Rent rising fastest in Virginia

Cities in Virginia with the largest year-over-year rent increases. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.

Key findings

Culpeper ranks first, with +9.3% over the past year.
Across all 47 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,061/mo.
Waynesboro moved from #35 to #2 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Change in Zillow's rent index over the past 12 months. Rank a year ago uses the change over the 12 months before that. 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

47 cities

Rank	City	1-yr change	Median rent	5-yr change	Vs. a year ago
01	CulpeperVA Pop. 21KCompare →	+9.3%	$1,878/mo	--	--
02	WaynesboroVA Pop. 23KCompare →	+8.5%	$1,398/mo	--	↑33 from #35
03	Virginia BeachVA Pop. 456KCompare →	+8.2%	$2,098/mo	+30.2%	↑19 from #22
04	DanvilleVA Pop. 42KCompare →	+8.0%	$1,143/mo	--	↑9 from #13
05	Newport NewsVA Pop. 184KCompare →	+7.7%	$1,593/mo	+30.4%	↑16 from #21
06	HarrisonburgVA Pop. 51KCompare →	+7.6%	$1,720/mo	+48.1%	↓2 from #4
07	NorfolkVA Pop. 234KCompare →	+7.4%	$1,749/mo	+35.2%	↑9 from #16
08	HamptonVA Pop. 138KCompare →	+7.2%	$1,690/mo	+24.4%	same
09	SuffolkVA Pop. 99KCompare →	+7.0%	$2,028/mo	+34.6%	same
10	WilliamsburgVA Pop. 16KCompare →	+6.4%	$2,094/mo	+32.4%	↑23 from #33
11	ChesapeakeVA Pop. 253KCompare →	+6.3%	$2,063/mo	+30.0%	↑9 from #20
12	PortsmouthVA Pop. 97KCompare →	+5.5%	$1,642/mo	+36.8%	↓9 from #3
13	SpringfieldVA Pop. 31KCompare →	+5.3%	$3,052/mo	+29.7%	↑14 from #27
14	LincolniaVA Pop. 20KCompare →	+4.5%	$2,231/mo	--	↑29 from #43
15	ChristiansburgVA Pop. 23KCompare →	+4.4%	$1,553/mo	--	↓9 from #6
16	GainesvilleVA Pop. 18KCompare →	+4.4%	$3,021/mo	--	↑23 from #39
17	FredericksburgVA Pop. 29KCompare →	+4.2%	$2,061/mo	+26.2%	↑14 from #31
18	StauntonVA Pop. 26KCompare →	+4.1%	$1,473/mo	--	↓11 from #7
19	LeesburgVA Pop. 49KCompare →	+3.9%	$2,431/mo	+27.9%	↑15 from #34
20	PetersburgVA Pop. 34KCompare →	+3.9%	$1,373/mo	+37.2%	↓18 from #2
21	MidlothianVA Pop. 19KCompare →	+3.8%	$2,028/mo	+25.4%	↑5 from #26
22	BlacksburgVA Pop. 45KCompare →	+3.7%	$1,910/mo	--	↓21 from #1
23	RoanokeVA Pop. 98KCompare →	+3.5%	$1,368/mo	+38.5%	↓13 from #10
24	ChantillyVA Pop. 24KCompare →	+3.4%	$3,108/mo	+33.0%	↑6 from #30
25	McLeanVA Pop. 50KCompare →	+3.0%	$2,732/mo	+22.3%	↑12 from #37
26	BurkeVA Pop. 44KCompare →	+3.0%	$3,003/mo	--	↓15 from #11
27	RichmondVA Pop. 229KCompare →	+2.8%	$1,628/mo	+28.6%	↓10 from #17
28	LynchburgVA Pop. 79KCompare →	+2.5%	$1,270/mo	+30.9%	↓3 from #25
29	ViennaVA Pop. 16KCompare →	+2.5%	$3,320/mo	+27.6%	↓15 from #14
30	RestonVA Pop. 64KCompare →	+2.4%	$2,589/mo	+26.2%	↓15 from #15
31	ManassasVA Pop. 43KCompare →	+2.3%	$2,135/mo	+26.3%	↓8 from #23
32	WinchesterVA Pop. 28KCompare →	+2.2%	$1,768/mo	+31.7%	↓27 from #5
33	ChesterVA Pop. 24KCompare →	+2.2%	$1,829/mo	+17.2%	↑8 from #41
34	Glen AllenVA Pop. 18KCompare →	+1.9%	$2,022/mo	+24.4%	↓15 from #19
35	ArlingtonVA Pop. 236KCompare →	+1.8%	$2,680/mo	+19.7%	↑7 from #42
36	MechanicsvilleVA Pop. 39KCompare →	+1.8%	$2,225/mo	--	--
37	SterlingVA Pop. 32KCompare →	+1.4%	$2,560/mo	+26.2%	↓5 from #32
38	Front RoyalVA Pop. 15KCompare →	+1.4%	$1,944/mo	--	--
39	CharlottesvilleVA Pop. 45KCompare →	+1.3%	$2,029/mo	+25.1%	↓15 from #24
40	LortonVA Pop. 21KCompare →	+1.3%	$2,562/mo	+29.8%	↓22 from #18
41	HerndonVA Pop. 25KCompare →	+1.1%	$2,382/mo	+24.5%	↓13 from #28
42	Manassas ParkVA Pop. 17KCompare →	+1.1%	$2,115/mo	+27.6%	↓13 from #29
43	RadfordVA Pop. 17KCompare →	+1.1%	$1,253/mo	--	--
44	WoodbridgeVA Pop. 44KCompare →	+0.9%	$2,174/mo	+20.8%	↓6 from #38
45	FairfaxVA Pop. 25KCompare →	+0.8%	$2,456/mo	+20.0%	↓5 from #40
46	CentrevilleVA Pop. 72KCompare →	+0.3%	$2,396/mo	+23.8%	↓10 from #36
47	AshburnVA Pop. 46KCompare →	+0.3%	$2,934/mo	+23.7%	↓35 from #12