Market rankings · Virginia
Bakeries and dessert shops in Virginia
Markets across Virginia ranked by the Groundwork market score for bakeries and dessert shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 2,847
- 1,123 chain locations (39%)
- Official establishments
- 1,666
- All snack bars and retail bakeries · +21.9% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $14.7B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 8.5
- 13% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $5.2M
- 25% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #2 of 51
- Market score 80 · High
A site report maps the bakeries and dessert shops on map listings around any address in Virginia by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
As of September 2026, map listings count 2,847 bakeries and dessert shops in Virginia. 1,123 of them (39%) are chain locations, against 35% across the U.S. That is 8.5 per 10,000 households, 13% below the U.S. rate of 9.8.
At $4,372 per household (7% above the U.S. average), households in Virginia spend about $14.7B a year on food away from home. That is about $5.2M of household spending for each shop on map listings, 25% above the U.S. figure of $4.1M. That spending covers all food away from home, which bakeries and dessert shops share with other businesses in the trade.
Official counts show 1,666 businesses with payroll classed as snack bars and retail bakeries in Virginia in 2023, up 21.9% from 2019. That is one for every 2,020 households, against one for every 1,369 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 24.6% over the same years. The official count takes in all snack bars and retail bakeries, not only bakeries and dessert shops: coffee shops and cafes are counted too. Since fiscal 2022, 91 SBA-backed loans worth $39.9M have gone to businesses classed as snack bars and retail bakeries in Virginia.
Among the 50 states and DC, Virginia ranks #2 for bakeries and dessert shops, with a Groundwork market score of 80 (high). Of the 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Richmond metro area scores highest (84). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest (93).
Every market in Virginia for bakeries and dessert shops
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Virginia, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Richmond, VA | 84 | 399 | 7.5 | $5.6M | +5.5% | #3 of 387 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 75 | 2,192 | 9.2 | $5.6M | +3.3% | #17 of 387 |
| 2Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 70 | 34 | 6.5 | $5.6M | +3.2% | #39 of 387 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 63 | 82 | 6.3 | $5.3M | +2.3% | #90 of 387 |
| 3Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 61 | 602 | 8.5 | $4.7M | +0.9% | #106 of 387 |
| 4Winchester, VA-WV | 60 | 64 | 11.5 | $3.5M | +6.5% | #124 of 387 |
| 5Roanoke, VA | 59 | 93 | 7.1 | $5.1M | +0.4% | #126 of 387 |
| 6Lynchburg, VA | 53 | 83 | 8.0 | $4.4M | +2.9% | #175 of 387 |
| 7Charlottesville, VA | 52 | 95 | 10.5 | $4.2M | +3.1% | #184 of 387 |
| 8Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 50 | 58 | 8.3 | $4.3M | −0.1% | #197 of 387 |
| 9Harrisonburg, VA | 32 | 58 | 11.6 | $3.2M | +3.5% | #329 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lake of the Woods, VA | 93 | 9 | 6.1 | $7.1M | +10.1% | #1 of 507 |
| 2Danville, VA | 61 | 18 | 4.1 | $7.5M | −1.7% | #126 of 507 |
| 3Martinsville, VA | 53 | 16 | 6.0 | $5M | −1.9% | #219 of 507 |
| Bluefield, WV-VA | 50 | 26 | 6.4 | $4.8M | −3.8% | #255 of 507 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Kent County, VA | 94 | 5 | 5.4 | $8.9M | +21.2% | #3 of 1,889 |
| 2Stafford County, VA | 94 | 34 | 6.5 | $8.2M | +8.3% | #4 of 1,889 |
| 3Orange County, VA | 91 | 9 | 6.1 | $7.1M | +10.1% | #12 of 1,889 |
| 4Isle of Wight County, VA | 90 | 9 | 5.7 | $7.4M | +6.7% | #14 of 1,889 |
| 5Chesterfield County, VA | 90 | 90 | 6.4 | $7M | +8.7% | #16 of 1,889 |
| 6Louisa County, VA | 89 | 9 | 5.8 | $7M | +13.6% | #23 of 1,889 |
| 7Spotsylvania County, VA | 89 | 37 | 7.1 | $6.7M | +10.5% | #24 of 1,889 |
| 8Suffolk city, VA | 88 | 26 | 6.9 | $6.1M | +10.4% | #28 of 1,889 |
| 9Fluvanna County, VA | 87 | 5 | 4.8 | $8.9M | +6.2% | #29 of 1,889 |
