You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Virginia. Best suburbs in Virginia. Best counties in Virginia.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Old Dominion, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Virginia based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Virginia ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
$127,552 median income · 2.4% unemployment
$138,636 median income · 0.0% unemployment
$192,250 median income · 3.3% unemployment
$166,094 median income · 5.9% unemployment
$86,835 median income · 0.0% unemployment
$141,406 median income · 1.3% unemployment
$101,875 median income · 0.0% unemployment
$173,750 median income · 4.0% unemployment
$105,759 median income · 0.0% unemployment
$146,328 median income · 8.1% unemployment
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Virginia’s statewide median.
Virginia statewide median: $93,170
Virginia statewide median: $412,467
Virginia statewide median: 4.3%
On the map
Where Virginia’s best small towns are
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Virginia
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Virginia possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 161 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 161, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Virginia. Top of that list — Pantops.
This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Virginia.
The full plate
Best Small Towns In Virginia
Click any column to sort. Search by town name.
| Rank | Town | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pantops | 4,665 | $127,552 | $562,103 | 2.4% |
| 2 | Piney Mountain | 2,288 | $138,636 | $318,192 | 0.0% |
| 3 | Hayfield | 4,392 | $192,250 | $728,294 | 3.3% |
| 4 | Ravensworth | 2,475 | $166,094 | $767,961 | 5.9% |
| 5 | Belmont Estates | 1,162 | $86,835 | $407,092 | 0.0% |
| 6 | Lovettsville | 2,719 | $141,406 | $794,787 | 1.3% |
| 7 | Ruckersville | 1,399 | $101,875 | $395,258 | 0.0% |
| 8 | Haymarket | 1,580 | $173,750 | $819,839 | 4.0% |
| 9 | Riner | 1,038 | $105,759 | $345,465 | 0.0% |
| 10 | Rivanna | 2,211 | $146,328 | $916,307 | 8.1% |
| 11 | Dayton | 1,920 | $75,769 | $364,003 | 2.6% |
| 12 | East Lexington | 1,652 | $64,241 | $296,370 | 0.0% |
| 13 | Cloverdale | 3,208 | $79,975 | $300,305 | 1.0% |
| 14 | Kings Park | 4,315 | $166,150 | $682,930 | 3.1% |
| 15 | Massanutten | 2,261 | $108,207 | $426,657 | 1.7% |
| 16 | Dahlgren | 3,350 | $110,057 | $455,036 | 3.1% |
| 17 | Arcola | 3,509 | $129,116 | $685,618 | 1.7% |
| 18 | Chamberlayne | 4,692 | $97,544 | $371,786 | 4.8% |
| 19 | Oak Grove | 2,408 | $174,423 | $688,305 | 2.5% |
| 20 | Weyers Cave | 2,744 | $97,791 | $344,823 | 0.0% |
| 21 | Bull Run Mountain Estates | 1,827 | $250,001 | $670,568 | 0.0% |
| 22 | University Center | 3,923 | $120,533 | $545,549 | 5.6% |
| 23 | Laymantown | 1,626 | $88,401 | $306,582 | 3.7% |
| 24 | Daleville | 3,797 | $103,056 | $431,735 | 4.1% |
| 25 | Cape Charles | 1,201 | $73,750 | $402,047 | 2.9% |
| 26 | Berryville | 4,707 | $102,788 | $570,615 | 1.8% |
| 27 | Union Hall | 1,445 | $103,125 | $829,588 | 3.3% |
| 28 | Glade Spring | 2,135 | $81,298 | $197,068 | 1.5% |
| 29 | Nellysford | 1,584 | $136,442 | $593,128 | 3.1% |
| 30 | Lake Land’Or | 4,390 | $94,348 | $325,179 | 1.3% |
| 31 | Fairlawn | 2,488 | $66,918 | $261,756 | 3.7% |
| 32 | Amherst | 1,865 | $70,841 | $289,398 | 0.0% |
| 33 | Blue Ridge | 2,800 | $75,871 | $311,463 | 2.8% |
| 34 | Mason Neck | 2,039 | $167,857 | $879,650 | 2.3% |
| 35 | Verona | 4,165 | $74,000 | $308,192 | 1.7% |
| 36 | Penhook | 1,250 | $108,750 | $486,489 | 1.3% |
| 37 | Bethel Manor | 4,393 | $77,294 | $0 | 5.7% |
| 38 | Lake Wilderness | 3,139 | $120,700 | $379,573 | 4.4% |
| 39 | West Point | 3,480 | $78,785 | $332,666 | 0.4% |
