Virginia
Among the top 4% of US states for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 31% 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)
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$2kbetter than 25% 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
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.
- What is the median home value in Virginia?
- The median home value in Virginia is $384k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Virginia?
- Median household income in Virginia is $96k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Virginia?
- Median gross rent in Virginia is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- 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.
Best places to live in Virginia
Top cities in Virginia
Counties in Virginia
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)