County housing intelligence
Virginia Housing Market by County
Virginia is not one housing market. Across 133 counties, the median county home value is $258,600 and the median county rent is $1,059/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
$258,600
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$1,059/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 Bland County, Russell County, Norton city show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Covington city, Martinsville city, Alleghany 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
$83,500
- 2. Buchanan County
$94,900
- 3. Martinsville city
$98,400
- 4. Lee County
$98,900
- 5. Dickenson County
$102,700
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Covington city
2.0x home-value-to-income
- 2. Martinsville city
2.1x home-value-to-income
- 3. Alleghany County
2.2x home-value-to-income
- 4. Buchanan County
2.2x home-value-to-income
- 5. Dickenson County
2.2x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Bland County
$644/mo
- 2. Russell County
$653/mo
- 3. Norton city
$692/mo
- 4. Scott County
$699/mo
- 5. Craig County
$713/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Craig County
16.7% rent burden
- 2. Bland County
18.0% rent burden
- 3. Carroll County
19.2% rent burden
- 4. Lunenburg County
19.6% rent burden
- 5. Franklin County
21.5% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Amelia County
0.38% effective tax rate
- 2. Lunenburg County
0.39% effective tax rate
- 3. Bath County
0.39% effective tax rate
- 4. Prince Edward County
0.43% effective tax rate
- 5. Mathews County
0.43% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Buena Vista city
$376/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Buchanan County
$339/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Lee County
$311/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Greensville County
$296/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Accomack County
$287/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Loudoun County
$181,765 income, 4.1x value-to-income
- 2. Stafford County
$137,807 income, 3.5x value-to-income
- 3. New Kent County
$123,314 income, 3.2x value-to-income
- 4. Poquoson city
$120,972 income, 3.3x value-to-income
- 5. Prince William County
$131,402 income, 4.0x 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 $83,500 home value, $41,944 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Covington city $83,500 home value, 0.82% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Buchanan County $743/mo rent, 50.00% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | Falls Church city $1,055,600 home value, $143,262 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 | $83,500 | $794/mo | $41,944 | 2.0x | 0.82% |
| Martinsville city | $98,400 | $808/mo | $46,727 | 2.1x | 0.77% |
| Alleghany County | $125,800 | $765/mo | $56,188 | 2.2x | 0.79% |
| Buchanan County | $94,900 | $743/mo | $42,886 | 2.2x | 0.44% |
| Dickenson County | $102,700 | $738/mo | $47,254 | 2.2x | 0.47% |
| Wise County | $118,600 | $790/mo | $52,943 | 2.2x | 0.58% |
| Giles County | $151,100 | $789/mo | $65,691 | 2.3x | 0.61% |
| Lee County | $98,900 | $738/mo | $41,827 | 2.4x | 0.60% |
| Russell County | $120,600 | $653/mo | $50,012 | 2.4x | 0.48% |
| Bland County | $152,100 | $644/mo | $61,216 | 2.5x | 0.56% |
| Charlotte County | $144,100 | $732/mo | $58,000 | 2.5x | 0.52% |
| Tazewell County | $118,300 | $795/mo | $47,313 | 2.5x | 0.62% |
| Nottoway County | $167,500 | $972/mo | $63,261 | 2.6x | 0.45% |
| Brunswick County | $142,700 | $834/mo | $53,084 | 2.7x | 0.57% |
| Buena Vista city | $156,200 | $1,112/mo | $57,833 | 2.7x | 0.91% |
| Craig County | $189,000 | $713/mo | $69,057 | 2.7x | 0.56% |
| Danville city | $119,100 | $836/mo | $44,423 | 2.7x | 0.65% |
| Henry County | $134,800 | $728/mo | $50,760 | 2.7x | 0.47% |
