The 10 Best Small Towns In Virginia For 2026


The best small towns in Virginia are Pantops and Piney Mountain for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Virginia. Best sururbs 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.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Virginia For 2026

  1. Pantops
  2. Piney Mountain
  3. Hayfield
  4. Ravensworth
  5. Belmont Estates
  6. Lovettsville
  7. Ruckersville
  8. Haymarket
  9. Riner
  10. Rivanna
  11. Dayton
  12. East Lexington
  13. Cloverdale
  14. Kings Park
  15. Massanutten

Best Small Towns To Live In Virginia Map

What’s the best small town in Virginia? Pantops is the best small town in Virginia based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Pantops, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Old Dominion check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Virginia For 2026

1. Pantops

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,665
Median Income: $127,552 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $562,103 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

2. Piney Mountain

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,288
Median Income: $138,636 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $318,191 (64th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

3. Hayfield

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,392
Median Income: $192,250 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $728,294 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%

4. Ravensworth

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,475
Median Income: $166,094 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $767,960 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.9%

5. Belmont Estates

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,162
Median Income: $86,835 (48th Best)
Median Home Value: $407,092 (29th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

6. Lovettsville

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,719
Median Income: $141,406 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $794,787 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

7. Ruckersville

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,399
Median Income: $101,875 (31st Best)
Median Home Value: $395,257 (33rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

8. Haymarket

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,580
Median Income: $173,750 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $819,839 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

9. Riner

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,038
Median Income: $105,759 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $345,465 (49th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

10. Rivanna

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,211
Median Income: $146,328 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $916,306 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 8.1%

11. Dayton

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,920
Median Income: $75,769 (61st Best)
Median Home Value: $364,003 (42nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

12. East Lexington

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,652
Median Income: $64,241 (85th Best)
Median Home Value: $296,370 (76th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

13. Cloverdale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,208
Median Income: $79,975 (54th Best)
Median Home Value: $300,304 (75th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

14. Kings Park

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,315
Median Income: $166,150 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $682,930 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

15. Massanutten

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,261
Median Income: $108,207 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $426,656 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

Best States In America

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.

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 15 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.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Virginia:

  1. Craigsville
  2. Pennington Gap
  3. Saltville

For more Virginia reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Virginia

