Renting

Data from November 2026

Renting in Virginia

The typical rent in Virginia is $1,579 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,792 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $34.46 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.

How much rent can I afford? Where to get help

A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

Typical rent: $1,579; per month, Average 2020–2024; 12% more than the U.S.
Fair market rent, 2 BR: $1,792; HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average; From $943 to $2,438 depending on the county.
Wage needed: $34.46; per hour, 2 bedrooms; About $71,680 a year to stay under 30% of income.
Burdened households: 49%; spend 30% or more on rent; Nationwide, 51%.

Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site) Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)

Fair market rent

What HUD sets by size

HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Virginia, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).

Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.

Fair market rent by size in Virginia, Fiscal year 2027: lowest and highest value among its counties

Studio

Wage: $12.63–$40.60 an hour

Lowest: $657 Highest: $2,111
1 bedroom

Wage: $13.87–$42.38 an hour

Lowest: $721 Highest: $2,204
2 bedrooms

Wage: $18.13–$46.88 an hour

Lowest: $943 Highest: $2,438
3 bedrooms

Wage: $21.62–$59.75 an hour

Lowest: $1,124 Highest: $3,107
4 bedrooms

Wage: $24.35–$70.35 an hour

Lowest: $1,266 Highest: $3,658

Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Virginia, 49% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

49%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

1,099,123 renter households in Virginia

Spend half or more of their income 24%
Spend 30% or more, but less than half 24%
Spend less than 30% 51%

By place

Every county, with its figure

The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Virginia. Highest fair market rent first.

Fair market rent, typical rent, wage needed and rent burden by county in Virginia

