While Virginia has a reputation for being expensive, these places in Virginia are for lovers of budgeting bliss.
Sifting through data can be daunting. Fear not as we’ve taken care of the hard part. Using Saturday Night Science and Census data, we compared the median housing costs, average incomes, and the overall cost of iving in the 62 cities with more than 5,000 people.
Despite being inexpensive, many of these areas aren’t just places to live — they’re places to thrive. It’s only a short drive to basking in the sun at Virginia Beach or enjoying a Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab in Chesapeake Bay.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Virginia
What is the cheapest place to live in Virginia? The cheapest place to live in Virginia is Richlands according to the most recent data on the cost of living,
Looking to live in a cute foothills town? Check out Big Stone Gap. Maybe the mountains aren’t for you? No worries, because Martinsville and Danville are ready for you.
Check out some more reading about Virginia and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia For 2026
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Population: 5,171
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $37,154
Median Home Price: $106,217
Median Rent: $804
Richlands, nestled in the heart of Tazewell County as part of the Bluefield WV-VA area, boasts the first spot for affordability in Virginia. With a $106,217 median home value that anchors an impressively low 86 overall cost of living index.
The best things to do the area include visiting Lincolnshire Park, Douthat State Park, Museum of the Middle Appalachians, Historic Crab Orchard Museum, Back of the Dragon, Big Cedar Creek Falls, The Channels Natural Area Preserve, and Vincent’s Vineyard.
More on Richlands: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,680
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $41,944
Median Home Price: $158,022
Median Rent: $794
Located in Alleghany County, Covington is the second cheapest city in Virginia.
While it’s impressive that you can rent a place in Covington for under $600/month, that’s not what lands Covington so high on this list. It’s because Covington has the #7.0 cheapest homes in Virginia, at a median price of $158,022. And it’s not like homes are cheap because the residents aren’t paid well — with a median income of $41,944, Covington residents enjoy the tenth best ratio of home price to income in the state. Living in Covington, you’ll notice your savings growing as fast as the waters of the local Falling Springs Waterfall.
More on Covington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,670
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $40,896
Median Home Price: $157,966
Median Rent: $714
Marion takes the title of third cheapest place in Virginia with the lowest rent prices you’ll see on this list. With a median rent of $714, Marion residents pay less than a third what most Virginians pay for rent. Residents of Marion earn a median income of $40,896 and pay a median price of $157,966 for homes, giving the town a solid home price to income ratio. As a bonus, living in Marion puts you minutes away from the breathtaking Hungry Mother State Park. You can’t put a price on that!
Marion is the county seat of Smyth County in the southwestern part of Virginia.
More on Marion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Marion is a very scenic, friendly and unique mountain town conveniently located on I81 in SWVA. It is one of the larger towns in the general southwest portion of the state of Virginia.
Hungry Mother State Park is recognized as one of the best state parks not only in Virginia but in the entire United States, and is a must see. It is a perfect spot for a fun and inexpensive family vacation, yet just as easily can accommodate any solo road trippers or couples. Downtown Marion offers a nice variety of stores and restaurants. This is a great place to be any time of year, but summer is a wonderful season to spend some of your time hanging out in this cool town.
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Population: 42,214
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $44,423
Median Home Price: $156,398
Median Rent: $836
With a population of 42,214, Danville is the biggest city to make this list, proving you don’t have to move to a small town to live economically. With a median rent of $836 and a median income of $44,423, renting in Danville won’t take full advantage of the city’s affordability. However, because home prices are cheap at a median price of $156,398, Danville has the ninth lowest ratio of home price to income in the state. If you stick to free hobbies like strolling down Danville’s Riverwalk Trail, you’ll have even more money in your pocket at the end of every week.
Danville is located in the south-central part of Virginia, on the border of North Carolina.
More on Danville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Such a shame about Danville. I lived there in the 1960s, it wasn’t scary then at all.
The mills shut down, the town is slowly dying.
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Population: 16,849
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $50,404
Median Home Price: $201,474
Median Rent: $801
Located in the southwestern part of the state on the North Carolina border, Bristol ranks as the fifth most affordable city in Virginia and is known as the birthplace of country music. Bristol’s median home price is $201,474 and median income is $50,404, giving the city the 17th best ratio of home price to income in Virginia. With a median rent of $801, it’s one of the least impressive cities for renters on this list, but it’s still way more affordable than most places in the state.
More on Bristol: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,726
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $38,675
Median Home Price: $182,062
Median Rent: $743
Another southwestern VA city, Galax is the sixth cheapest place to call home in Virginia. The median rent in Galax is $743, the second lowest on this list. Homes in Galax go for a median price of $182,062 and residents earn a median income of $38,675, so it’s quite affordable whether you’re renting or buying here. And if you fancy fiddling or picking at the banjo, definitely check out the Blue Ridge Music Center.
