Welcome to the happiest places in Virginia.
Using Saturday Night Science and data, we determined the cities and towns with the most rainbows, butterflies, puppies, and unicorns.
You know, the places where people have jobs, white-picked fences, and friendly neighbors – unicorn cities.
After analyzing the 62 largest cities, we happily present the happiest cities in the Old Dominion.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Happiest Places In Virginia
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Dumfries is the most miserable place in Virginia.
For more Virginia reading, check out:
The 10 Happiest Places In Virginia For 2024
/10
Population: 45,147
Poverty Level: 45.1%
Median Home Price $389,094
Married Households 6.0%
Households With Kids 18.88%
More on Blacksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Blacksburg is by far the happiest place in the state of Virginia. Let’s see why.
First off, having a solid family life is a good indication of how happy someone is. Lots of the residents of Blacksburg aren’t missing out on love; more than 6% of them are married. Plus, the average commute time here is only about 14 minutes each way. That means a lot more time with the spouse and kids.
/10
Population: 46,289
Poverty Level: 23.6%
Median Home Price $460,428
Married Households 11.0%
Households With Kids 22.63%
More on Charlottesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Things look to be pretty pleasant in Charlottesville. Crime is really low here, and the percentage of married residents (11%) mean there’s lots of stability at home.
In addition to those factors, there is a thriving amount of community involvement. Studies have shown that a key factor to happiness is when people volunteer, especially in their own neighborhoods.
/10
Population: 7,346
Poverty Level: 16.6%
Median Home Price $313,583
Married Households 5.0%
Households With Kids 17.93%
More on Lexington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
The people who live in Lexington have a lot going for them. 61% of them have college degrees, and they command some of the highest salaries in VA. 5% of the people here are married.
Most of these all tops in the entire state.
/10
Population: 8,346
Poverty Level: 15.7%
Median Home Price $263,435
Married Households 26.0%
Households With Kids 19.7%
More on Abingdon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Abingdon is where you can bet there are lots of smiley and happy people all over town. Crime is essentially something that just doesn’t happen here very often. And when you can let your guard down and relax a little, the lack of stress really makes a difference.
Same goes on the job front. Only 4.0% of residents here are out of work. Sounds like there are jobs for just about everyone who wants one. Which must be a good feeling to have.
/10
Population: 6,639
Poverty Level: 21.9%
Median Home Price $166,310
Married Households 33.0%
Households With Kids 28.14%
More on Buena Vista: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
If you want to see a bunch of happy people, go to Buena Vista. It seriously looks like something out of a commercial.
They have a 15 minute commute time, which means lots more time with the kids.
/10
Population: 22,947
Poverty Level: 12.2%
Median Home Price $278,006
Married Households 25.0%
Households With Kids 28.78%
More on Christiansburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
For those who say that money doesn’t buy happiness, you’re half right. Studies have shown that people are happy up to a certain point when it comes to annual salaries, somewhere around $72,000 a year. After that, it doesn’t matter how much you make, you’re not going to be much happier.
The residents of Christiansburg have that covered. Plus about 25% of households are married.
/10
Population: 7,617
Poverty Level: 17.1%
Median Home Price $394,438
Married Households 15.0%
Households With Kids 23.75%
More on Ashland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Most of the people in Ashland have to be plum’ happy. True happiness is Home Sweet Home’ with your kids and spouse, being reminded to do chores, run errands and fold the clothes right.
/10
Population: 15,486
Poverty Level: 13.7%
Median Home Price $422,921
Married Households 9.0%
Households With Kids 15.98%
More on Williamsburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Less than 6.0% of the residents in Williamsburg are jobless, which is just about as low as you’ll see.
Incomes are steady, and commute times are really low as well. That really takes away the stress factors that stop folks from relaxing and enjoying their down time’ to do the little things that matter: Walks in the park, time alone with a book and extra face time with the children.
/10
Population: 16,379
Poverty Level: 33.8%
Median Home Price $239,703
Married Households 14.0%
Households With Kids 22.39%
More on Radford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
About 43% of residents in Radford, VA have a college degree. While we’ve all heard the saying, Ignorance is bliss,’ our argument is: Ignorance is also broke.
Not only are most of the residents of Radford smart, they’re safe, too.
