Virginia
Among the top 4% of US states for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 37% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 8% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 76% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 49% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A+, better than 96% of US states
- top 4% for amenities nearby
- top 10% for natural disaster risk
- bottom 10% for cost of living
Virginia is a U.S. state with about 8,625,000 residents. It grades A+ for lifestyle & connectivity and F for weather. Standout strengths include amenities nearby, natural disaster risk, and airport distance. It rates lower on sunny days and cost of living.
Official websitevirginia.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Virginia is $384k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Virginia is $96k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Virginia is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Virginia has a violent crime rate of 1210/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Virginia is 28 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$96k92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$62kbetter than 10% of US states
Home Value$384k78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 18% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$78kbetter than 53% of US states
Property Tax Rate0.82%better than 53% of US states
Income Tax5.79%better than 42% of US states
Sales Tax5.77%better than 82% of US states
Estimated total tax burden10.93%better than 40% of US states
Unemployment4.5%better than 71% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)38°F65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)78°F63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation46.7 in63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall12.1 inbetter than 59% of US states
Sunny Days202 daysbetter than 16% of US states
Summer Humidity67°Fbetter than 27% of US states
Comfortable Days80 daysbetter than 42% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk62.5better than 90% of US states
Air Quality40 AQIbetter than 80% of US states
School Quality58.7better than 52% of US states
Violent Crime1210/100kbetter than 48% of US states
Property Crime1720/100kbetter than 52% of US states
Community
Population8,624,51178th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age39.151st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5069th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9845th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1231st percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)60.0%33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)18.6%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)10.0%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)6.8%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.6%53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time28 minbetter than 18% of US states
Walkability9.0/20better than 57% of US states
Airport Distance38 mibetter than 82% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.0%better than 67% of US states
Amenities Nearby18.46better than 96% of US states
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 57% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Virginia an affordable place to live?
- Virginia is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $62k, better than 10% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Virginia safe?
- Virginia is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1210/100k (better than 48%). Property crime is 1720/100k.
- What is the weather like in Virginia?
- Virginia averages 78°F in July and 38°F in January, with 46.7 in of annual precipitation and about 202 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Virginia?
- Public-school quality in Virginia is about average, scoring better than 52% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Virginia?
- The average one-way commute in Virginia is 28 min.