More on Galax: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 13,658
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 89
Median Income: $46,727
Median Home Price: $133,032
Median Rent: $808
Located about 50 miles south of Roanoke, Martinsville ranks as the seventh most affordable place in Virginia. With a median income of $46,727 and a median rent of $808, Martinsville is the least economical place to rent on this list, which is why it isn’t featured higher up. On the other hand, the median home price in Martinsville is $133,032, which makes the city the second most affordable place to buy a home in Virginia.
Living in Martinsville, you won’t feel like you’re in one of the most expensive states in the country.
More on Martinsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Born and raised in martinsville, hated it nothing to do and very dangerous, but after I left for the service never thought I miss that h**l hole like I did
Watch out for rednecks there everywhere
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Population: 8,893
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 90
Median Income: $49,491
Median Home Price: $168,551
Median Rent: $736
If you’re looking for the eighth most affordable place to live in Virginia, look no further than Pulaski, a town about an hour southwest of Roanoke.
Housing in Pulaski is super cheap when taken as a proportion of income, whether you’re renting or buying. The median home price in Pulaski is $168,551 and the median rent is $736. With Pulaski residents earning a median income of $49,491, the mortgage or rent payments are a barely noticeable dent in the budget. If you move to Pulaski, you won’t know what people are talking about when they say that Virginia is one of the most expensive states in America.
More on Pulaski: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,162
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 90
Median Income: $54,581
Median Home Price: $140,136
Median Rent: $797
Big Stone Gap ranks as the ninth most affordable city in Virginia, thanks to cheap housing options for both buyers and renters. The median income in Big Stone Gap is $54,581, which is more than enough to cover the median cost of a home, $140,136, or the median rent $797. You’ll be able to enjoy overlooking Powell Valley without stressing about the bills thanks to Big Stone Gap’s affordable housing.
Big Stone Gap is located in the far western part of the state, near the Kentucky border.
More on Big Stone Gap: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,547
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $51,899
Median Home Price: $159,793
Median Rent: $1,037
Emporia is an independent city located within the confines of Greensville County, Virginia, United States. It and a predecessor town have been the county seat of Greensville County since 1791. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,927, making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes.
More on Emporia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in Virginia FAQs
The county in Virginia with the lowest cost of living is Clarke County. The average living wage in Clarke County is $100,569 according to MIT data. Clarke County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Virginia as a whole. Childcare costs $15,996 a year in Clarke County for two children compared to the Virginia average of $19,363. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $21,180 per year in Clarke County compared to $15,304 on average in Virginia.
The cost of living in Virginia is 8.9% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Virginia is $97,710 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Virginia household is $76,398.
The cheapest housing market in Virginia is Covington. The average home value in Covington is $70,400, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Virginia is $282,800, almost 4.0 times higher than Covington.
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The county in Virginia with the lowest cost of living is Clarke County. The average living wage in Clarke County is $100,569 according to MIT data. Clarke County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Virginia as a whole. Childcare costs $15,996 a year in Clarke County for two children compared to the Virginia average of $19,363. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $21,180 per year in Clarke County compared to $15,304 on average in Virginia.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Old Dominion for 2026
