The Virginia rental market
Virginia tracks median rent across 80 cities, ranging from Martinsville at $907/mo to Great Falls at $4,911/mo. The state average of $2,111/mo runs about 9% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Virginia cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +3.0% over the past year. 53 of 89 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 36 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Arlington.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 10 of 80 Virginia cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
37 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Great Falls ($4,911/mo) costs 4.3 times as much as Danville ($1,143/mo).
Across 40 Virginia cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in December and peak in August, a typical swing of 1.7%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 29 of 33 Virginia cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Virginia cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Virginia rent questions
What is the average rent in Virginia?
The average median rent across 80 tracked cities in Virginia is $2,111/mo, about 9% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Virginia city has the highest rent?
Great Falls has the highest median rent in Virginia at $4,911/mo.
Which Virginia city has the most affordable rent?
Martinsville is the most affordable tracked city in Virginia, with a median rent of $907/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Virginia?
Across Virginia cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +3.0% over the past year.
How does Virginia rent compare to the rest of the country?
53 of 89 tracked Virginia cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 36 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Virginia?
By population, the largest rental markets in Virginia are Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Arlington. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.