| 10Frederick County, VA | 86 | 28 | 7.9 | $5.6M | +8.8% | #40 of 1,889 |
| 11Gloucester County, VA | 84 | 9 | 5.9 | $6.8M | +3.6% | #56 of 1,889 |
| 12Rockingham County, VA | 83 | 17 | 5.2 | $7.5M | +6.6% | #61 of 1,889 |
| 13Augusta County, VA | 81 | 13 | 4.2 | $9M | +1.8% | #71 of 1,889 |
| 14Caroline County, VA | 81 | 9 | 7.5 | $5.4M | +11.3% | #79 of 1,889 |
| 15Albemarle County, VA | 80 | 27 | 5.9 | $7.9M | +5.1% | #84 of 1,889 |
| 16York County, VA | 78 | 16 | 5.9 | $7.9M | +1.6% | #107 of 1,889 |
| 17Bedford County, VA | 78 | 19 | 5.7 | $6.7M | +4.4% | #111 of 1,889 |
| 18Fauquier County, VA | 77 | 22 | 8.2 | $6.2M | +4.8% | #128 of 1,889 |
| 19Prince William County, VA | 77 | 148 | 9.4 | $5.6M | +4.2% | #133 of 1,889 |
| 20Roanoke County, VA | 75 | 22 | 5.5 | $7.2M | +0.2% | #160 of 1,889 |
| 21Franklin County, VA | 75 | 13 | 5.7 | $6.4M | +1.9% | #166 of 1,889 |
| 22James City County, VA | 72 | 35 | 10.9 | $4.3M | +6.2% | #228 of 1,889 |
| 23Campbell County, VA | 71 | 6 | 2.7 | $12.8M | +0.1% | #229 of 1,889 |
| 24Loudoun County, VA | 71 | 155 | 10.8 | $5.6M | +6.4% | #245 of 1,889 |
| 25Chesapeake city, VA | 71 | 80 | 8.5 | $5.1M | +2.3% | #249 of 1,889 |
Show all 133 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Botetourt County, VA | 70 | 6 | 4.5 | $8.6M | +1.5% | #253 of 1,889 |
| 27Arlington County, VA | 70 | 99 | 8.8 | $6.1M | +2.1% | #261 of 1,889 |
| 28Henrico County, VA | 70 | 105 | 7.6 | $5.6M | +2.3% | #267 of 1,889 |
| 29Hampton city, VA | 69 | 27 | 4.7 | $7.7M | 0.0% | #279 of 1,889 |
| 30Westmoreland County, VA | 68 | 5 | 6.1 | $5.6M | +6.5% | #315 of 1,889 |
| 31Fairfax County, VA | 67 | 395 | 9.5 | $5.9M | +1.7% | #330 of 1,889 |
| 32Washington County, VA | 66 | 12 | 5.4 | $6.3M | 0.0% | #358 of 1,889 |
| 33Hanover County, VA | 66 | 52 | 12.2 | $3.9M | +5.6% | #377 of 1,889 |
| 34Culpeper County, VA | 66 | 22 | 11.6 | $3.8M | +9.3% | #378 of 1,889 |
| 35Pittsylvania County, VA | 65 | 5 | 2.0 | $15.7M | −1.5% | #379 of 1,889 |
| 36Portsmouth city, VA | 64 | 18 | 4.5 | $7.4M | −1.2% | #410 of 1,889 |
| 37Alexandria city, VA | 64 | 74 | 9.7 | $5.1M | +1.0% | #423 of 1,889 |
| 38Halifax County, VA | 63 | 5 | 3.7 | $8.4M | −1.4% | #434 of 1,889 |
| 39Warren County, VA | 58 | 19 | 12.4 | $3.3M | +4.8% | #637 of 1,889 |
| 40Newport News city, VA | 57 | 46 | 6.0 | $5.8M | −1.5% | #643 of 1,889 |
| 41Rockbridge County, VA | 56 | 6 | 6.3 | $5.6M | 0.0% | #687 of 1,889 |
| 42Wise County, VA | 55 | 6 | 4.3 | $6.8M | −3.5% | #721 of 1,889 |
| 43Tazewell County, VA | 52 | 9 | 5.5 | $5.5M | −4.4% | #845 of 1,889 |
| 44Montgomery County, VA | 51 | 31 | 8.4 | $4.5M | −1.2% | #890 of 1,889 |
| 45Henry County, VA | 50 | 13 | 6.2 | $4.9M | −3.1% | #921 of 1,889 |
| 46Mecklenburg County, VA | 48 | 9 | 6.6 | $4.9M | +1.5% | #986 of 1,889 |
| 47Russell County, VA | 47 | 5 | 4.7 | $6.5M | −1.7% | #1,018 of 1,889 |
| 48Richmond city, VA | 47 | 106 | 10.2 | $3.6M | +4.6% | #1,048 of 1,889 |
| 49Prince Edward County, VA | 45 | 6 | 7.9 | $4.3M | +2.3% | #1,113 of 1,889 |
| 50Waynesboro city, VA | 45 | 8 | 8.1 | $4.1M | +7.5% | #1,116 of 1,889 |
| 51Norfolk city, VA | 44 | 73 | 7.7 | $4.6M | −2.9% | #1,138 of 1,889 |
| 52Fairfax city, VA | 43 | 17 | 18.6 | $2.8M | +10.8% | #1,204 of 1,889 |
| 53Patrick County, VA | 42 | 5 | 6.4 | $5.1M | −0.9% | #1,206 of 1,889 |
| 54Salem city, VA | 42 | 12 | 11.7 | $3.1M | +1.7% | #1,227 of 1,889 |
| 55Manassas city, VA | 42 | 24 | 16.9 | $2.8M | +3.9% | #1,233 of 1,889 |
| 56Virginia Beach city, VA | 41 | 208 | 11.6 | $3.7M | −1.3% | #1,259 of 1,889 |
| 57Wythe County, VA | 40 | 8 | 6.4 | $5M | −1.2% | #1,279 of 1,889 |
| 58Danville city, VA | 40 | 13 | 6.8 | $4.3M | −2.2% | #1,284 of 1,889 |
| 59Accomack County, VA | 40 | 12 | 8.3 | $4M | +1.4% | #1,291 of 1,889 |
| 60Scott County, VA | 39 | 5 | 5.5 | $5.4M | −1.8% | #1,313 of 1,889 |
| 61Radford city, VA | 38 | 6 | 10.8 | $3M | +7.0% | #1,378 of 1,889 |
| 62Floyd County, VA | 37 | 6 | 9.1 | $3.7M | +2.1% | #1,397 of 1,889 |
| 63Pulaski County, VA | 35 | 12 | 8.3 | $4.1M | −0.6% | #1,465 of 1,889 |
| 64Fredericksburg city, VA | 35 | 36 | 30.7 | $1.4M | +8.6% | #1,494 of 1,889 |
| 65Falls Church city, VA | 34 | 20 | 31.9 | $1.8M | +3.3% | #1,521 of 1,889 |