Loudoun County	$2,438	$2,386	$46.88	44%
Arlington County	$2,438	$2,322	$46.88	40%
Fairfax County	$2,438	$2,276	$46.88	46%
City of Fairfax	$2,438	$2,245	$46.88	51%
City of Falls Church	$2,438	$2,190	$46.88	43%
City of Manassas Park	$2,438	$2,146	$46.88	50%
City of Alexandria	$2,438	$2,089	$46.88	45%
Prince William County	$2,438	$2,067	$46.88	51%
Stafford County	$2,438	$2,020	$46.88	45%
City of Manassas	$2,438	$1,850	$46.88	52%
Spotsylvania County	$2,438	$1,779	$46.88	52%
City of Fredericksburg	$2,438	$1,619	$46.88	49%
Fauquier County	$2,438	$1,613	$46.88	40%
Clarke County	$2,438	$1,371	$46.88	68%
York County	$1,667	$1,827	$32.06	49%
City of Virginia Beach	$1,667	$1,714	$32.06	55%
City of Poquoson	$1,667	$1,707	$32.06	66%
City of Chesapeake	$1,667	$1,586	$32.06	57%
City of Suffolk	$1,667	$1,563	$32.06	57%
James City County	$1,667	$1,552	$32.06	55%
City of Hampton	$1,667	$1,427	$32.06	57%
City of Williamsburg	$1,667	$1,407	$32.06	63%
Isle of Wight County	$1,667	$1,359	$32.06	43%
City of Newport News	$1,667	$1,339	$32.06	51%
City of Norfolk	$1,667	$1,321	$32.06	55%
City of Portsmouth	$1,667	$1,300	$32.06	60%
Gloucester County	$1,667	$1,096	$32.06	38%
Mathews County	$1,667	$1,032	$32.06	42%
New Kent County	$1,651	$1,721	$31.75	39%
Chesterfield County	$1,651	$1,629	$31.75	52%
Goochland County	$1,651	$1,614	$31.75	34%
Prince George County	$1,651	$1,594	$31.75	45%
Hanover County	$1,651	$1,591	$31.75	44%
Henrico County	$1,651	$1,541	$31.75	52%
City of Richmond	$1,651	$1,372	$31.75	52%
City of Colonial Heights	$1,651	$1,234	$31.75	55%
Dinwiddie County	$1,651	$1,224	$31.75	43%
City of Petersburg	$1,651	$1,174	$31.75	51%
Powhatan County	$1,651	$1,168	$31.75	44%
King William County	$1,651	$1,166	$31.75	72%
Amelia County	$1,651	$1,164	$31.75	43%
City of Hopewell	$1,651	$1,106	$31.75	53%
Charles City County	$1,651	$1,099	$31.75	44%
Sussex County	$1,651	$907	$31.75	56%
Albemarle County	$1,642	$1,692	$31.58	50%
City of Charlottesville	$1,642	$1,540	$31.58	55%
Greene County	$1,642	$1,309	$31.58	33%
Fluvanna County	$1,642	$1,204	$31.58	40%
Nelson County	$1,642	$946	$31.58	40%
Culpeper County	$1,596	$1,423	$30.69	46%
Rappahannock County	$1,555	$1,290	$29.90	37%
King George County	$1,520	$1,428	$29.23	47%
Frederick County	$1,505	$1,507	$28.94	44%
City of Winchester	$1,505	$1,315	$28.94	55%
Roanoke County	$1,464	$1,224	$28.15	42%
City of Salem	$1,464	$1,133	$28.15	51%
Botetourt County	$1,464	$1,035	$28.15	33%
City of Roanoke	$1,464	$996	$28.15	45%
Craig County	$1,464	$713	$28.15	—
Warren County	$1,449	$1,199	$27.87	42%
Northumberland County	$1,382	$1,038	$26.58	43%
Montgomery County	$1,340	$1,240	$25.77	52%
City of Radford	$1,340	$1,033	$25.77	55%
Louisa County	$1,291	$1,220	$24.83	57%
City of Harrisonburg	$1,264	$1,184	$24.31	46%
Rockingham County	$1,264	$1,160	$24.31	43%
Orange County	$1,262	$1,205	$24.27	39%
Middlesex County	$1,259	$1,059	$24.21	64%
Westmoreland County	$1,245	$1,018	$23.94	44%
Caroline County	$1,244	$1,293	$23.92	47%
Augusta County	$1,199	$1,136	$23.06	44%
City of Staunton	$1,199	$1,024	$23.06	46%
City of Waynesboro	$1,199	$1,020	$23.06	46%
Richmond County	$1,187	$1,067	$22.83	29%
Shenandoah County	$1,172	$984	$22.54	36%
King and Queen County	$1,170	$1,004	$22.50	46%
Essex County	$1,155	$972	$22.21	53%
Madison County	$1,133	$1,166	$21.79	39%
Prince Edward County	$1,126	$931	$21.65	53%
City of Lynchburg	$1,117	$1,073	$21.48	52%
Bedford County	$1,117	$952	$21.48	45%
Campbell County	$1,117	$891	$21.48	34%
Amherst County	$1,117	$871	$21.48	42%
Appomattox County	$1,117	$855	$21.48	33%
Accomack County	$1,110	$977	$21.35	41%
Lancaster County	$1,091	$1,033	$20.98	38%
Washington County	$1,091	$854	$20.98	30%
City of Bristol	$1,091	$801	$20.98	41%
Scott County	$1,091	$699	$20.98	51%
Floyd County	$1,090	$878	$20.96	38%
Franklin County	$1,080	$829	$20.77	31%
Surry County	$1,064	$983	$20.46	43%
City of Buena Vista	$1,057	$1,112	$20.33	49%
City of Lexington	$1,057	$1,081	$20.33	47%
Rockbridge County	$1,057	$925	$20.33	43%
Cumberland County	$1,046	$877	$20.12	27%
City of Franklin	$1,032	$988	$19.85	54%
Southampton County	$1,032	$930	$19.85	46%
Nottoway County	$1,026	$972	$19.73	47%
City of Emporia	$1,018	$1,037	$19.58	47%
Greensville County	$1,018	$969	$19.58	48%
Bath County	$1,010	$736	$19.42	—
Giles County	$999	$789	$19.21	32%
Northampton County	$992	$829	$19.08	39%
Mecklenburg County	$960	$823	$18.46	43%
Page County	$953	$879	$18.33	39%
Pulaski County	$952	$813	$18.31	43%
Buckingham County	$943	$927	$18.13	47%
Pittsylvania County	$943	$861	$18.13	48%
Highland County	$943	$856	$18.13	—
City of Danville	$943	$836	$18.13	45%
Brunswick County	$943	$834	$18.13	45%
City of Martinsville	$943	$808	$18.13	40%
Tazewell County	$943	$795	$18.13	43%
City of Covington	$943	$794	$18.13	47%
Halifax County	$943	$790	$18.13	50%
Wise County	$943	$790	$18.13	35%
Alleghany County	$943	$765	$18.13	43%
Grayson County	$943	$765	$18.13	52%
Wythe County	$943	$764	$18.13	50%
Buchanan County	$943	$743	$18.13	—
City of Galax	$943	$743	$18.13	51%
Lunenburg County	$943	$742	$18.13	33%
Carroll County	$943	$738	$18.13	35%
Dickenson County	$943	$738	$18.13	48%
Lee County	$943	$738	$18.13	56%
Charlotte County	$943	$732	$18.13	51%
Smyth County	$943	$731	$18.13	45%
Henry County	$943	$728	$18.13	48%
Patrick County	$943	$716	$18.13	43%
City of Norton	$943	$692	$18.13	41%
Russell County	$943	$653	$18.13	37%
Bland County	$943	$644	$18.13	—