| Lunenburg County | $150,100 | $742/mo | $54,842 | 2.7x | 0.39% |
| Norton city | $110,000 | $692/mo | $41,495 | 2.7x | 0.73% |
| Smyth County | $139,600 | $731/mo | $49,883 | 2.8x | 0.58% |
| Buckingham County | $173,400 | $927/mo | $60,828 | 2.9x | 0.52% |
| Carroll County | $156,500 | $738/mo | $54,484 | 2.9x | 0.53% |
| Emporia city | $148,500 | $1,037/mo | $51,899 | 2.9x | 0.79% |
| Greensville County | $159,400 | $969/mo | $54,668 | 2.9x | 0.54% |
| Patrick County | $153,400 | $716/mo | $53,038 | 2.9x | 0.55% |
| Sussex County | $183,800 | $907/mo | $63,530 | 2.9x | 0.59% |
| Halifax County | $155,700 | $790/mo | $52,013 | 3.0x | 0.46% |
| Highland County | $200,000 | $856/mo | $65,625 | 3.0x | 0.57% |
| Pittsylvania County | $161,400 | $861/mo | $54,085 | 3.0x | 0.59% |
| Wythe County | $171,200 | $764/mo | $57,745 | 3.0x | 0.53% |
| Amherst County | $212,400 | $871/mo | $68,724 | 3.1x | 0.46% |
| Dinwiddie County | $257,800 | $1,224/mo | $83,704 | 3.1x | 0.55% |
| Grayson County | $150,100 | $765/mo | $47,730 | 3.1x | 0.56% |
| Pulaski County | $191,700 | $813/mo | $62,028 | 3.1x | 0.63% |
| Scott County | $143,000 | $699/mo | $46,349 | 3.1x | 0.62% |
| Southampton County | $216,200 | $930/mo | $70,795 | 3.1x | 0.66% |
| Surry County | $238,800 | $983/mo | $78,041 | 3.1x | 0.69% |
| Campbell County | $211,600 | $891/mo | $66,165 | 3.2x | 0.45% |
| Charles City County | $241,400 | $1,099/mo | $75,417 | 3.2x | 0.56% |
| Colonial Heights city | $246,600 | $1,234/mo | $76,505 | 3.2x | 0.84% |
| Fluvanna County | $314,100 | $1,204/mo | $96,768 | 3.2x | 0.63% |
| New Kent County | $393,600 | $1,721/mo | $123,314 | 3.2x | 0.64% |
| Appomattox County | $207,600 | $855/mo | $62,853 | 3.3x | 0.52% |
| Hopewell city | $181,600 | $1,106/mo | $54,729 | 3.3x | 0.86% |
| King and Queen County | $231,600 | $1,004/mo | $70,469 | 3.3x | 0.52% |
| Lexington city | $275,200 | $1,081/mo | $84,517 | 3.3x | 0.81% |
| Poquoson city | $400,300 | $1,707/mo | $120,972 | 3.3x | 0.92% |
| Washington County | $214,000 | $854/mo | $64,552 | 3.3x | 0.50% |
| Mecklenburg County | $192,600 | $823/mo | $57,045 | 3.4x | 0.45% |
| Roanoke city | $190,500 | $996/mo | $55,378 | 3.4x | 0.99% |
| Roanoke County | $286,000 | $1,224/mo | $83,709 | 3.4x | 0.85% |
| Accomack County | $204,300 | $977/mo | $58,993 | 3.5x | 0.48% |
| Caroline County | $307,700 | $1,293/mo | $87,407 | 3.5x | 0.52% |
| Franklin County | $240,400 | $829/mo | $68,849 | 3.5x | 0.50% |
| Hampton city | $245,700 | $1,427/mo | $69,621 | 3.5x | 0.95% |
| Hanover County | $400,400 | $1,591/mo | $112,805 | 3.5x | 0.66% |
| Prince George County | $293,400 | $1,594/mo | $84,897 | 3.5x | 0.74% |
| Richmond County | $231,500 | $1,067/mo | $66,304 | 3.5x | 0.56% |
| Stafford County | $485,100 | $2,020/mo | $137,807 | 3.5x | 0.70% |
| Botetourt County | $289,200 | $1,035/mo | $81,213 | 3.6x | 0.64% |
| Chesterfield County | $366,000 | $1,629/mo | $101,931 | 3.6x | 0.76% |
| Floyd County | $225,400 | $878/mo | $62,191 | 3.6x | 0.55% |
| Louisa County | $315,300 | $1,220/mo | $86,689 | 3.6x | 0.60% |
| Spotsylvania County | $404,900 | $1,779/mo | $112,738 | 3.6x | 0.58% |
| Amelia County | $282,400 | $1,164/mo | $76,717 | 3.7x | 0.38% |
| Augusta County | $306,100 | $1,136/mo | $82,049 | 3.7x | 0.47% |
| Bath County | $206,700 | $736/mo | $56,184 | 3.7x | 0.39% |
| Bristol city | $184,100 | $801/mo | $50,404 | 3.7x | 0.75% |
| Galax city | $141,300 | $743/mo | $38,675 | 3.7x | 0.76% |
| Isle of Wight County | $356,500 | $1,359/mo | $95,241 | 3.7x | 0.70% |
| King George County | $428,300 | $1,428/mo | $116,884 | 3.7x | 0.53% |
| King William County | $315,700 | $1,166/mo | $86,056 | 3.7x | 0.55% |
| Newport News city | $260,600 | $1,339/mo | $69,634 | 3.7x | 1.01% |
| Petersburg city | $189,000 | $1,174/mo | $50,698 | 3.7x | 0.81% |
| Suffolk city | $347,400 | $1,563/mo | $92,666 | 3.7x | 0.93% |
| Bedford County | $297,400 | $952/mo | $78,937 | 3.8x | 0.43% |
