Best places to live in Virginia (2026)

All 17 ranked places in Virginia, by all-round score. 12 other places without FBI crime data are on the places list.

Ranked by an all-round score: the average of all 14 quality scores (housing costs, taxes, jobs, healthcare, education, family life, safety, natural disasters, climate and more), weighted equally. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out, since their safety is unknown. Scores are out of 100.

1. 1Alexandria, VASuburb · 3-bed $700k · very safe71
2. 2Leesburg, VASuburb · 3-bed $624k · very safe68
3. 3Manassas, VASuburb · 3-bed $472k · very safe65
4. 4Chesapeake, VABig city · 3-bed $349k · safe63
5. 5Blacksburg, VACollege town · 3-bed $394k · very safe63
6. 6Virginia Beach, VABig city · 3-bed $378k · very safe63
7. 7Suffolk, VASuburb · 3-bed $332k · safe61
8. 8Harrisonburg, VASmall city · 3-bed $333k · very safe61
9. 9Charlottesville, VACollege town · 3-bed $466k · safe61
10. 10Portsmouth, VASuburb · 3-bed $268k · higher crime59
11. 11Hampton, VASuburb · 3-bed $268k · safe58
12. 12Newport News, VAMid-size city · 3-bed $281k · moderate crime58
13. 13Richmond, VAMid-size city · 3-bed $339k · moderate crime56
14. 14Norfolk, VAMid-size city · 3-bed $296k · moderate crime56
15. 15Lynchburg, VASmall city · 3-bed $279k · safe51
16. 16Roanoke, VASmall city · 3-bed $264k · moderate crime46
17. 17Danville, VASmall city · 3-bed $189k · safe44

Cheapest places to live in Virginia

Ranked by the typical value of a 3-bedroom home (Zillow), lowest first.

1. 1Danville, VASmall city · rent $1,260/mo · cost of living 101$189k
2. 2Roanoke, VASmall city · rent $1,740/mo · cost of living 94$264k
3. 3Hampton, VASuburb · rent $2,380/mo · cost of living 98$268k
4. 4Portsmouth, VASuburb · rent $2,380/mo · cost of living 98$268k
5. 5Lynchburg, VASmall city · rent $1,640/mo · cost of living 89$279k

Safest places to live in Virginia

Ranked by violent crimes per resident in FBI 2019 data, lowest first. Places missing from the FBI table are left out.

1. 1Blacksburg, VACollege town · violent crime 0.3× the US rate111 per 100k
2. 2Virginia Beach, VABig city · violent crime 0.3× the US rate129 per 100k
3. 3Alexandria, VASuburb · violent crime 0.5× the US rate177 per 100k
4. 4Leesburg, VASuburb · violent crime 0.5× the US rate184 per 100k
5. 5Harrisonburg, VASmall city · violent crime 0.5× the US rate206 per 100k

Safest places from natural disasters in Virginia

Ranked by our natural disaster score: FEMA's expected deaths, injuries and home damage from 18 hazards, plus federally declared disasters in the county since 2000.

1. 1Harrisonburg, VA2 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding96
2. 2Virginia Beach, VA4 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly hurricanes, heat waves95
3. 3Lynchburg, VA3 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding95
4. 4Ashburn, VA6 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding92
5. 5Leesburg, VA6 declared disasters since 2000 · mainly flooding, heat waves92

Best places to live for families in Virginia

Ranked by a family score: the average of our Kids & family, Safety, Education and Affordable housing scores. Places missing from the FBI crime table are left out.

1. 1Leesburg, VASuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $624k72
2. 2Blacksburg, VACollege town · kids average · safety excellent · 3-bed $394k72
3. 3Manassas, VASuburb · kids excellent · safety excellent · 3-bed $472k70
4. 4Virginia Beach, VABig city · kids good · safety excellent · 3-bed $378k67
5. 5Suffolk, VASuburb · kids excellent · safety good · 3-bed $332k66

Best places to live · Cheapest places to live · Safest places to live · Safest places from natural disasters · Best places to live for families

Data: US Census, Zillow, HUD, BEA, FBI 2019, FEMA, NOAA, NASA, CMS, NCES and others. How scores work.