/10
Population: 227,171
Poverty Level: 19.5%
Median Home Price $328,655
Married Households 13.0%
Households With Kids 19.77%
More on Richmond: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
In Richmond, most of the population is married, and most own their own homes.
The commute times (21 minutes each way) might eventually start to turn the corners of those smiles sideways.
But for now, it’s all roses in Richmond.
Methodology: How We Measured The Happiest Cities In The Old Dominion
To rank the happiest places in Virginia, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2018-2022 report for the happy criteria, added some Saturday Night Science, and generated the answer.
Here are the criteria we used to measure happiness:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of families with kids
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 62 places in Virginia with over 5,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 62 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the happiest.
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Happy Index for each place with the lowest overall Happy Index “earning” the title “Happiest City In Virginia.”
If you’d like to see the complete list of cities, happiest to saddest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
We updated this article for 2024, and it’s our tenth time ranking the happiest cities in Virginia.
There You Have It – The Happiest Cities In Virginia
As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in Virginia is usually a subjective matter.
But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
The happiest cities in Virginia are Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Lexington, Abingdon, Buena Vista, Christiansburg, Ashland, Williamsburg, Radford, and Richmond.
If you’re curious enough, here are the most miserable cities in Virginia, according to science:
- Dumfries
- Manassas Park
- Emporia
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In Virginia
- Richest Cities In Virginia
- Safest Places In Virginia
- Worst Cities In Virginia For 2017
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Virginia
Happiest Cities In Virginia For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blacksburg, VA | 45,147 | 45.1% | $389,094 | 6.0% | 18.88% |
| 2 | Charlottesville, VA | 46,289 | 23.6% | $460,428 | 11.0% | 22.63% |
| 3 | Lexington, VA | 7,346 | 16.6% | $313,583 | 5.0% | 17.93% |
| 4 | Abingdon, VA | 8,346 | 15.7% | $263,435 | 26.0% | 19.7% |
| 5 | Buena Vista, VA | 6,639 | 21.9% | $166,310 | 33.0% | 28.14% |
| 6 | Christiansburg, VA | 22,947 | 12.2% | $278,006 | 25.0% | 28.78% |
| 7 | Ashland, VA | 7,617 | 17.1% | $394,438 | 15.0% | 23.75% |
| 8 | Williamsburg, VA | 15,486 | 13.7% | $422,921 | 9.0% | 15.98% |
| 9 | Radford, VA | 16,379 | 33.8% | $239,703 | 14.0% | 22.39% |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | 227,171 | 19.5% | $328,655 | 13.0% | 19.77% |
| 11 | Salem, VA | 25,372 | 9.6% | $268,647 | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 12 | Wytheville, VA | 8,228 | 27.3% | $197,791 | 22.0% | 24.22% |
| 13 | Marion, VA | 5,722 | 20.7% | $144,743 | 29.0% | 28.05% |
| 14 | Farmville, VA | 7,647 | 18.9% | $237,401 | 8.0% | 17.06% |
