Best small towns to live in Virginia

1. 1
   Woodlawn, VA Score 78/100

   2,250 people · typical home $147k · household income $78k · 103 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 40% of VA · 3.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Rural Retreat, VA Score 76/100

   1,644 people · typical home $186k · household income $62k · 75 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 44% of VA · 2.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Clintwood, VA Score 74/100

   1,400 people · typical home $163k · household income $52k · 83 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 53% of VA · 2.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Lebanon, VA Score 73/100

   3,116 people · typical home $162k · household income $53k · 154 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of VA · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Lexington, VA Score 70/100

   7,525 people · typical home $275k · household income $85k · 63 violent crimes per 100k · 1.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Buena Vista, VA Score 70/100

   6,593 people · typical home $156k · household income $58k · 106 violent crimes per 100k · 1.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Hillsville, VA Score 69/100

   2,864 people · typical home $159k · household income $58k · 105 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 43% of VA · 9.0% unemployment · 14 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Glasgow, VA Score 67/100

   1,330 people · typical home $131k · household income $52k · 124 violent crimes per 100k · 4.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Captains Cove, VA Score 67/100

   1,542 people · typical home $268k · household income $110k · 225 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 1% of VA · 2.0% unemployment · 25 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Amherst, VA Score 66/100

    1,865 people · typical home $221k · household income $71k · 132 violent crimes per 100k · 1.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Adwolf, VA Score 65/100

    1,046 people · typical home $144k · household income $47k · 180 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of VA · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Dublin, VA Score 65/100

    2,671 people · typical home $181k · household income $62k · 174 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 44% of VA · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Warsaw, VA Score 64/100

    2,292 people · typical home $271k · household income $85k · 177 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 29% of VA · 2.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Clifton Forge, VA Score 64/100

    3,447 people · typical home $110k · household income $40k · 193 violent crimes per 100k · 2.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Mount Hermon, VA Score 64/100

    4,155 people · typical home $212k · household income $81k · 70 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 79% of VA · 4.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Rocky Mount, VA Score 63/100

    4,950 people · typical home $207k · household income $63k · 100 violent crimes per 100k · 3.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Covington, VA Score 63/100

    5,680 people · typical home $84k · household income $42k · 230 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 56% of VA · 3.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Bluefield, VA Score 63/100

    4,979 people · typical home $153k · household income $54k · 149 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 44% of VA · 4.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Woodstock, VA Score 62/100

    5,871 people · typical home $269k · household income $76k · 149 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of VA · 6.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Independence, VA Score 62/100

    1,132 people · typical home $122k · household income $39k · 61 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 67% of VA · 4.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Wytheville, VA Score 61/100

    8,202 people · typical home $197k · household income $47k · 115 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 44% of VA · 3.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Patrick Springs, VA Score 60/100

    2,223 people · typical home $101k · household income $63k · 206 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 53% of VA · 4.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Marshall, VA Score 60/100

    3,219 people · typical home $436k · household income $112k · 56 violent crimes per 100k · 3.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Big Stone Gap, VA Score 59/100

    5,162 people · typical home $163k · household income $55k · 145 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 61% of VA · 7.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Appalachia, VA Score 58/100

    1,391 people · typical home $67k · household income $43k · 161 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 61% of VA · 12.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Virginia with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Virginia on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Virginia districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

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