Suffolk is 6% more expensive
than the national average with a median income of $90,089
and a population of 96,638.
Virginia Beach is 14% more expensive
than the national average with a median income of $90,685
and a population of 457,066.
Stuarts Draft is 14% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $77,585
and a population of 11,920.
Roanoke is 24% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $52,671
and a population of 98,677.
Salem is 16% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $66,716
and a population of 25,477.
Timberlake is 18% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $68,833
and a population of 12,833.
Richmond is 1% more expensive
than the national average with a median income of $62,671
and a population of 227,595.
Staunton is 18% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $62,586
and a population of 25,765.
Chesapeake is 10% more expensive
than the national average with a median income of $94,189
and a population of 251,153.
Tuckahoe is 16% more expensive
than the national average with a median income of $96,188
and a population of 48,610.
Short Pump is 34% more expensive
than the national average with a median income of $132,194
and a population of 28,177.
Hampton is 6% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $67,758
and a population of 137,334.
Cave Spring is 7% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $85,314
and a population of 26,014.
Newport News is 7% cheaper
than the national average with a median income of $66,718
and a population of 184,774.
Chester is 3% more expensive
than the national average with a median income of $88,455
and a population of 23,519.
How We Rank the Best Places to Live
Our livability score combines four data-driven factors: affordability (35% — cost of living index relative to national average),
income (25% — median household income from the Census Bureau),
housing value (15% — home price to income ratio), and
climate (15% — NOAA temperature normals favoring moderate climates).
Population serves as a proxy for amenities (10%).
Only cities with at least 5,000–10,000 residents are included. Data sourced from the
US Census Bureau, Zillow, HUD, and NOAA.