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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Among the 100 largest places in Virginia, West Springfield has the lowest unemployment rate (1.7%), followed by Short Pump and Oakton. Click any column to sort; click a city for its guide.
Across the 100 places in Virginia that we cover, the median is 4.4% and the average 4.6%; the figure runs from 1.7% (West Springfield) to 10.1% (Petersburg). That is a spread of 5.9 times between the two ends. The state figure is 4.3%; 51 of the 100 places are above it and 49 at or below.
The first five are West Springfield, Short Pump, Oakton, Mechanicsville, Wolf Trap. A high or low position is not good or bad on its own: unemployment from the ACS is a survey estimate with a margin of error, and small places can swing widely. Use the Compare tab on each city page to see how two places differ across income, rent, commute and education, and check the county page for the local job market.
| # ⇅ | City ⇅ | County ⇅ | Unemployment (ACS) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Springfield (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 1.7% | 22,532 | $163,115 | $2,455 |
| 2 | Short Pump (unincorporated) | Henrico County | 1.7% | 29,026 | $138,845 | $1,847 |
| 3 | Oakton (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 1.9% | 36,528 | $160,663 | $2,276 |
| 4 | Mechanicsville (unincorporated) | Hanover County | 1.9% | 38,683 | $98,595 | $1,724 |
| 5 | Wolf Trap (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.0% | 15,858 | $250,001 | $3,501 |
| 6 | McLean (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.3% | 49,627 | $250,001 | $3,422 |
| 7 | McNair (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.3% | 22,655 | $122,778 | $2,287 |
| 8 | Culpeper | Culpeper County | 2.3% | 20,794 | $94,721 | $1,416 |
| 9 | Christiansburg | Montgomery County | 2.4% | 22,720 | $77,147 | $1,181 |
| 10 | Chester (unincorporated) | Chesterfield County | 2.5% | 24,474 | $95,104 | $1,603 |
| 11 | Gainesville (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 2.6% | 18,196 | $174,410 | $2,283 |
| 12 | Franconia (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.7% | 18,335 | $152,474 | $2,605 |
| 13 | Rose Hill (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.7% | 21,066 | $174,950 | $2,475 |
| 14 | Kingstowne (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.8% | 18,360 | $151,535 | $2,406 |
| 15 | Leesburg | Loudoun County | 2.8% | 49,171 | $145,205 | $2,105 |
| 16 | Idylwood (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.8% | 17,559 | $120,109 | $2,045 |
| 17 | Chantilly (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 2.9% | 24,036 | $157,124 | $2,312 |
| 18 | Martinsville | Martinsville City | 2.9% | 13,658 | $46,727 | $808 |
| 19 | Cave Spring (unincorporated) | Roanoke County | 3.0% | 25,742 | $87,539 | $1,285 |
| 20 | Stone Ridge (unincorporated) | Loudoun County | 3.0% | 16,603 | $187,563 | $2,746 |
| 21 | Broadlands (unincorporated) | Loudoun County | 3.0% | 14,353 | $241,042 | $2,694 |
| 22 | Great Falls (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 3.1% | 15,228 | $250,001 | $3,501 |
| 23 | Blacksburg | Montgomery County | 3.1% | 45,446 | $50,182 | $1,359 |
| 24 | Ashburn (unincorporated) | Loudoun County | 3.2% | 46,026 | $154,978 | $2,455 |
| 25 | Fort Hunt (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 3.2% | 16,700 | $216,038 | $3,501 |
| 26 | Brambleton (unincorporated) | Loudoun County | 3.2% | 24,537 | $238,018 | $2,479 |
| 27 | Fairfax | Fairfax | 3.3% | 25,026 | $132,348 | $2,245 |
| 28 | Arlington (unincorporated) | Arlington County | 3.3% | 236,254 | $142,114 | $2,322 |
| 29 | Alexandria | Alexandria City | 3.3% | 156,976 | $119,681 | $2,089 |
| 30 | Merrifield (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 3.4% | 20,698 | $136,373 | $2,368 |
| 31 | Hollins (unincorporated) | Roanoke County | 3.4% | 17,097 | $77,456 | $1,193 |
| 32 | Franklin Farm (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 3.4% | 18,736 | $215,544 | $2,625 |
| 33 | Buckhall (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 3.5% | 21,602 | $180,021 | $2,478 |
| 34 | Bon Air (unincorporated) | Chesterfield County | 3.5% | 16,904 | $101,879 | $1,799 |
| 35 | Colonial Heights | Colonial Heights City | 3.6% | 18,352 | $76,505 | $1,234 |
| 36 | Salem | Salem City | 3.6% | 25,618 | $66,725 | $1,133 |
| 37 | Charlottesville | Charlottesville City | 3.7% | 45,437 | $74,824 | $1,540 |
| 38 | Sterling (unincorporated) | Loudoun County | 3.7% | 32,411 | $123,303 | $2,138 |
| 39 | Linton Hall (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 3.8% | 41,876 | $178,915 | $2,575 |
| 40 | South Riding (unincorporated) | Loudoun County | 3.8% | 34,352 | $196,403 | $2,905 |
| 41 | Manassas | Manassas City | 3.8% | 42,976 | $113,590 | $1,850 |
| 42 | Glen Allen (unincorporated) | Henrico County | 3.9% | 17,551 | $92,723 | $1,804 |
| 43 | Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach City | 4.0% | 456,349 | $92,968 | $1,714 |
| 44 | Lake Ridge (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 4.0% | 46,049 | $127,154 | $2,033 |
| 45 | Midlothian (unincorporated) | Chesterfield County | 4.0% | 19,120 | $110,084 | $1,760 |
| 46 | Herndon | Fairfax County | 4.1% | 24,672 | $148,000 | $2,259 |
| 47 | Newington (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 4.2% | 13,478 | $155,027 | $2,805 |
| 48 | Tuckahoe (unincorporated) | Henrico County | 4.2% | 49,183 | $102,264 | $1,536 |
| 49 | Huntington (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 4.2% | 13,502 | $99,956 | $2,062 |
| 50 | Vienna | Fairfax County | 4.4% | 16,412 | $216,953 | $2,391 |
| 51 | Centreville (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 4.4% | 71,706 | $139,510 | $2,299 |
| 52 | Tysons (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 4.5% | 28,936 | $129,818 | $2,497 |
| 53 | Bull Run (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 4.6% | 16,859 | $89,679 | $2,002 |
| 54 | Brandermill (unincorporated) | Chesterfield County | 4.6% | 13,730 | $107,396 | $1,782 |
| 55 | Annandale (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 4.9% | 41,705 | $116,263 | $1,933 |
| 56 | Chesapeake | Chesapeake City | 4.9% | 252,583 | $95,373 | $1,586 |
| 57 | West Falls Church (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 4.9% | 31,279 | $134,978 | $2,066 |
| 58 | Suffolk | Suffolk City | 5.0% | 98,796 | $92,666 | $1,563 |
| 59 | Falls Church | Falls Church City | 5.0% | 14,710 | $143,262 | $2,190 |
| 60 | Front Royal | Warren County | 5.0% | 15,296 | $64,838 | $1,135 |
| 61 | Dale City (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 5.0% | 71,016 | $111,994 | $1,876 |
| 62 | Reston (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 5.0% | 64,414 | $148,710 | $2,231 |
| 63 | Laurel (unincorporated) | Henrico County | 5.0% | 18,721 | $73,609 | $1,616 |
| 64 | Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg City | 5.1% | 28,873 | $86,071 | $1,619 |