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Pantops, VA 4,665 $127,552 2.4%
2 Piney Mountain, VA 2,288 $138,636 0.0%
3 Hayfield, VA 4,392 $192,250 3.3%
4 Ravensworth, VA 2,475 $166,094 5.9%
5 Belmont Estates, VA 1,162 $86,835 0.0%
6 Lovettsville, VA 2,719 $141,406 1.3%
7 Ruckersville, VA 1,399 $101,875 0.0%
8 Haymarket, VA 1,580 $173,750 4.0%
9 Riner, VA 1,038 $105,759 0.0%
10 Rivanna, VA 2,211 $146,328 8.1%
11 Dayton, VA 1,920 $75,769 2.6%
12 East Lexington, VA 1,652 $64,241 0.0%
13 Cloverdale, VA 3,208 $79,975 1.0%
14 Kings Park, VA 4,315 $166,150 3.1%
15 Massanutten, VA 2,261 $108,207 1.7%
16 Dahlgren, VA 3,350 $110,057 3.1%
17 Arcola, VA 3,509 $129,116 1.7%
18 Chamberlayne, VA 4,692 $97,544 4.8%
19 Oak Grove, VA 2,408 $174,423 2.5%
20 Weyers Cave, VA 2,744 $97,791 0.0%
21 Bull Run Mountain Estates, VA 1,827 $250,001 0.0%
22 University Center, VA 3,923 $120,533 5.6%
23 Laymantown, VA 1,626 $88,401 3.7%
24 Daleville, VA 3,797 $103,056 4.1%
25 Cape Charles, VA 1,201 $73,750 2.9%
26 Berryville, VA 4,707 $102,788 1.8%
27 Union Hall, VA 1,445 $103,125 3.3%
28 Glade Spring, VA 2,135 $81,298 1.5%
29 Nellysford, VA 1,584 $136,442 3.1%
30 Lake Land’or, VA 4,390 $94,348 1.3%
31 Fairlawn, VA 2,488 $66,918 3.7%
32 Amherst, VA 1,865 $70,841 0.0%
33 Blue Ridge, VA 2,800 $75,871 2.8%
34 Mason Neck, VA 2,039 $167,857 2.3%
35 Verona, VA 4,165 $74,000 1.7%
36 Penhook, VA 1,250 $108,750 1.3%
37 Bethel Manor, VA 4,393 $77,294 5.7%
38 Lake Wilderness, VA 3,139 $120,700 4.4%
39 West Point, VA 3,480 $78,785 0.4%
40 Lake Holiday, VA 2,193 $112,039 1.5%
41 Mount Hermon, VA 4,155 $81,435 4.4%
42 Enon, VA 4,137 $76,341 0.9%
43 Westlake Corner, VA 2,033 $95,000 0.0%
44 North Shore, VA 3,638 $109,951 4.6%
45 Apple Mountain Lake, VA 1,671 $131,799 4.3%
46 Lyndhurst, VA 1,309 $76,111 5.1%
47 Southern Gateway, VA 2,771 $95,227 3.6%
48 Basye, VA 1,481 $74,393 0.0%
49 Maurertown, VA 1,092 $93,929 0.2%
50 Louisa, VA 2,435 $65,132 1.9%
51 Onancock, VA 1,433 $54,500 3.0%
52 Chincoteague, VA 3,296 $62,917 6.5%
53 Chatmoss, VA 1,563 $73,643 0.0%
54 Narrows, VA 1,935 $62,708 1.3%
55 Gordonsville, VA 1,459 $61,556 1.5%
56 Captains Cove, VA 1,542 $110,156 1.5%
57 Broadway, VA 4,273 $64,669 4.1%
58 Dooms, VA 1,454 $87,292 0.0%
59 Benns Church, VA 1,813 $56,151 1.8%
60 Gloucester Courthouse, VA 3,336 $75,341 1.3%
61 Ridgeway, VA 1,051 $76,875 0.5%
62 Middl, VA 1,786 $60,288 1.1%
63 King George, VA 4,851 $98,622 3.1%
64 Nokesville, VA 1,226 $96,932 4.7%
65 Stephens City, VA 2,393 $102,593 4.1%
66 Warsaw, VA 2,292 $84,828 1.4%
67 South Hill, VA 4,786 $66,023 2.6%
68 Wise, VA 2,916 $53,596 3.1%
69 Crimora, VA 1,252 $83,158 0.0%
70 Grottoes, VA 2,961 $100,291 4.8%
71 Bracey, VA 1,242 $64,605 3.6%
72 Lebanon, VA 3,116 $53,050 0.5%
73 Clarksville, VA 1,547 $63,533 6.6%
74 Riverdale, VA 1,077 $60,694 0.0%
75 Merrimac, VA 2,733 $53,611 3.2%
76 Bowling Green, VA 1,561 $82,500 7.5%
77 Courtland, VA 1,579 $60,673 11.6%
78 Chatham, VA 1,448 $58,661 3.3%
79 Colonial Beach, VA 3,966 $60,513 1.3%
80 Loch Lomond, VA 4,606 $113,790 8.6%
81 Shawneeland, VA 2,754 $95,337 2.7%
82 Kilmarnock, VA 1,333 $40,234 2.8%
83 Gate City, VA 1,928 $42,857 1.3%
84 Brightwood, VA 1,325 $70,625 5.6%
85 Passapatanzy, VA 1,259 $125,608 6.0%
86 Clintwood, VA 1,400 $52,083 2.3%
87 Lake Caroline, VA 2,862 $73,000 0.0%
88 Rushmere, VA 1,033 $73,750 4.8%
89 Blairs, VA 1,062 $49,818 0.0%
90 Prince George, VA 1,829 $61,571 0.0%
91 Greenville, VA 1,183 $41,691 0.0%
92 Dublin, VA 2,671 $62,426 2.7%
93 Elkton, VA 3,006 $62,031 4.3%
94 Chilhowie, VA 2,428 $51,429 1.7%
95 Central Garage, VA 1,864 $87,750 3.8%
96 Chase City, VA 2,470 $45,843 0.5%
97 Rustburg, VA 1,417 $72,950 7.5%
98 Kenbridge, VA 1,432 $61,603 0.7%
99 Matoaca, VA 2,724 $70,174 9.0%
100 Harriston, VA 1,212 $93,250 0.0%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings