Virginia isn’t just any Mid-Atlantic state, it’s actually one of the most safe, family friendly states in America.
Ask any Virginian and they will tell you that there’s a ton of family friendly activities everywhere you turn, here. Old Dominion is just one big playground for little and big kids alike. If you’re looking for a state with affordable, family friendly staycations, Virginia is your place. There are 37 State Parks and 20 National Parks that dot its landscape. Amusement parks like Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and Kings Dominion will keep your family entertained for an entire weekend. And if the beach is more your style, head to Virginia’s Atlantic coast. Virginia has thousands of miles of shoreline sure to make the best vacation memories.
There are 50 distilleries and 230 wineries in Virginia. So after you drop your kids at one of Virginia’s day or overnight summer camps, you and your significant other can enjoy a break as well. Summers never end in this state. Virginia is, afterall, for lovers (too). In all seriousness, Virginia has some of the best schools in the country. Blue ribbon elementary schools, gold star high schools, and colleges like Virginia State and George Mason University have been delivering the next generation to work at major Virginia companies like Hilton Hotel and Resorts HQ, Mars, Inc., and Northrop Grumman.
Now, it’s not lost on us that there are multiple cities on our best places to live in Virginia for 2026 that are also on our best cities for families’ list. Nothing but the best for Virginia families! To take a closer look at the top ten cities on our Family Friendly Virginia cities for 2026, grab a plate of blue crab, head to a sunny spot on the Chesapeake Bay, and read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Virginia For 2026
To narrow down the most family friendly cities in Virginia, we looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities and percent of households that currently have children. The cities also had to have a population of at least 10,000.
Drum roll… the most family friendly city in Virginia for 2026 is Falls Church.
So, if you care about your family living where crime is low, schools are awesome, where you can lead an active, healthy lifestyle, take a look at the list below. Virginia wants you to call it home.
More reading about Virginia and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia For 2026
/10
Population: 14,710
Median Income: $143,262
Average Home Price: $789,603
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 45
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 30.2%
More on Falls Church: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 49,171
Median Income: $145,205
Average Home Price: $865,516
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 54
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 41.5%
More on Leesburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,412
Median Income: $216,953
Average Home Price: $1,179,672
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 36
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 43.6%
More on Vienna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,798
Median Income: $75,604
Average Home Price: $464,103
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 76
Closest Major City: Norfolk
Households with kids: 19.8%
More on Williamsburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,176
Median Income: $83,331
Average Home Price: $681,948
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 63
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 24.7%
More on Warrenton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,794
Median Income: $94,721
Average Home Price: $451,494
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 42.1%
More on Culpeper: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 156,976
Median Income: $119,681
Average Home Price: $676,204
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 100
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 20.6%
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 456,349
Median Income: $92,968
Average Home Price: $427,031
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 87
Households with kids: 31.5%
More on Virginia Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,639
Median Income: $120,972
Average Home Price: $462,479
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 30
Closest Major City: Norfolk
Households with kids: 38.7%
More on Poquoson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 28,873
Median Income: $86,071
Average Home Price: $480,265
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 66
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 23.0%
More on Fredericksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Virginia anyways?
To give you the places in Virginia that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Virginia, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Virginia, that meant a total of 37 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Virginia.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Virginia ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Virginia are Falls Church, Leesburg, Vienna, Williamsburg, Warrenton, Culpeper, Alexandria, Virginia Beach, Poquoson, and Fredericksburg.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Virginia according to the data:
- Bristol
- Roanoke
- Petersburg
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia
Best Places For Families In Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falls Church, VA | 14,710 | $143,262 | $789,603 | 34 |
| 2 | Leesburg, VA | 49,171 | $145,205 | $865,516 | 62 |
| 3 | Vienna, VA | 16,412 | $216,953 | $1,179,672 | 30 |
| 4 | Williamsburg, VA | 15,798 | $75,604 | $464,103 | 50 |
| 5 | Warrenton, VA | 10,176 | $83,331 | $681,948 | 65 |
| 6 | Culpeper, VA | 20,794 | $94,721 | $451,494 | 62 |
| 7 | Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | $119,681 | $676,204 | 101 |
| 8 | Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | $92,968 | $427,031 | 60 |
| 9 | Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | $120,972 | $462,479 | 59 |
| 10 | Fredericksburg, VA | 28,873 | $86,071 | $480,265 | 82 |