| 15 | Lynchburg, VA | 79,166 | 17.5% | $242,735 | 15.0% | 25.68% |
| 16 | Covington, VA | 5,722 | 16.9% | $129,579 | 39.0% | 28.93% |
| 17 | Bristol, VA | 17,036 | 17.0% | $191,989 | 20.0% | 22.7% |
| 18 | Alexandria, VA | 157,594 | 8.8% | $611,500 | 4.0% | 20.91% |
| 19 | Bridgewater, VA | 6,575 | 9.5% | $340,657 | 15.0% | 27.78% |
| 20 | Harrisonburg, VA | 51,784 | 27.2% | $316,643 | 9.0% | 28.37% |
| 21 | Poquoson, VA | 12,479 | 4.5% | $419,118 | 32.0% | 39.06% |
| 22 | Martinsville, VA | 13,539 | 24.6% | $117,492 | 20.0% | 22.94% |
| 23 | Winchester, VA | 28,103 | 16.8% | $356,203 | 15.0% | 27.72% |
| 24 | Fredericksburg, VA | 28,258 | 18.0% | $429,414 | 11.0% | 23.74% |
| 25 | Danville, VA | 42,507 | 25.3% | $137,067 | 21.0% | 21.92% |
| 26 | Smithfield, VA | 8,625 | 12.3% | $360,172 | 23.0% | 26.54% |
| 27 | Staunton, VA | 25,581 | 11.4% | $275,801 | 20.0% | 25.49% |
| 28 | Roanoke, VA | 99,213 | 19.1% | $247,891 | 18.0% | 23.65% |
| 29 | Pulaski, VA | 8,982 | 22.6% | $145,235 | 26.0% | 26.3% |
| 30 | Galax, VA | 6,687 | 22.4% | $162,413 | 23.0% | 28.3% |
| 31 | Fairfax, VA | 24,242 | 10.0% | $702,237 | 7.0% | 30.3% |
| 32 | Warrenton, VA | 10,111 | 6.9% | $605,326 | 14.0% | 30.93% |
| 33 | South Boston, VA | 7,942 | 20.4% | $128,262 | 19.0% | 31.78% |
| 34 | Waynesboro, VA | 22,341 | 16.1% | $277,470 | 19.0% | 30.02% |
| 35 | Richlands, VA | 5,266 | 25.0% | $100,563 | 37.0% | 22.79% |
| 36 | Vinton, VA | 8,045 | 9.6% | $249,931 | 27.0% | 30.82% |
| 37 | Purcellville, VA | 8,928 | 4.0% | $788,454 | 14.0% | 48.57% |
| 38 | Virginia Beach, VA | 457,900 | 8.0% | $384,137 | 14.0% | 32.54% |
| 39 | Franklin, VA | 8,194 | 18.7% | $212,203 | 28.0% | 32.88% |
| 40 | Bluefield, VA | 5,059 | 18.0% | $122,214 | 15.0% | 36.91% |
| 41 | Herndon, VA | 24,456 | 7.1% | $679,629 | 5.0% | 37.24% |
| 42 | Leesburg, VA | 48,465 | 6.2% | $757,521 | 9.0% | 43.78% |
| 43 | Vienna, VA | 16,401 | 4.9% | $1,007,468 | 7.0% | 43.39% |
| 44 | Norfolk, VA | 236,973 | 16.9% | $284,301 | 12.0% | 27.79% |
| 45 | Woodstock, VA | 5,798 | 23.5% | $305,557 | 17.0% | 34.65% |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | 249,377 | 7.6% | $374,172 | 20.0% | 37.62% |
| 47 | Petersburg, VA | 33,261 | 22.2% | $227,187 | 12.0% | 20.93% |
| 48 | Hampton, VA | 137,217 | 13.5% | $251,468 | 16.0% | 29.51% |
| 49 | Newport News, VA | 185,118 | 14.7% | $263,687 | 13.0% | 28.87% |
| 50 | Culpeper, VA | 20,105 | 10.5% | $404,059 | 17.0% | 42.11% |
| 51 | Colonial Heights, VA | 18,158 | 10.2% | $268,411 | 22.0% | 32.69% |
| 52 | Suffolk, VA | 94,856 | 9.4% | $346,835 | 22.0% | 32.84% |
| 53 | Portsmouth, VA | 97,384 | 17.4% | $238,266 | 18.0% | 30.6% |
| 54 | Falls Church, VA | 14,576 | 2.3% | $693,453 | 6.0% | 35.07% |
| 55 | Manassas, VA | 42,620 | 4.7% | $514,283 | 9.0% | 35.28% |
| 56 | Strasburg, VA | 7,104 | 9.9% | $311,196 | 21.0% | 31.33% |
| 57 | Big Stone Gap, VA | 5,221 | 16.4% | $123,719 | 23.0% | 34.01% |
| 58 | Front Royal, VA | 15,064 | 15.5% | $339,972 | 23.0% | 33.37% |
| 59 | Hopewell, VA | 23,046 | 21.3% | $209,023 | 22.0% | 33.86% |
| 60 | Emporia, VA | 5,680 | 17.3% | $132,687 | 22.0% | 33.54% |
| 61 | Manassas Park, VA | 17,123 | 5.1% | $410,921 | 7.0% | 38.27% |
| 62 | Dumfries, VA | 5,697 | 12.8% | $537,443 | 9.0% | 52.65% |