Place Fair rent, 2 BRWage/hour
Loudoun $2,438$46.88
Arlington $2,438$46.88
Fairfax $2,438$46.88
Fairfax $2,438$46.88
Falls Church $2,438$46.88
Manassas Park $2,438$46.88
Alexandria $2,438$46.88
Prince William $2,438$46.88
Stafford $2,438$46.88
Manassas $2,438$46.88
Spotsylvania $2,438$46.88
Fredericksburg $2,438$46.88
Fauquier $2,438$46.88
Clarke $2,438$46.88
York $1,667$32.06
Virginia Beach $1,667$32.06
Poquoson $1,667$32.06
Chesapeake $1,667$32.06
Suffolk $1,667$32.06
James City $1,667$32.06
Hampton $1,667$32.06
Williamsburg $1,667$32.06
Isle of Wight $1,667$32.06
Newport News $1,667$32.06
Norfolk $1,667$32.06
Portsmouth $1,667$32.06
Gloucester $1,667$32.06
Mathews $1,667$32.06
New Kent $1,651$31.75
Chesterfield $1,651$31.75
Goochland $1,651$31.75
Prince George $1,651$31.75
Hanover $1,651$31.75
Henrico $1,651$31.75
Richmond $1,651$31.75
Colonial Heights $1,651$31.75
Dinwiddie $1,651$31.75
Petersburg $1,651$31.75
Powhatan $1,651$31.75
King William $1,651$31.75
Amelia $1,651$31.75
Hopewell $1,651$31.75
Charles City $1,651$31.75
Sussex $1,651$31.75
Albemarle $1,642$31.58
Charlottesville $1,642$31.58
Greene $1,642$31.58
Fluvanna $1,642$31.58
Nelson $1,642$31.58
Culpeper $1,596$30.69
Rappahannock $1,555$29.90
King George $1,520$29.23
Frederick $1,505$28.94
Winchester $1,505$28.94
Roanoke $1,464$28.15
Salem $1,464$28.15
Botetourt $1,464$28.15
Roanoke $1,464$28.15
Craig $1,464$28.15
Warren $1,449$27.87
Northumberland $1,382$26.58
Montgomery $1,340$25.77
Radford $1,340$25.77
Louisa $1,291$24.83
Harrisonburg $1,264$24.31
Rockingham $1,264$24.31
Orange $1,262$24.27
Middlesex $1,259$24.21
Westmoreland $1,245$23.94
Caroline $1,244$23.92
Augusta $1,199$23.06
Staunton $1,199$23.06
Waynesboro $1,199$23.06
Richmond $1,187$22.83
Shenandoah $1,172$22.54
King and Queen $1,170$22.50
Essex $1,155$22.21
Madison $1,133$21.79
Prince Edward $1,126$21.65
Lynchburg $1,117$21.48
Bedford $1,117$21.48
Campbell $1,117$21.48
Amherst $1,117$21.48
Appomattox $1,117$21.48
Accomack $1,110$21.35
Lancaster $1,091$20.98
Washington $1,091$20.98
Bristol $1,091$20.98
Scott $1,091$20.98
Floyd $1,090$20.96
Franklin $1,080$20.77
Surry $1,064$20.46
Buena Vista $1,057$20.33
Lexington $1,057$20.33
Rockbridge $1,057$20.33
Cumberland $1,046$20.12
Franklin $1,032$19.85
Southampton $1,032$19.85
Nottoway $1,026$19.73
Emporia $1,018$19.58
Greensville $1,018$19.58
Bath $1,010$19.42
Giles $999$19.21
Northampton $992$19.08
Mecklenburg $960$18.46
Page $953$18.33
Pulaski $952$18.31
Buckingham $943$18.13
Pittsylvania $943$18.13
Highland $943$18.13
Danville $943$18.13
Brunswick $943$18.13
Martinsville $943$18.13
Tazewell $943$18.13
Covington $943$18.13
Halifax $943$18.13
Wise $943$18.13
Alleghany $943$18.13
Grayson $943$18.13
Wythe $943$18.13
Buchanan $943$18.13
Galax $943$18.13
Lunenburg $943$18.13
Carroll $943$18.13
Dickenson $943$18.13
Lee $943$18.13
Charlotte $943$18.13
Smyth $943$18.13
Henry $943$18.13
Patrick $943$18.13
Norton $943$18.13
Russell $943$18.13
Bland $943$18.13

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)

Your rights as a tenant in Virginia

What Virginia law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

How much can they charge for a deposit?: Up to 2 months of rent; Va. Code §55.1-1226(A)
When must they return my deposit?: 45 days; Va. Code §55.1-1226(A)
If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?: 14 days; Va. Code §55.1-1245(F)
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?: 30 days; Va. Code §55.1-1253(A)

Only a court order can remove youVa. Code §55.1-1252
Protection from retaliationVa. Code §55.1-1258(A)
Repair and deduct from the rentVa. Code §55.1-1244.1(C)

Help

Where to ask for help with rent in Virginia

Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.

41 public housing agencies

They run Section 8 vouchers and public housing.
See the agencies
49 counseling agencies

HUD-approved; 10 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tenant rights

Deposits, notices, repairs and evictions under Virginia law.
See your rights

A Hispanic family shares a meal at the dinner table.

Tool

How much rent can you afford?

Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.

How much rent can I afford?

Frequently asked questions

Which county in Virginia is the most expensive to rent in?

By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Loudoun County ($2,438, about $46.88 an hour) and the cheapest Buckingham County ($943, about $18.13 an hour).

How many households in Virginia spend too much on rent?

49% of renter households in Virginia spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 24% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.

What is fair market rent?

A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Virginia, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $943 to $2,438 depending on the county.

Where do I ask for help paying rent in Virginia?

41 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Virginia; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.