Best counties to raise a family in Virginia

Written by:
September 1, 2023
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Best counties to raise a family in Virginia

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Virginia using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#30. Fluvanna County, Virginia

- Population: 27,078
- Median home value: $238,800 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,188 (14% own)
- Median household income: $82,983
- Top public schools: Fluvanna County High School (grade B), Fluvanna Middle School (grade B minus), Central Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Fork Union Military Academy (grade A), Effort Christian School & Preschool (grade unavailable), Open Door Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lake Monticello (grade A minus), Palmyra (grade unavailable)

#29. Franklin County, Virginia

- Population: 54,829
- Median home value: $181,400 (80% own)
- Median rent: $758 (20% own)
- Median household income: $59,667
- Top public schools: Benjamin Franklin Middle School (grade B+), Snow Creek Elementary School (grade B+), Boones Mill Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Christian Heritage Academy (grade B), Lifes Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Rocky Mount (grade B+), North Shore (grade B), Boones Mill (grade B)

#28. Campbell County, Virginia

- Population: 55,656
- Median home value: $160,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $749 (27% own)
- Median household income: $53,918
- Top public schools: Brookville High School (grade A minus), Brookville Middle School (grade B+), Leesville Road Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Timberlake Christian Schools (grade A minus), The Branches Academy (grade unavailable), Desmond T. Doss Junior Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Timberlake (grade A minus), Altavista (grade B), Rustburg (grade B+)

#27. Louisa County, Virginia

- Population: 37,136
- Median home value: $239,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,046 (19% own)
- Median household income: $70,974
- Top public schools: Louisa County High School (grade A minus), Jouett Elementary School (grade B+), Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Piedmont Christian School (grade B), Grace Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Louisa (grade B minus), Mineral (grade C+), Blue Ridge Shores (grade C minus)

#26. Appomattox County, Virginia

- Population: 16,039
- Median home value: $161,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $743 (23% own)
- Median household income: $55,268
- Top public schools: Appomattox Middle School (grade B), Appomattox County High School (grade B minus), Appomattox Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade B minus), Appomattox Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Appomattox (grade B)

#25. Bedford County, Virginia

- Population: 79,183
- Median home value: $227,500 (84% own)
- Median rent: $893 (16% own)
- Median household income: $70,870
- Top public schools: Jefferson Forest High School (grade A), New London Academy Elementary School (grade B+), Forest Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy (grade B), Blue Ridge Montessori School (grade unavailable), Mineral Springs Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Forest (grade A+), Bedford (grade C+), Big Island (grade C)

#24. Washington County, Virginia

- Population: 53,997
- Median home value: $163,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $737 (24% own)
- Median household income: $54,737
- Top public schools: Watauga Elementary School (grade A minus), High Point Elementary School (grade A minus), Greendale Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade B minus), Sullins Academy (grade unavailable), Victory Children's Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Abingdon (grade A minus), Emory (grade A minus), Glade Spring (grade B+)

#23. Botetourt County, Virginia

- Population: 33,542
- Median home value: $242,600 (86% own)
- Median rent: $831 (14% own)
- Median household income: $72,941
- Top public schools: Eagle Rock Elementary School (grade B+), Greenfield Elementary School (grade B+), Read Mountain Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Blue Ridge (grade B+), Daleville (grade B+), Laymantown (grade B+)
- Top places to live: grade B+

#22. New Kent County, Virginia

- Population: 22,519
- Median home value: $309,000 (90% own)
- Median rent: $1,101 (10% own)
- Median household income: $101,628
- Top public schools: New Kent Elementary School (grade B), George W. Watkins Elementary School (grade B), New Kent High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Cumberland Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: New Kent (grade B)

#21. Wise County, Virginia

- Population: 36,531
- Median home value: $94,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $636 (29% own)
- Median household income: $44,884
- Top public schools: Powell Valley Primary School (grade A), L.F. Addington Middle School (grade A), J.W. Adams Combined School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Wise County Christian School (grade B), King's Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Minnick Education Center - Wise (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Big Stone Gap (grade B+), Wise (grade B), Appalachia (grade B minus)