| 40 | Lake Holiday | 2,193 | $112,039 | $326,577 | 1.5% |
| 41 | Mount Hermon | 4,155 | $81,435 | $227,464 | 4.4% |
| 42 | Enon | 4,137 | $76,341 | $272,613 | 0.9% |
| 43 | Westlake Corner | 2,033 | $95,000 | $536,411 | 0.0% |
| 44 | North Shore | 3,638 | $109,951 | $542,216 | 4.6% |
| 45 | Apple Mountain Lake | 1,671 | $131,799 | $397,417 | 4.3% |
| 46 | Lyndhurst | 1,309 | $76,111 | $348,146 | 5.1% |
| 47 | Southern Gateway | 2,771 | $95,227 | $370,436 | 3.6% |
| 48 | Basye | 1,481 | $74,393 | $335,502 | 0.0% |
| 49 | Maurertown | 1,092 | $93,929 | $363,418 | 0.2% |
| 50 | Louisa | 2,435 | $65,132 | $375,179 | 1.9% |
| 51 | Onancock | 1,433 | $54,500 | $285,249 | 3.0% |
| 52 | Chincoteague | 3,296 | $62,917 | $365,344 | 6.5% |
| 53 | Chatmoss | 1,563 | $73,643 | $241,761 | 0.0% |
| 54 | Narrows | 1,935 | $62,708 | $163,555 | 1.3% |
| 55 | Gordonsville | 1,459 | $61,556 | $405,776 | 1.5% |
| 56 | Captains Cove | 1,542 | $110,156 | $287,770 | 1.5% |
| 57 | Broadway | 4,273 | $64,669 | $319,645 | 4.1% |
| 58 | Dooms | 1,454 | $87,292 | $294,650 | 0.0% |
| 59 | Benns Church | 1,813 | $56,151 | $364,201 | 1.8% |
| 60 | Gloucester Courthouse | 3,336 | $75,341 | $410,102 | 1.3% |
| 61 | Ridgeway | 1,051 | $76,875 | $163,429 | 0.5% |
| 62 | Middl | 1,786 | $60,288 | $356,461 | 1.1% |
| 63 | King George | 4,851 | $98,622 | $465,171 | 3.1% |
| 64 | Nokesville | 1,226 | $96,932 | $810,672 | 4.7% |
| 65 | Stephens City | 2,393 | $102,593 | $427,971 | 4.1% |
| 66 | Warsaw | 2,292 | $84,828 | $249,488 | 1.4% |
| 67 | South Hill | 4,786 | $66,023 | $203,441 | 2.6% |
| 68 | Wise | 2,916 | $53,596 | $182,537 | 3.1% |
| 69 | Crimora | 1,252 | $83,158 | $336,632 | 0.0% |
| 70 | Grottoes | 2,961 | $100,291 | $308,496 | 4.8% |
| 71 | Bracey | 1,242 | $64,605 | $184,195 | 3.6% |
| 72 | Lebanon | 3,116 | $53,050 | $195,824 | 0.5% |
| 73 | Clarksville | 1,547 | $63,533 | $305,382 | 6.6% |
| 74 | Riverdale | 1,077 | $60,694 | $220,262 | 0.0% |
| 75 | Merrimac | 2,733 | $53,611 | $0 | 3.2% |
| 76 | Bowling Green | 1,561 | $82,500 | $358,953 | 7.5% |
| 77 | Courtland | 1,579 | $60,673 | $284,781 | 11.6% |
| 78 | Chatham | 1,448 | $58,661 | $169,926 | 3.3% |
| 79 | Colonial Beach | 3,966 | $60,513 | $320,868 | 1.3% |
| 80 | Loch Lomond | 4,606 | $113,790 | $475,461 | 8.6% |
| 81 | Shawneeland | 2,754 | $95,337 | $293,360 | 2.7% |
| 82 | Kilmarnock | 1,333 | $40,234 | $359,606 | 2.8% |
| 83 | Gate City | 1,928 | $42,857 | $175,922 | 1.3% |
| 84 | Brightwood | 1,325 | $70,625 | $408,135 | 5.6% |
| 85 | Passapatanzy | 1,259 | $125,608 | $383,658 | 6.0% |
| 86 | Clintwood | 1,400 | $52,083 | $123,722 | 2.3% |
| 87 | Lake Caroline | 2,862 | $73,000 | $319,912 | 0.0% |
| 88 | Rushmere | 1,033 | $73,750 | $376,241 | 4.8% |
| 89 | Blairs | 1,062 | $49,818 | $196,599 | 0.0% |
| 90 | Prince George | 1,829 | $61,571 | $347,021 | 0.0% |
| 91 | Greenville | 1,183 | $41,691 | $308,391 | 0.0% |
| 92 | Dublin | 2,671 | $62,426 | $238,718 | 2.7% |
| 93 | Elkton | 3,006 | $62,031 | $321,153 | 4.3% |
| 94 | Chilhowie | 2,428 | $51,429 | $191,150 | 1.7% |
| 95 | Central Garage | 1,864 | $87,750 | $316,042 | 3.8% |
| 96 | Chase City | 2,470 | $45,843 | $141,386 | 0.5% |
| 97 | Rustburg | 1,417 | $72,950 | $281,729 | 7.5% |
| 98 | Kenbridge | 1,432 | $61,603 | $143,252 | 0.7% |
| 99 | Matoaca | 2,724 | $70,174 | $269,818 | 9.0% |
| 100 | Harriston | 1,212 | $93,250 | $197,473 | 0.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024 via Saturday Night Science. 161 Virginia towns between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these small towns in Virginia are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Virginia are Pantops, Piney Mountain, Hayfield, Ravensworth, Belmont Estates, Lovettsville, Ruckersville, Haymarket, Riner, and Rivanna.