Determining affordability for places in Virginia boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for Virginia using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Virginia to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 62 places in Virginia that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Virginia with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Richlands.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Virginia.
Virginia Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Virginia for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Virginia.
The cheapest cities in Virginia are Richlands, Covington, Marion, Danville, Bristol, Galax, Martinsville, Pulaski, Big Stone Gap, and Emporia.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Virginia according to the data:
- Falls Church
- Vienna
- Fairfax
For more Virginia reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richlands | 5,171 | 86 | $37,154 | $106,217 | $804 |
| 2 | Covington | 5,680 | 87 | $41,944 | $158,022 | $794 |
| 3 | Marion | 5,670 | 87 | $40,896 | $157,966 | $714 |
| 4 | Danville | 42,214 | 88 | $44,423 | $156,398 | $836 |
| 5 | Bristol | 16,849 | 88 | $50,404 | $201,474 | $801 |
| 6 | Galax | 6,726 | 88 | $38,675 | $182,062 | $743 |
| 7 | Martinsville | 13,658 | 89 | $46,727 | $133,032 | $808 |
| 8 | Pulaski | 8,893 | 90 | $49,491 | $168,551 | $736 |
| 9 | Big Stone Gap | 5,162 | 90 | $54,581 | $140,136 | $797 |
| 10 | Emporia | 5,547 | 91 | $51,899 | $159,793 | $1,037 |
| 11 | Buena Vista | 6,593 | 93 | $57,833 | $196,020 | $1,112 |
| 12 | Roanoke | 98,355 | 94 | $55,378 | $277,113 | $996 |
| 13 | Abingdon | 8,330 | 95 | $54,544 | $281,618 | $838 |
| 14 | South Boston | 7,853 | 95 | $44,052 | $149,171 | $760 |
| 15 | Petersburg | 33,537 | 96 | $50,698 | $245,998 | $1,174 |
| 16 | Hopewell | 22,959 | 96 | $54,729 | $232,748 | $1,106 |
| 17 | Wytheville | 8,202 | 96 | $47,270 | $223,768 | $760 |
| 18 | Vinton | 8,056 | 96 | $65,445 | $283,675 | $992 |
| 19 | Waynesboro | 22,841 | 99 | $59,994 | $312,910 | $1,020 |
| 20 | Radford | 16,726 | 100 | $57,348 | $261,601 | $1,033 |
| 21 | Franklin | 8,250 | 101 | $63,245 | $242,883 | $988 |
| 22 | Lynchburg | 79,497 | 102 | $57,947 | $262,101 | $1,073 |
| 23 | Staunton | 25,948 | 102 | $65,581 | $308,028 | $1,024 |
| 24 | Newport News | 184,216 | 103 | $69,634 | $290,659 | $1,339 |
| 25 | Christiansburg | 22,720 | 103 | $77,147 | $304,607 | $1,181 |
| 26 | Farmville | 7,774 | 103 | $40,966 | $261,291 | $859 |
| 27 | Portsmouth | 97,190 | 104 | $60,491 | $260,461 | $1,300 |
| 28 | Colonial Heights | 18,352 | 104 | $76,505 | $294,925 | $1,234 |
| 29 | Strasburg | 7,214 | 104 | $62,464 | $346,089 | $1,017 |
| 30 | Salem | 25,618 | 106 | $66,725 | $305,425 | $1,133 |
| 31 | Ashland | 7,772 | 106 | $61,164 | $463,340 | $1,229 |
| 32 | Hampton | 137,557 | 107 | $69,621 | $275,340 | $1,427 |
| 33 | Orange | 5,066 | 107 | $76,370 | $336,893 | $1,103 |
| 34 | Woodstock | 5,871 | 108 | $76,100 | $337,785 | $1,005 |
| 35 | Norfolk | 233,596 | 109 | $66,109 | $306,226 | $1,321 |
| 36 | Harrisonburg | 51,392 | 109 | $62,254 | $348,178 | $1,184 |
| 37 | Front Royal | 15,296 | 110 | $64,838 | $383,199 | $1,135 |
| 38 | Lexington | 7,525 | 110 | $84,517 | $358,988 | $1,081 |
| 39 | Bridgewater | 6,708 | 111 | $75,280 | $375,081 | $1,216 |
| 40 | Richmond | 229,359 | 112 | $64,587 | $369,645 | $1,372 |
| 41 | Winchester | 27,913 | 112 | $63,974 | $399,456 | $1,315 |
| 42 | Dumfries | 5,816 | 114 | $82,355 | $596,416 | $1,732 |
| 43 | Suffolk | 98,796 | 116 | $92,666 | $384,300 | $1,563 |
| 44 | Smithfield | 8,834 | 116 | $113,158 | $393,349 | $1,195 |
| 45 | Chesapeake | 252,583 | 117 | $95,373 | $420,755 | $1,586 |
| 46 | Virginia Beach | 456,349 | 118 | $92,968 | $427,031 | $1,714 |
| 47 | Culpeper | 20,794 | 119 | $94,721 | $451,494 | $1,416 |
| 48 | Blacksburg | 45,446 | 120 | $50,182 | $420,778 | $1,359 |
| 49 | Charlottesville | 45,437 | 124 | $74,824 | $515,217 | $1,540 |
| 50 | Manassas Park | 16,798 | 125 | $103,250 | $462,196 | $2,146 |
| 51 | Williamsburg | 15,798 | 125 | $75,604 | $464,103 | $1,407 |
| 52 | Poquoson | 12,639 | 125 | $120,972 | $462,479 | $1,707 |
| 53 | Manassas | 42,976 | 126 | $113,590 | $557,118 | $1,850 |
| 54 | Fredericksburg | 28,873 | 127 | $86,071 | $480,265 | $1,619 |
| 55 | Warrenton | 10,176 | 128 | $83,331 | $681,948 | $1,418 |
| 56 | Leesburg | 49,171 | 142 | $145,205 | $865,516 | $2,105 |
| 57 | Purcellville | 8,973 | 143 | $165,121 | $909,565 | $2,222 |
| 58 | Herndon | 24,672 | 147 | $148,000 | $740,679 | $2,259 |
| 59 | Alexandria | 156,976 | 153 | $119,681 | $676,204 | $2,089 |
| 60 | Fairfax | 25,026 | 158 | $132,348 | $792,535 | $2,245 |
| 61 | Vienna | 16,412 | 183 | $216,953 | $1,179,672 | $2,391 |
| 62 | Falls Church | 14,710 | 184 | $143,262 | $789,603 | $2,190 |