 0.49% |
| Mathews County | $348,800 | $1,108/mo | $75,487 | 4.6x | 0.42% |
| Clarke County | $538,900 | $1,360/mo | $114,185 | 4.7x | 0.51% |
| Fairfax County | $699,700 | $2,230/mo | $150,113 | 4.7x | 1.01% |
| Harrisonburg city | $278,200 | $1,120/mo | $59,752 | 4.7x | 0.78% |
| Northumberland County | $333,100 | $1,053/mo | $69,500 | 4.8x | 0.48% |
| Northampton County | $279,100 | $780/mo | $55,933 | 5.0x | 0.61% |
| Rappahannock County | $490,200 | $1,384/mo | $98,125 | 5.0x | 0.57% |
| Winchester city | $325,900 | $1,298/mo | $64,648 | 5.0x | 0.77% |
| Fairfax city | $677,400 | $2,122/mo | $132,774 | 5.1x | 0.94% |
| Richmond city | $328,100 | $1,314/mo | $62,671 | 5.2x | 0.86% |
| Fredericksburg city | $461,500 | $1,521/mo | $85,368 | 5.4x | 0.62% |
| Williamsburg city | $393,200 | $1,361/mo | $70,206 | 5.6x | 0.58% |
| Alexandria city | $696,800 | $2,031/mo | $113,638 | 6.1x | 0.99% |
| Arlington County | $864,800 | $2,275/mo | $140,160 | 6.2x | 0.90% |
| Charlottesville city | $448,400 | $1,453/mo | $69,829 | 6.4x | 0.81% |
| Falls Church city | $1,005,400 | $2,205/mo | $154,734 | 6.5x | 0.99% |
Questions This Page Answers
Each answer is generated from the current county dataset, so it changes when the underlying ACS data changes.
What is the typical home value in Virginia by county?
What is the typical rent in Virginia by county?
Which Virginia counties are most affordable to buy in?
Why do cheap counties still need a closer look?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.