| 66Colonial Heights city, VA | 32 | 13 | 17.3 | $2.2M | +3.2% | #1,576 of 1,889 |
| 67Shenandoah County, VA | 31 | 25 | 13.9 | $2.6M | +3.6% | #1,599 of 1,889 |
| 68Staunton city, VA | 29 | 13 | 11.5 | $3M | +3.8% | #1,655 of 1,889 |
| 69Roanoke city, VA | 28 | 39 | 9.0 | $3.6M | −0.8% | #1,669 of 1,889 |
| 70Page County, VA | 25 | 15 | 15.1 | $2.1M | +0.3% | #1,747 of 1,889 |
| 71Williamsburg city, VA | 25 | 19 | 37.8 | $1M | +2.6% | #1,750 of 1,889 |
| 72Nottoway County, VA | 24 | 6 | 10.7 | $3.1M | +1.0% | #1,756 of 1,889 |
| 73Petersburg city, VA | 21 | 14 | 9.2 | $3.2M | +1.0% | #1,796 of 1,889 |
| 74Lynchburg city, VA | 20 | 52 | 18.1 | $1.8M | +3.0% | #1,816 of 1,889 |
| 75Winchester city, VA | 18 | 29 | 25.2 | $1.4M | +1.0% | #1,840 of 1,889 |
| 76Charlottesville city, VA | 16 | 56 | 28.3 | $1.4M | −4.4% | #1,852 of 1,889 |
| 77Northampton County, VA | 13 | 9 | 16.6 | $2.2M | −2.8% | #1,873 of 1,889 |
| 78Bristol city, VA | 11 | 10 | 13.8 | $2.2M | −5.2% | #1,878 of 1,889 |
| 79Harrisonburg city, VA | 10 | 41 | 23.6 | $1.5M | −1.7% | #1,881 of 1,889 |
| Prince George County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $17.4M | +2.0% | |
| Powhatan County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 2.6 | $17.6M | +7.0% | |
| Amherst County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $14.7M | +2.1% | |
| Smyth County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $12.8M | −3.0% | |
| Carroll County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $9.8M | +0.5% | |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $20.3M | +3.6% | |
| King George County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 3.9 | $12.1M | +10.5% | |
| Goochland County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $52.1M | +17.4% | |
| Hopewell city, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.1% | |
| Lee County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $8.1M | −2.1% | |
| Greene County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 3.7 | $11.4M | +6.6% | |
| Buchanan County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $10.3M | −8.7% | |
| King William County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $14.7M | +9.5% | |
| Southampton County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +0.9% | |
| Buckingham County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 3.2 | $10.4M | +1.9% | |
| Manassas Park city, VA | Not scored | 4 | 7.7 | $5.8M | −3.5% | |
| Appomattox County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $7.5M | +6.3% | |
| Giles County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $7.6M | −1.3% | |
| Brunswick County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.6% | |
| Grayson County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.3% | |
| Clarke County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 6.8 | $6.9M | +5.4% | |
| Alleghany County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $10M | −4.2% | |
| Nelson County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 6.3 | $6.2M | +1.2% | |
| Madison County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $7.3M | +2.7% | |
| Dickenson County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −6.0% | |
| Martinsville city, VA | Not scored | 3 | 5.3 | $5.7M | +2.8% | |
| Amelia County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $19.1M | +2.7% | |
| Poquoson city, VA | Not scored | 3 | 6.3 | $7.7M | +6.6% | |
| Northumberland County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 5.3 | $6.8M | +6.1% | |
| Lunenburg County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +0.9% | |
| Charlotte County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 6.4 | $5M | −1.2% | |
| Greensville County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 3.1 | $10M | −1.8% | |
| Lancaster County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $5.2M | +0.9% | |
| Middlesex County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.2% | |
| Sussex County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 2.6 | $12.9M | −0.4% | |
| Essex County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 6.7 | $4.9M | +0.5% | |