#20. Powhatan County, Virginia

- Population: 29,979
- Median home value: $309,200 (91% own)
- Median rent: $1,114 (9% own)
- Median household income: $101,395
- Top public schools: Powhatan Elementary School (grade B+), Powhatan High School (grade B+), Powhatan Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: The Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Powhatan (grade B)

#19. Fauquier County, Virginia

- Population: 72,416
- Median home value: $434,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,412 (23% own)
- Median household income: $111,368
- Top public schools: Kettle Run High School (grade B+), P.B. Smith Elementary School (grade B+), Fauquier High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Wakefield School (grade A+), Highland School (grade A), Fresta Valley Christian School (grade B)
- Top places to live: New Baltimore (grade A minus), Bealeton (grade B+), Warrenton (grade B)

#18. Isle of Wight County, Virginia

- Population: 38,301
- Median home value: $295,500 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,124 (22% own)
- Median household income: $84,673
- Top public schools: Georgie D. Tyler Middle School (grade B+), Windsor Elementary School (grade B+), Smithfield High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Isle of Wight Academy (grade B), Hampton Roads Classical (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Smithfield (grade B+), Carrollton (grade B+), Benns Church (grade B minus)

#17. Prince George County, Virginia

- Population: 42,170
- Median home value: $231,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,394 (30% own)
- Median household income: $78,895
- Top public schools: L.L. Beazley Elementary School (grade A minus), South Elementary School (grade A minus), Middle Road Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Fort Lee Child Development Center - Sisisky (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Prince George (grade B), Templeton (grade unavailable)

#16. Rockingham County, Virginia

- Population: 83,090
- Median home value: $231,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $964 (24% own)
- Median household income: $67,484
- Top public schools: Spotswood High School (grade A minus), East Rockingham High School (grade A minus), Turner Ashby High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Blue Ridge Christian School (grade A minus), Redeemer Classical School (grade unavailable), Cornerstone Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bridgewater (grade A), Dayton (grade A), Massanetta Springs (grade A)

#15. King George County, Virginia

- Population: 26,597
- Median home value: $327,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,403 (25% own)
- Median household income: $101,599
- Top public schools: King George High School (grade B+), King George Middle School (grade B+), Potomac Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Dahlgren (grade A minus), King George (grade B+), Fairview Beach (grade B+)
- Top places to live: grade A minus

#14. Hanover County, Virginia

- Population: 109,232
- Median home value: $304,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,260 (17% own)
- Median household income: $96,911
- Top public schools: Pearson's Corner Elementary School (grade A minus), Rural Point Elementary School (grade A minus), Atlee High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Atlee Christian Academy (grade unavailable), GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (grade unavailable), Liberty Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Ashland (grade A minus), Mechanicsville (grade A minus), Hanover (grade B)

#13. Spotsylvania County, Virginia

- Population: 138,493
- Median home value: $309,000 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,556 (22% own)
- Median household income: $98,973
- Top public schools: Riverbend High School (grade A minus), Courtland High School (grade B+), Chancellor Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Fredericksburg Academy (grade A+), St. Michael the Archangel High School (grade A), Fredericksburg Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Spotsylvania Courthouse (grade B), Lake Wilderness (grade B+)

#12. Goochland County, Virginia

- Population: 24,300
- Median home value: $402,300 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,286 (14% own)
- Median household income: $100,517
- Top public schools: Goochland High School (grade A minus), Byrd Elementary School (grade A minus), Goochland Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Saint Gertrude High School (grade A), Richmond Academy (grade A), Benedictine College Preparatory (grade A)
- Top places to live: Goochland (grade B)

#11. Montgomery County, Virginia

- Population: 99,294
- Median home value: $235,800 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,082 (45% own)
- Median household income: $60,666
- Top public schools: Blacksburg High School (grade A+), Blacksburg Middle School (grade A minus), Kipps Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Dayspring Christian Academy (grade B minus), Blacksburg New School (grade unavailable), St. John Neumann Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Blacksburg (grade A+), Merrimac (grade A), Christiansburg (grade A minus)

