You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Virginia.
The median household income in Falls Church City, the richest county in Virginia is $143,262, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 132 counties in the Old Dominion. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Virginia For 2026
What is the richest county in Virginia? The richest county in Virginia is Falls Church City. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Buchanan County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Virginia. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Virginia and the cheapest places to live in Virginia.
The Richest Counties In Virginia For 2026
1. Falls Church City
Biggest Place: Falls Church
Population: 14,710
Median Income: $143,262 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $1,134,741 (highest)
More on Falls Church City: Data
2. Loudoun County
Biggest Place: Leesburg
Population: 432,998
Median Income: $181,765 (highest)
Median Home Price: $805,711 (3rd highest)
More on Loudoun County: Data
3. Arlington County
Biggest Place: Arlington
Population: 236,254
Median Income: $142,114 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $824,388 (2nd highest)
More on Arlington County: Data
4. Fairfax County
Biggest Place: Centreville
Population: 1,147,837
Median Income: $153,637 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $774,448 (6th highest)
More on Fairfax County: Data
5. Fairfax City
Biggest Place: Fairfax
Population: 25,026
Median Income: $132,348 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $776,775 (5th highest)
More on Fairfax City: Data
6. Fauquier County
Biggest Place: New Baltimore
Population: 74,577
Median Income: $130,189 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $647,005 (7th highest)
More on Fauquier County: Data
7. Prince William County
Biggest Place: Dale City
Population: 488,880
Median Income: $131,402 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $587,492 (8th highest)
More on Prince William County: Data
8. Alexandria City
Biggest Place: Alexandria
Population: 156,976
Median Income: $119,681 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $790,212 (4th highest)
More on Alexandria City: Data
9. Stafford County
Biggest Place: Aquia Harbour
Population: 163,466
Median Income: $137,807 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $540,303 (13th highest)
More on Stafford County: Data
10. Goochland County
Biggest Place: Goochland
Population: 26,410
Median Income: $118,931 (12th highest)
Median Home Price: $581,702 (9th highest)
More on Goochland County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Virginia county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Virginia, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Virginia for each of the criteria from one to 132, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Virginia.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Old Dominion.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Virginia. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Virginia For 2026
Living in Virginia can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Virginia are Falls Church city, Loudoun County, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Fairfax city, Fauquier County, Prince William County, Alexandria city, Stafford County, and Goochland County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Virginia according to the data:
- Buchanan County
- Covington City
- Norton City
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Counties To Live In Virginia
- Richest Cities In Virginia
- Safest Places In Virginia
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Virginia
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falls Church City | 14,710 | $143,262 | $1,134,741 |
| 2 | Loudoun County | 432,998 | $181,765 | $805,711 |
| 3 | Arlington County | 236,254 | $142,114 | $824,388 |
| 4 | Fairfax County | 1,147,837 | $153,637 | $774,448 |
| 5 | Fairfax City | 25,026 | $132,348 | $776,775 |
| 6 | Fauquier County | 74,577 | $130,189 | $647,005 |
| 7 | Prince William County | 488,880 | $131,402 | $587,492 |
| 8 | Alexandria City | 156,976 | $119,681 | $790,212 |
| 9 | Stafford County | 163,466 | $137,807 | $540,303 |
| 10 | Goochland County | 26,410 | $118,931 | $581,702 |
| 11 | Clarke County | 15,216 | $117,111 | $568,752 |
| 12 | Albemarle County | 114,919 | $104,392 | $553,893 |
| 13 | Manassas City | 42,976 | $113,590 | $483,630 |
| 14 | New Kent County | 25,105 | $123,314 | $439,187 |
| 15 | King George County | 27,896 | $116,884 | $470,062 |
| 16 | Powhatan County | 31,555 | $110,537 | $493,803 |