| Cumberland County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 5.0 | $6.8M | +6.9% | |
| Richmond County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 9.4 | $3.7M | +4.2% | |
| Mathews County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 2.5 | $15.2M | +0.1% | |
| Franklin city, VA | Not scored | 2 | 5.8 | $5.6M | +4.1% | |
| Lexington city, VA | Not scored | 7 | 32.0 | $1.2M | +6.2% | |
| Rappahannock County, VA | Not scored | 5 | 16.8 | $2.6M | +1.6% | |
| Galax city, VA | Not scored | 2 | 7.2 | $4.3M | −0.7% | |
| King and Queen County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.4% | |
| Charles City County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 3.4 | $10.9M | −1.8% | |
| Buena Vista city, VA | Not scored | 4 | 15.7 | $1.9M | +0.9% | |
| Surry County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 7.1 | $5.4M | +0.8% | |
| Bland County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 4.2 | $8M | −1.7% | |
| Covington city, VA | Not scored | 1 | 3.9 | $6.8M | −1.2% | |
| Emporia city, VA | Not scored | 3 | 13.9 | $2.3M | −4.4% | |
| Craig County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 5.8 | $6.3M | −1.6% | |
| Bath County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 5.5 | $6.2M | −2.6% | |
| Norton city, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.5% | |
| Highland County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 10.0 | $3.4M | +3.4% |
Markets with fewer than 5 bakeries and dessert shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many bakeries and dessert shops are in Virginia?
Virginia has 2,847 bakeries and dessert shops on map listings as of September 2026. 1,123 of them (39%) are chain locations. The listings count bakeries, ice cream, donut and dessert shops, candy stores. Official counts show 1,666 businesses with payroll classed as snack bars and retail bakeries in 2023, up 21.9% from 2019. That count covers all snack bars and retail bakeries (coffee shops and cafes included), not only bakeries and dessert shops. Another 238 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in Virginia spend on food away from home?
About $14.7B a year, or $4,372 per household. That is 7% above the U.S. average (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 2,847 bakeries and dessert shops on map listings, it comes to $5.2M per shop. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only bakeries and dessert shops. It is estimated from the incomes of the 3,365,732 households in Virginia and national spending patterns by income.
How does Virginia compare with the U.S. for bakeries and dessert shops?
Virginia has 8.5 bakeries and dessert shops per 10,000 households, 13% below the U.S. rate of 9.8. Spending per shop is $5.2M, 25% above the U.S. figure of $4.1M. At the national ratio of bakeries and dessert shops to household spending, Virginia would have about 3,551, against 2,847 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 2,020 households, against one for every 1,369 across the U.S. The official count rose 21.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +24.6% for the U.S.
Which market in Virginia has the highest market score for bakeries and dessert shops?
Among 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Richmond metro area scores highest, at 84 (high). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest, at 93 (very high). Among 79 scored counties in Virginia, New Kent County scores highest, at 94 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Virginia scores 80 for bakeries and dessert shops (high), #2 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Virginia. It maps the bakeries and dessert shops on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Bakeries and dessert shops in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for bakeries and dessert shops across the U.S. · All business types in Virginia
Related business types in Virginia
- Restaurants and cafes32,948 listings
- Sit-down restaurants19,235 listings
- Fast food and sandwich shops4,457 listings
- Pizza2,541 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes2,910 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Virginia?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.