There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Virginia. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobsas in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Virginia cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Virginia. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 62 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Virginia.
The Virginian in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Virginia
Don’t freak out.
What’s the snobbiest place in Virginia? The snobbiest place in Virginia is Vienna based on the data. If we had their wealth and lifestyle, we’d probably be a little snobby, too.
The most laid back? That would be Richlands.
We’re not so full of ourselves as to make this ranking up from nowhere. So here’s a look at the top ten and more on how we did it. And if you’re curious, Virginia is the 7th snobbiest in the United States.
For more Virginia reading, check out:
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Virginia For 2026

/10
% Highly Educated: 75.0%
Median Income: $216,953
Median Home Price: $1,179,672
More on Vienna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 80.0%
Median Income: $143,262
Median Home Price: $789,603
More on Falls Church: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 61.0%
Median Income: $165,121
Median Home Price: $909,565
More on Purcellville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 57.0%
Median Income: $145,205
Median Home Price: $865,516
More on Leesburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 63.0%
Median Income: $132,348
Median Home Price: $792,535
More on Fairfax: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 53.0%
Median Income: $148,000
Median Home Price: $740,679
More on Herndon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 66.0%
Median Income: $119,681
Median Home Price: $676,204
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 46.0%
Median Income: $83,331
Median Home Price: $681,948
More on Warrenton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 46.0%
Median Income: $86,071
Median Home Price: $480,265
More on Fredericksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

/10
% Highly Educated: 63.0%
Median Income: $74,824
Median Home Price: $515,217
More on Charlottesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Old Dominion
Do you think wed just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Virginia with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 62 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, its not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 62 places in each category with scores from one to 62. We then averaged each places ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Virginia. So lets all flip a table in honor of Vienna (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, lets remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Virginia are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Virginia are Vienna, Falls Church, Purcellville, Leesburg, Fairfax, Herndon, Alexandria, Warrenton, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville.
If you’re also curious enough, here are the most laid back places in Virginia, according to science:
- Richlands
- Covington
- Galax
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In Virginia
- Richest Cities In Virginia
- Safest Places In Virginia
- Worst Cities In Virginia For 2017
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Virginia
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Virginia For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vienna, VA | 16,412 | $216,953 | $1,179,672 | 75.0% |
| 2 | Falls Church, VA | 14,710 | $143,262 | $789,603 | 80.0% |
| 3 | Purcellville, VA | 8,973 | $165,121 | $909,565 | 61.0% |