| 17 | Poquoson City | 12,639 | $120,972 | $430,311 |
| 18 | York County | 71,005 | $109,956 | $461,496 |
| 19 | Hanover County | 112,879 | $112,805 | $454,933 |
| 20 | Spotsylvania County | 146,603 | $112,738 | $456,349 |
| 21 | Culpeper County | 54,397 | $100,049 | $485,034 |
| 22 | Manassas Park City | 16,798 | $103,250 | $425,581 |
| 23 | Frederick County | 95,008 | $97,606 | $427,505 |
| 24 | Fredericksburg City | 28,873 | $86,071 | $519,964 |
| 25 | Chesterfield County | 377,869 | $101,931 | $409,268 |
| 26 | Rappahannock County | 7,427 | $83,380 | $562,641 |
| 27 | Chesapeake City | 252,583 | $95,373 | $406,769 |
| 28 | Virginia Beach City | 456,349 | $92,968 | $411,177 |
| 29 | Louisa County | 39,980 | $86,689 | $415,532 |
| 30 | Orange County | 37,822 | $94,008 | $380,212 |
| 31 | Henrico County | 335,744 | $88,783 | $397,233 |
| 32 | Fluvanna County | 28,092 | $96,768 | $374,395 |
| 33 | Isle Of Wight County | 39,974 | $95,241 | $376,397 |
| 34 | Madison County | 14,044 | $84,323 | $414,199 |
| 35 | Charlottesville City | 45,437 | $74,824 | $523,189 |
| 36 | Greene County | 21,155 | $89,808 | $378,637 |
| 37 | Warren County | 41,531 | $84,682 | $393,261 |
| 38 | Suffolk City | 98,796 | $92,666 | $373,445 |
| 39 | Williamsburg City | 15,798 | $75,604 | $460,195 |
| 40 | Caroline County | 32,098 | $87,407 | $352,916 |
| 41 | Gloucester County | 39,526 | $84,306 | $371,033 |
| 42 | Prince George County | 43,146 | $84,897 | $353,626 |
| 43 | King William County | 18,593 | $86,056 | $349,721 |
| 44 | Middlesex County | 10,847 | $75,060 | $383,930 |
| 45 | Augusta County | 78,033 | $82,049 | $359,440 |
| 46 | Rockingham County | 85,600 | $80,693 | $358,954 |
| 47 | Lancaster County | 10,936 | $69,713 | $389,603 |
| 48 | Roanoke County | 97,023 | $83,709 | $334,261 |
| 49 | Bedford County | 80,894 | $78,937 | $347,760 |
| 50 | Nelson County | 14,732 | $72,589 | $361,835 |
| 51 | Lexington City | 7,525 | $84,517 | $295,832 |
| 52 | Mathews County | 8,540 | $75,880 | $342,415 |
| 53 | Botetourt County | 34,004 | $81,213 | $310,578 |
| 54 | Amelia County | 13,462 | $76,717 | $326,734 |
| 55 | Montgomery County | 99,101 | $72,715 | $342,441 |
| 56 | Dinwiddie County | 28,191 | $83,704 | $295,196 |
| 57 | Northumberland County | 12,188 | $66,480 | $362,087 |
| 58 | Franklin County | 55,130 | $68,849 | $355,876 |
| 59 | Richmond City | 229,359 | $64,587 | $379,465 |
| 60 | Shenandoah County | 44,925 | $67,191 | $341,883 |
| 61 | Winchester City | 27,913 | $63,974 | $368,715 |
| 62 | Surry County | 6,549 | $78,041 | $278,688 |
| 63 | Charles City County | 6,627 | $75,417 | $281,917 |
| 64 | King And Queen County | 6,695 | $70,469 | $300,988 |
| 65 | Norfolk City | 233,596 | $66,109 | $311,634 |
| 66 | Rockbridge County | 22,531 | $65,469 | $329,288 |
| 67 | Colonial Heights City | 18,352 | $76,505 | $265,088 |
| 68 | Newport News City | 184,216 | $69,634 | $280,137 |
| 69 | Southampton County | 17,964 | $70,795 | $268,328 |
| 70 | Westmoreland County | 18,826 | $63,398 | $306,853 |
| 71 | Salem City | 25,618 | $66,725 | $277,987 |
| 72 | Harrisonburg City | 51,392 | $62,254 | $321,524 |
| 73 | Highland County | 2,296 | $65,625 | $281,503 |
| 74 | Hampton City | 137,557 | $69,621 | $264,120 |
| 75 | Staunton City | 25,948 | $65,581 | $278,632 |
| 76 | Campbell County | 55,312 | $66,165 | $270,595 |
| 77 | Northampton County | 12,059 | $61,632 | $305,551 |
| 78 | Amherst County | 31,485 | $68,724 | $257,885 |
| 79 | Appomattox County | 16,610 | $62,853 | $290,320 |
| 80 | Craig County | 4,856 | $69,057 | $227,156 |
| 81 | Richmond County | 9,095 | $66,304 | $244,335 |
| 82 | Franklin City | 8,250 | $63,245 | $275,838 |
| 83 | Floyd County | 15,593 | $62,191 | $275,211 |
| 84 | Page County | 23,727 | $57,037 | $301,313 |
| 85 | Washington County | 53,926 | $64,552 | $255,765 |
| 86 | Essex County | 10,623 | $56,520 | $295,722 |
| 87 | Portsmouth City | 97,190 | $60,491 | $265,410 |
| 88 | Giles County | 16,557 | $65,691 | $199,651 |
| 89 | Waynesboro City | 22,841 | $59,994 | $263,905 |
| 90 | Buckingham County | 16,976 | $60,828 | $249,895 |
| 91 | Cumberland County | 9,818 | $55,325 | $280,106 |
| 92 | Pulaski County | 33,687 | $62,028 | $215,728 |
| 93 | Accomack County | 33,335 | $58,993 | $243,434 |
| 94 | Lynchburg City | 79,497 | $57,947 | $247,028 |
| 95 | Nottoway County | 15,597 | $63,261 | $194,743 |
| 96 | Sussex County | 10,765 | $63,530 | $185,630 |
| 97 | Radford City | 16,726 | $57,348 | $237,246 |
| 98 | Prince Edward County | 21,996 | $56,315 | $239,655 |
| 99 | Wythe County | 28,188 | $57,745 | $214,803 |
| 100 | Bland County | 6,199 | $61,216 | $186,837 |