Best rent-to-income cities in Virginia

Cities in Virginia ranked by lowest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

McLean ranks first, with rent at 13.1% of median household income.
Across all 55 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,061/mo.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

55 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	McLeanVA Pop. 50KCompare →	13.1%	$2,732/mo	$250,001	same
02	ViennaVA Pop. 16KCompare →	18.4%	$3,320/mo	$216,953	same
03	HerndonVA Pop. 25KCompare →	19.3%	$2,382/mo	$148,000	↑1 from #4
04	BurkeVA Pop. 44KCompare →	19.4%	$3,003/mo	$185,818	↓1 from #3
05	LeesburgVA Pop. 49KCompare →	20.1%	$2,431/mo	$145,205	same
06	CentrevilleVA Pop. 72KCompare →	20.6%	$2,396/mo	$139,510	↑2 from #8
07	GainesvilleVA Pop. 18KCompare →	20.8%	$3,021/mo	$174,410	↓1 from #6
08	RestonVA Pop. 64KCompare →	20.9%	$2,589/mo	$148,710	↓1 from #7
09	LincolniaVA Pop. 20KCompare →	22.0%	$2,231/mo	$121,639	same
10	MidlothianVA Pop. 19KCompare →	22.1%	$2,028/mo	$110,084	same
11	LortonVA Pop. 21KCompare →	22.2%	$2,562/mo	$138,685	↑1 from #12
12	FairfaxVA Pop. 25KCompare →	22.3%	$2,456/mo	$132,348	↑2 from #14
13	ManassasVA Pop. 43KCompare →	22.6%	$2,135/mo	$113,590	same
14	ArlingtonVA Pop. 236KCompare →	22.6%	$2,680/mo	$142,114	↑1 from #15
15	AshburnVA Pop. 46KCompare →	22.7%	$2,934/mo	$154,978	↑2 from #17
16	AlexandriaVA Pop. 157KCompare →	22.8%	$2,275/mo	$119,681	↑2 from #18
17	OaktonVA Pop. 37KCompare →	22.9%	$3,066/mo	$160,663	--
18	ChesterVA Pop. 24KCompare →	23.1%	$1,829/mo	$95,104	↓2 from #16
19	Great FallsVA Pop. 15KCompare →	23.6%	$4,911/mo	$250,001	--
20	ChantillyVA Pop. 24KCompare →	23.7%	$3,108/mo	$157,124	↓1 from #19
21	CulpeperVA Pop. 21KCompare →	23.8%	$1,878/mo	$94,721	↓10 from #11
22	ChristiansburgVA Pop. 23KCompare →	24.2%	$1,553/mo	$77,147	↓2 from #20
23	Manassas ParkVA Pop. 17KCompare →	24.6%	$2,115/mo	$103,250	↓2 from #21
24	WoodbridgeVA Pop. 44KCompare →	24.9%	$2,174/mo	$104,741	↑1 from #25
25	SterlingVA Pop. 32KCompare →	24.9%	$2,560/mo	$123,303	↓1 from #24
26	AnnandaleVA Pop. 42KCompare →	25.6%	$2,482/mo	$116,263	↑4 from #30
27	ChesapeakeVA Pop. 253KCompare →	26.0%	$2,063/mo	$95,373	↓5 from #22
28	Colonial HeightsVA Pop. 18KCompare →	26.1%	$1,665/mo	$76,505	↑6 from #34
29	Glen AllenVA Pop. 18KCompare →	26.2%	$2,022/mo	$92,723	same
30	RadfordVA Pop. 17KCompare →	26.2%	$1,253/mo	$57,348	↑3 from #33
31	SuffolkVA Pop. 99KCompare →	26.3%	$2,028/mo	$92,666	↓8 from #23
32	LynchburgVA Pop. 79KCompare →	26.3%	$1,270/mo	$57,947	↓4 from #28
33	StauntonVA Pop. 26KCompare →	27.0%	$1,473/mo	$65,581	↓1 from #32
34	Virginia BeachVA Pop. 456KCompare →	27.1%	$2,098/mo	$92,968	↓8 from #26
35	MechanicsvilleVA Pop. 39KCompare →	27.1%	$2,225/mo	$98,595	same
36	Newport NewsVA Pop. 184KCompare →	27.5%	$1,593/mo	$69,634	↓9 from #27
37	WaynesboroVA Pop. 23KCompare →	28.0%	$1,398/mo	$59,994	↓6 from #31
38	SalemVA Pop. 26KCompare →	28.3%	$1,574/mo	$66,725	↑1 from #39
39	FredericksburgVA Pop. 29KCompare →	28.7%	$2,061/mo	$86,071	↓2 from #37
40	HopewellVA Pop. 23KCompare →	29.0%	$1,322/mo	$54,729	↑2 from #42
41	SpringfieldVA Pop. 31KCompare →	29.1%	$3,052/mo	$125,999	↓3 from #38
42	HamptonVA Pop. 138KCompare →	29.1%	$1,690/mo	$69,621	↓6 from #36
43	RoanokeVA Pop. 98KCompare →	29.6%	$1,368/mo	$55,378	↓2 from #41
44	RichmondVA Pop. 229KCompare →	30.2%	$1,628/mo	$64,587	↓1 from #43
45	DanvilleVA Pop. 42KCompare →	30.9%	$1,143/mo	$44,423	↓5 from #40
46	NorfolkVA Pop. 234KCompare →	31.7%	$1,749/mo	$66,109	↓2 from #44
47	PetersburgVA Pop. 34KCompare →	32.5%	$1,373/mo	$50,698	↑1 from #48
48	CharlottesvilleVA Pop. 45KCompare →	32.5%	$2,029/mo	$74,824	↑1 from #49
49	PortsmouthVA Pop. 97KCompare →	32.6%	$1,642/mo	$60,491	↓3 from #46
50	HarrisonburgVA Pop. 51KCompare →	33.2%	$1,720/mo	$62,254	↓5 from #45