Pros, cons, key stats, and the strongest Virginia cities to consider. Based on our analysis of 122 tracked Virginia city markets.
Yes, for many movers. The better answer is city-specific: Virginia contains both stronger and weaker markets, and the right fit depends on your budget, job needs, climate tolerance, and tax situation.
Pros
- Strong job markets in NoVa (DC suburbs), Richmond, Norfolk
- Excellent public schools statewide
- Diverse climate and geography (coast, piedmont, mountains)
- Historical / cultural depth
- Good healthcare access
Cons
- Northern Virginia very expensive
- Government employer concentration (federal contracting exposure)
- Hurricane risk on coast
- Tax structure middling — no major advantages
What this means in practice
Across 122 tracked Virginia city markets, the median home costs $376,492 with a 1-year change of +1.5% and a median momentum score of 67 out of 100.
On taxes, Income tax up to 5.75%. Modest property. Lower base sales rate. SS untaxed; $12k retirement deduction (65+). That matters because the cheapest state on paper can still be expensive if property tax, insurance, or local housing costs overwhelm the headline rate.
State-level averages mask city-level variation — within any state, individual cities can have radically different cost, climate, and trajectory. Use the strongest-momentum cities below as a starting point.
Top 5 Virginia cities by momentum
- Bedford — momentum 80, median $283,012
- Bensley — momentum 78, median $260,837
- Highland Springs — momentum 78, median $259,569
- Stuarts Draft — momentum 77, median $354,100
- Bellwood — momentum 77, median $325,601