| Greene County | $343,300 | $1,309/mo | $89,808 | 3.8x | 0.61% |
| Manassas Park city | $395,900 | $2,146/mo | $103,250 | 3.8x | 1.17% |
| Powhatan County | $416,000 | $1,168/mo | $110,537 | 3.8x | 0.59% |
| Prince Edward County | $216,600 | $931/mo | $56,315 | 3.8x | 0.43% |
| Radford city | $220,700 | $1,033/mo | $57,348 | 3.8x | 0.72% |
| Rockbridge County | $248,800 | $925/mo | $65,469 | 3.8x | 0.60% |
| Gloucester County | $331,000 | $1,096/mo | $84,306 | 3.9x | 0.57% |
| Orange County | $364,200 | $1,205/mo | $94,008 | 3.9x | 0.55% |
| Rockingham County | $313,000 | $1,160/mo | $80,693 | 3.9x | 0.53% |
| Salem city | $258,600 | $1,133/mo | $66,725 | 3.9x | 0.90% |
| York County | $433,200 | $1,827/mo | $109,956 | 3.9x | 0.65% |
| Chesapeake city | $378,400 | $1,586/mo | $95,373 | 4.0x | 0.82% |
| Frederick County | $386,000 | $1,507/mo | $97,606 | 4.0x | 0.48% |
| Henrico County | $359,200 | $1,541/mo | $88,783 | 4.0x | 0.71% |
| Lynchburg city | $229,800 | $1,073/mo | $57,947 | 4.0x | 0.79% |
| Manassas city | $449,900 | $1,850/mo | $113,590 | 4.0x | 1.09% |
| Prince William County | $530,100 | $2,067/mo | $131,402 | 4.0x | 0.94% |
| Staunton city | $259,200 | $1,024/mo | $65,581 | 4.0x | 0.70% |
| Culpeper County | $409,200 | $1,423/mo | $100,049 | 4.1x | 0.52% |
| Franklin city | $256,600 | $988/mo | $63,245 | 4.1x | 0.71% |
| James City County | $447,200 | $1,552/mo | $109,985 | 4.1x | 0.65% |
| Loudoun County | $743,800 | $2,386/mo | $181,765 | 4.1x | 0.85% |
| Page County | $233,200 | $879/mo | $57,037 | 4.1x | 0.64% |
| Portsmouth city | $246,900 | $1,300/mo | $60,491 | 4.1x | 1.04% |
| Virginia Beach city | $382,500 | $1,714/mo | $92,968 | 4.1x | 0.80% |
| Warren County | $348,400 | $1,199/mo | $84,682 | 4.1x | 0.52% |
| Waynesboro city | $245,500 | $1,020/mo | $59,994 | 4.1x | 0.67% |
| Essex County | $238,100 | $972/mo | $56,520 | 4.2x | 0.57% |
| Goochland County | $500,600 | $1,614/mo | $118,931 | 4.2x | 0.50% |
| Montgomery County | $304,600 | $1,240/mo | $72,715 | 4.2x | 0.74% |
| Cumberland County | $239,300 | $877/mo | $55,325 | 4.3x | 0.57% |
| Westmoreland County | $269,600 | $1,018/mo | $63,398 | 4.3x | 0.60% |
| Fauquier County | $573,700 | $1,613/mo | $130,189 | 4.4x | 0.75% |
| Madison County | $370,300 | $1,166/mo | $84,323 | 4.4x | 0.53% |
| Nelson County | $321,700 | $946/mo | $72,589 | 4.4x | 0.50% |
| Norfolk city | $289,900 | $1,321/mo | $66,109 | 4.4x | 1.00% |
| Shenandoah County | $294,900 | $984/mo | $67,191 | 4.4x | 0.52% |
| Albemarle County | $495,400 | $1,692/mo | $104,392 | 4.7x | 0.75% |
| Clarke County | $550,100 | $1,371/mo | $117,111 | 4.7x | 0.48% |
| Lancaster County | $327,000 | $1,033/mo | $69,713 | 4.7x | 0.48% |
| Middlesex County | $352,200 | $1,059/mo | $75,060 | 4.7x | 0.50% |
| Fairfax County | $732,800 | $2,276/mo | $153,637 | 4.8x | 1.01% |
| Harrisonburg city | $299,100 | $1,184/mo | $62,254 | 4.8x | 0.76% |
| Mathews County | $360,900 | $1,032/mo | $75,880 | 4.8x | 0.43% |
| Northampton County | $316,200 | $829/mo | $61,632 | 5.1x | 0.57% |
| Northumberland County | $346,800 | $1,038/mo | $66,480 | 5.2x | 0.47% |
| Winchester city | $343,000 | $1,315/mo | $63,974 | 5.4x | 0.76% |
| Fairfax city | $722,600 | $2,245/mo | $132,348 | 5.5x | 0.90% |
| Richmond city | $353,000 | $1,372/mo | $64,587 | 5.5x | 0.89% |
| Fredericksburg city | $483,700 | $1,619/mo | $86,071 | 5.6x | 0.60% |
| Williamsburg city | $428,100 | $1,407/mo | $75,604 | 5.7x | 0.59% |
| Alexandria city | $735,100 | $2,089/mo | $119,681 | 6.1x | 0.96% |
| Rappahannock County | $506,400 | $1,290/mo | $83,380 | 6.1x | 0.49% |
| Arlington County | $895,000 | $2,322/mo | $142,114 | 6.3x | 0.91% |
| Charlottesville city | $486,700 | $1,540/mo | $74,824 | 6.5x | 0.80% |
| Falls Church city | $1,055,600 | $2,190/mo | $143,262 | 7.4x | 0.95% |
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.