#10. Henrico County, Virginia

- Population: 331,924
- Median home value: $268,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,258 (36% own)
- Median household income: $76,345
- Top public schools: Deep Run High School (grade A+), Mills E. Godwin High School (grade A), Glen Allen High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Collegiate School (grade A+), The Steward School (grade A+), Grove Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Innsbrook (grade A+), Short Pump (grade A+), Wyndham (grade A+)

#9. Roanoke County, Virginia

- Population: 96,303
- Median home value: $215,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,029 (25% own)
- Median household income: $74,622
- Top public schools: Hidden Valley High School (grade A), Cave Spring Middle School (grade A), Cave Spring High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: North Cross School (grade A), Faith Christian School (grade A), Roanoke Valley Christian Schools (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: Cave Spring (grade A+), Hollins (grade A minus), Vinton (grade B)

#8. James City County, Virginia

- Population: 77,733
- Median home value: $352,700 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,248 (23% own)
- Median household income: $94,907
- Top public schools: Jamestown High School (grade A), Toano Middle School (grade A minus), Stonehouse Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Providence Classical School (grade A), Williamsburg Christian Academy (grade A), Williamsburg Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: grade A+

#7. Albemarle County, Virginia

- Population: 111,438
- Median home value: $386,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,434 (34% own)
- Median household income: $90,568
- Top public schools: Western Albemarle High School (grade A), Virginia L. Murray Elementary School (grade A), Albemarle High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Miller School of Albemarle (grade A+), Tandem Friends School (grade A), The Covenant School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Pantops (grade A+), Crozet (grade A+), Piney Mountain (grade A)

#6. Prince William County, Virginia

- Population: 477,224
- Median home value: $408,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,806 (26% own)
- Median household income: $113,831
- Top public schools: Battlefield High School (grade A), Osbourn Park High School (grade A), Patriot High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School (grade A+), Evangel Christian School (grade A minus), Christ Chapel Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Haymarket (grade A+), Gainesville (grade A+), Montclair (grade A+)

#5. Chesterfield County, Virginia

- Population: 359,798
- Median home value: $269,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,345 (23% own)
- Median household income: $88,315
- Top public schools: Cosby High School (grade A), Midlothian High School (grade A), Clover Hill High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Millwood School (grade A), Richmond Christian School (grade B+), Banner Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Woodlake (grade A+), Bon Air (grade A+), Brandermill (grade A)

#4. Stafford County, Virginia

- Population: 154,204
- Median home value: $370,000 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,647 (22% own)
- Median household income: $119,818
- Top public schools: Colonial Forge High School (grade A), Mountain View High School (grade A minus), Rodney E. Thompson Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Grace Preparatory School (grade B+), Holy Cross Academy (grade unavailable), Ferry Farm Baptist Church Preschool & Kindergarten (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Falmouth (grade A), Aquia Harbour (grade A minus), Southern Gateway (grade B)

#3. Fairfax County, Virginia

- Population: 1,146,825
- Median home value: $594,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,977 (31% own)
- Median household income: $133,974
- Top public schools: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (grade A+), McLean High School (grade A+), Langley High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent McLean (grade A+), The Madeira School (grade A+), The Potomac School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Franklin Farm (grade A+), Wakefield (grade A+), Oakton (grade A+)

#2. York County, Virginia

- Population: 69,635
- Median home value: $344,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,622 (27% own)
- Median household income: $96,144
- Top public schools: Tabb High School (grade A+), Grafton High School (grade A), Tabb Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Summit Christian Academy (grade B+), Little Log Cabin CC & Learning Center (grade unavailable), COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Yorktown (grade A)

#1. Loudoun County, Virginia

- Population: 413,574
- Median home value: $569,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $2,033 (22% own)
- Median household income: $156,821
- Top public schools: Briar Woods High School (grade A+), Riverside High School (grade A+), Rock Ridge High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Loudoun School for Advanced Studies (grade A+), Foxcroft School (grade A+), Fairfax Christian School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Stone Ridge (grade A+), Cascades (grade A+), Loudoun Valley Estates (grade A+)

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