| 4 | Leesburg, VA | 49,171 | $145,205 | $865,516 | 57.0% |
| 5 | Fairfax, VA | 25,026 | $132,348 | $792,535 | 63.0% |
| 6 | Herndon, VA | 24,672 | $148,000 | $740,679 | 53.0% |
| 7 | Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | $119,681 | $676,204 | 66.0% |
| 8 | Warrenton, VA | 10,176 | $83,331 | $681,948 | 46.0% |
| 9 | Fredericksburg, VA | 28,873 | $86,071 | $480,265 | 46.0% |
| 10 | Charlottesville, VA | 45,437 | $74,824 | $515,217 | 63.0% |
| 11 | Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | $120,972 | $462,479 | 36.0% |
| 12 | Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | $92,968 | $427,031 | 41.0% |
| 13 | Manassas, VA | 42,976 | $113,590 | $557,118 | 32.0% |
| 14 | Williamsburg, VA | 15,798 | $75,604 | $464,103 | 45.0% |
| 15 | Lexington, VA | 7,525 | $84,517 | $358,988 | 51.0% |
| 16 | Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | $95,373 | $420,755 | 36.0% |
| 17 | Smithfield, VA | 8,834 | $113,158 | $393,349 | 36.0% |
| 18 | Bridgewater, VA | 6,708 | $75,280 | $375,081 | 46.0% |
| 19 | Culpeper, VA | 20,794 | $94,721 | $451,494 | 31.0% |
| 20 | Suffolk, VA | 98,796 | $92,666 | $384,300 | 34.0% |
| 21 | Manassas Park, VA | 16,798 | $103,250 | $462,196 | 27.0% |
| 22 | Dumfries, VA | 5,816 | $82,355 | $596,416 | 25.0% |
| 23 | Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | $77,147 | $304,607 | 45.0% |
| 24 | Richmond, VA | 229,359 | $64,587 | $369,645 | 46.0% |
| 25 | Blacksburg, VA | 45,446 | $50,182 | $420,778 | 69.0% |
| 26 | Ashland, VA | 7,772 | $61,164 | $463,340 | 37.0% |
| 27 | Staunton, VA | 25,948 | $65,581 | $308,028 | 37.0% |
| 28 | Harrisonburg, VA | 51,392 | $62,254 | $348,178 | 37.0% |
| 29 | Winchester, VA | 27,913 | $63,974 | $399,456 | 32.0% |
| 30 | Norfolk, VA | 233,596 | $66,109 | $306,226 | 34.0% |
| 31 | Salem, VA | 25,618 | $66,725 | $305,425 | 33.0% |
| 32 | Colonial Heights, VA | 18,352 | $76,505 | $294,925 | 29.0% |
| 33 | Newport News, VA | 184,216 | $69,634 | $290,659 | 30.0% |
| 34 | Woodstock, VA | 5,871 | $76,100 | $337,785 | 22.0% |
| 35 | Lynchburg, VA | 79,497 | $57,947 | $262,101 | 39.0% |
| 36 | Orange, VA | 5,066 | $76,370 | $336,893 | 21.0% |
| 37 | Hampton, VA | 137,557 | $69,621 | $275,340 | 28.0% |
| 38 | Radford, VA | 16,726 | $57,348 | $261,601 | 38.0% |
| 39 | Front Royal, VA | 15,296 | $64,838 | $383,199 | 19.0% |
| 40 | Abingdon, VA | 8,330 | $54,544 | $281,618 | 36.0% |
| 41 | Waynesboro, VA | 22,841 | $59,994 | $312,910 | 25.0% |
| 42 | Roanoke, VA | 98,355 | $55,378 | $277,113 | 30.0% |
| 43 | Franklin, VA | 8,250 | $63,245 | $242,883 | 27.0% |
| 44 | Strasburg, VA | 7,214 | $62,464 | $346,089 | 17.0% |
| 45 | Vinton, VA | 8,056 | $65,445 | $283,675 | 18.0% |
| 46 | Portsmouth, VA | 97,190 | $60,491 | $260,461 | 24.0% |
| 47 | Farmville, VA | 7,774 | $40,966 | $261,291 | 33.0% |
| 48 | Petersburg, VA | 33,537 | $50,698 | $245,998 | 25.0% |
| 49 | Buena Vista, VA | 6,593 | $57,833 | $196,020 | 23.0% |
| 50 | Bristol, VA | 16,849 | $50,404 | $201,474 | 25.0% |
| 51 | Wytheville, VA | 8,202 | $47,270 | $223,768 | 24.0% |
| 52 | Hopewell, VA | 22,959 | $54,729 | $232,748 | 13.0% |
| 53 | Emporia, VA | 5,547 | $51,899 | $159,793 | 16.0% |
| 54 | Pulaski, VA | 8,893 | $49,491 | $168,551 | 17.0% |
| 55 | Marion, VA | 5,670 | $40,896 | $157,966 | 22.0% |
| 56 | Martinsville, VA | 13,658 | $46,727 | $133,032 | 21.0% |
| 57 | South Boston, VA | 7,853 | $44,052 | $149,171 | 21.0% |
| 58 | Big Stone Gap, VA | 5,162 | $54,581 | $140,136 | 15.0% |
| 59 | Danville, VA | 42,214 | $44,423 | $156,398 | 19.0% |
| 60 | Galax, VA | 6,726 | $38,675 | $182,062 | 19.0% |
| 61 | Covington, VA | 5,680 | $41,944 | $158,022 | 9.0% |
| 62 | Richlands, VA | 5,171 | $37,154 | $106,217 | 13.0% |

