Virginia doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 34 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 34 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Blacksburg came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Virginia For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Virginia's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 30,923 (68 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 45,446 |
| Median rent | $1,359 |
| Graduation rate | 85% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $36,951 |
Blacksburg is home to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. There are 68 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,359 a month, and the average cost to attend is $36,951 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | George Mason University, University of North America |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 27,752 (111 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 25,026 |
| Median rent | $2,245 |
| Graduation rate | 76% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,604 |
Fairfax is home to George Mason University, University of North America. There are 111 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,245 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,604 a year. It ranks 27th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Virginia-Main Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 17,597 (39 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 45,437 |
| Median rent | $1,540 |
| Graduation rate | 94% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,926 |
Charlottesville is home to University of Virginia-Main Campus. There are 39 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,540 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,926 a year. It ranks 29th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 21,642 (42 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 51,392 |
| Median rent | $1,184 |
| Graduation rate | 76% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $44,246 |
Harrisonburg is home to James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University. There are 42 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,184 a month, and the average cost to attend is $44,246 a year. It ranks 13th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Washington and Lee University, Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,408 (45 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,525 |
| Median rent | $1,081 |
| Graduation rate | 89% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $60,912 |
Lexington is home to Washington and Lee University, Virginia Military Institute. There are 45 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,081 a month, and the average cost to attend is $60,912 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Washington University of Science and Technology |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 400 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 156,976 |
| Median rent | $2,089 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $41,511 |
Alexandria is home to Washington University of Science and Technology. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,089 a month, and the average cost to attend is $41,511 a year. It ranks 23rd for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Liberty University, University of Lynchburg, Randolph College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 52,591 (66 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 79,497 |
| Median rent | $1,073 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,615 |
Lynchburg is home to Liberty University, University of Lynchburg, Randolph College. There are 66 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,073 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,615 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Radford University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 6,038 (36 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 16,726 |
| Median rent | $1,033 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,405 |
Radford is home to Radford University. There are 36 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,033 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,405 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Longwood University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,015 (39 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,774 |
| Median rent | $859 |
| Graduation rate | 69% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $34,588 |
Farmville is home to Longwood University. There are 39 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $859 a month, and the average cost to attend is $34,588 a year. It ranks 32nd for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | William & Mary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,055 (45 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 15,798 |
| Median rent | $1,407 |
| Graduation rate | 91% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $43,035 |
Williamsburg is home to William & Mary. There are 45 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,407 a month, and the average cost to attend is $43,035 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Virginia
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 34 towns in Virginia that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Virginia.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Virginia.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Virginia
If you're looking for the best college towns in Virginia, Blacksburg is where to start.
The best college towns in Virginia are Blacksburg, Fairfax, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Alexandria, Lynchburg, Radford, Farmville, and Williamsburg.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Virginia for 2026?
Blacksburg is the best college town in Virginia for 2026, followed by Fairfax and Charlottesville.
How did you rank the best college towns in Virginia?
We looked at every town in Virginia with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Virginia?
Glen Allen ranks last of the 34 college towns we ranked in Virginia for 2026.
Best College Towns In Virginia For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blacksburg, VA | 45,446 | 30,923 | $1,359 |
| 2 | Fairfax, VA | 25,026 | 27,752 | $2,245 |
| 3 | Charlottesville, VA | 45,437 | 17,597 | $1,540 |
| 4 | Harrisonburg, VA | 51,392 | 21,642 | $1,184 |
| 5 | Lexington, VA | 7,525 | 3,408 | $1,081 |
| 6 | Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | 400 | $2,089 |
| 7 | Lynchburg, VA | 79,497 | 52,591 | $1,073 |
| 8 | Radford, VA | 16,726 | 6,038 | $1,033 |
| 9 | Farmville, VA | 7,774 | 3,015 | $859 |
| 10 | Williamsburg, VA | 15,798 | 7,055 | $1,407 |
| 11 | Norfolk, VA | 233,596 | 22,906 | $1,321 |
| 12 | Fredericksburg, VA | 28,873 | 3,566 | $1,619 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | 229,359 | 22,718 | $1,372 |
| 14 | Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | 20,025 | $1,714 |
| 15 | Arlington, VA | 236,254 | 3,785 | $2,322 |
| 16 | Salem, VA | 25,618 | 2,397 | $1,133 |
| 17 | Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | 242 | $1,586 |
| 18 | Purcellville, VA | 8,973 | 395 | $2,222 |
| 19 | Newport News, VA | 184,216 | 4,715 | $1,339 |
| 20 | Vienna, VA | 16,412 | 557 | $2,391 |
| 21 | Staunton, VA | 25,948 | 1,090 | $1,024 |
| 22 | Winchester, VA | 27,913 | 2,116 | $1,315 |
| 23 | Bridgewater, VA | 6,708 | 1,400 | $1,216 |
| 24 | Petersburg, VA | 33,537 | 5,074 | $1,174 |
| 25 | Danville, VA | 42,214 | 1,231 | $836 |
| 26 | Sterling, VA | 32,411 | 0 | $2,138 |
| 27 | Falls Church, VA | 14,710 | 348 | $2,190 |
| 28 | Roanoke, VA | 98,355 | 665 | $996 |
| 29 | Dumfries, VA | 5,816 | 0 | $1,732 |
| 30 | Buena Vista, VA | 6,593 | 936 | $1,112 |
| 31 | Ashland, VA | 7,772 | 1,639 | $1,229 |
| 32 | Gainesville, VA | 18,196 | 82 | $2,283 |
| 33 | Hampton, VA | 137,557 | 3,727 | $1,427 |
| 34 | Glen Allen, VA | 17,551 | 232 | $1,804 |
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