| 65 | Waynesboro | Waynesboro City | 5.1% | 22,841 | $59,994 | $1,020 |
| 66 | Staunton | Staunton City | 5.3% | 25,948 | $65,581 | $1,024 |
| 67 | Meadowbrook (unincorporated) | Chesterfield County | 5.3% | 20,749 | $86,054 | $1,583 |
| 68 | Lynchburg | Lynchburg City | 5.3% | 79,497 | $57,947 | $1,073 |
| 69 | Lincolnia (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 5.4% | 20,320 | $121,639 | $2,141 |
| 70 | Manassas Park | Manassas Park City | 5.5% | 16,798 | $103,250 | $2,146 |
| 71 | Danville | Danville City | 5.6% | 42,214 | $44,423 | $836 |
| 72 | Burke (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 5.6% | 44,029 | $185,818 | $2,894 |
| 73 | Roanoke | Roanoke City | 5.6% | 98,355 | $55,378 | $996 |
| 74 | Highland Springs (unincorporated) | Henrico County | 5.6% | 14,296 | $57,599 | $1,269 |
| 75 | Fair Oaks (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 5.7% | 35,545 | $123,947 | $2,275 |
| 76 | Norfolk | Norfolk City | 5.7% | 233,596 | $66,109 | $1,321 |
| 77 | Woodlawn (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 5.7% | 21,194 | $91,884 | $1,828 |
| 78 | Richmond | Richmond City | 5.7% | 229,359 | $64,587 | $1,372 |
| 79 | Newport News | Newport News City | 5.8% | 184,216 | $69,634 | $1,339 |
| 80 | Montclair (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 5.8% | 22,387 | $155,774 | $2,366 |
| 81 | Sudley (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 6.0% | 19,162 | $94,309 | $2,139 |
| 82 | Leesylvania (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 6.1% | 21,632 | $132,524 | $2,289 |
| 83 | Bristol | Bristol City | 6.3% | 16,849 | $50,404 | $801 |
| 84 | Hampton | Hampton City | 6.3% | 137,557 | $69,621 | $1,427 |
| 85 | Winchester | Winchester City | 6.4% | 27,913 | $63,974 | $1,315 |
| 86 | Lorton (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 6.5% | 20,991 | $138,685 | $2,548 |
| 87 | Woodbridge (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 6.5% | 43,945 | $104,741 | $2,101 |
| 88 | Portsmouth | Portsmouth City | 6.5% | 97,190 | $60,491 | $1,300 |
| 89 | Burke Centre (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 6.5% | 17,037 | $164,123 | $2,515 |
| 90 | Cherry Hill (unincorporated) | Prince William County | 6.7% | 26,044 | $122,447 | $1,931 |
| 91 | East Highland Park (unincorporated) | Henrico County | 6.8% | 15,265 | $64,681 | $1,318 |
| 92 | Williamsburg | Williamsburg City | 6.8% | 15,798 | $75,604 | $1,407 |
| 93 | Harrisonburg | Harrisonburg City | 6.9% | 51,392 | $62,254 | $1,184 |
| 94 | Springfield (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 6.9% | 31,154 | $125,999 | $2,656 |
| 95 | Bailey's Crossroads (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 8.1% | 24,271 | $88,483 | $2,021 |
| 96 | Radford | Radford City | 8.1% | 16,726 | $57,348 | $1,033 |
| 97 | Hybla Valley (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 8.3% | 17,257 | $80,959 | $1,631 |
| 98 | Hopewell | Hopewell City | 9.2% | 22,959 | $54,729 | $1,106 |
| 99 | Groveton (unincorporated) | Fairfax County | 9.8% | 13,931 | $101,974 | $1,820 |
| 100 | Petersburg | Petersburg City | 10.1% | 33,537 | $50,698 | $1,174 |
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Unincorporated places are census-designated places: they have no city government but are counted as communities. Figures describe the city itself.
West Springfield, with 1.7% (among the 100 largest places; ACS 2020–2024).
The 100 largest places in Virginia by population.