Market rankings · Virginia
Convenience stores in Virginia
Markets across Virginia ranked by the Groundwork market score for convenience stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,168
- 1,987 chain locations (63%)
- Official establishments
- 1,438
- +19.9% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $22B
- On groceries
- Listings per 10k households
- 9.4
- 18% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $6.9M
- 12% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #34 of 51
- Market score 43 · Lower middle
A site report maps the convenience stores 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
Map listings as of September 2026 show 3,168 convenience stores in Virginia. 1,987 of them (63%) are chain locations, against 60% across the U.S. That comes to 9.4 for every 10,000 households, 18% above the U.S. rate of 8.0.
At $6,537 per household (3% above the U.S. average), households in Virginia spend about $22B a year on groceries. Spread across 3,168 convenience stores, that is $6.9M per store, 12% below the U.S. figure of $7.9M. That spending covers all groceries, which convenience stores share with other businesses in the trade.
In 2023, official counts showed 1,438 businesses with payroll in Virginia classed as convenience stores, up 19.9% from 2019. That is one for every 2,341 households, against one for every 3,493 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 22.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 13 SBA-backed loans worth $5.7M have gone to businesses classed as convenience stores in Virginia.
Among the 50 states and DC, Virginia ranks #34 for convenience stores, with a Groundwork market score of 43 (lower middle). Of the 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area scores highest (72). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest (83).
Every market in Virginia for convenience stores
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 72 | 1,315 | 5.5 | $13M | +3.3% | #51 of 387 |
| 1Charlottesville, VA | 49 | 83 | 9.2 | $7.1M | +3.1% | #209 of 387 |
| 2Winchester, VA-WV | 49 | 66 | 11.9 | $5.3M | +6.5% | #213 of 387 |
| 3Richmond, VA | 47 | 530 | 9.9 | $6.4M | +5.5% | #220 of 387 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 42 | 106 | 8.1 | $6.9M | +2.3% | #249 of 387 |
| 4Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 34 | 717 | 10.1 | $6.2M | +0.9% | #298 of 387 |
| 5Lynchburg, VA | 27 | 107 | 10.3 | $5.6M | +2.9% | #333 of 387 |
| 6Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 27 | 65 | 12.4 | $4.7M | +3.2% | #335 of 387 |
| 7Harrisonburg, VA | 26 | 67 | 13.4 | $4.5M | +3.5% | #340 of 387 |
| 8Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 25 | 68 | 9.7 | $6M | −0.1% | #345 of 387 |
| 9Roanoke, VA | 22 | 139 | 10.6 | $5.6M | +0.4% | #358 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lake of the Woods, VA | 83 | 9 | 6.1 | $10.7M | +10.1% | #8 of 529 |
| Bluefield, WV-VA | 37 | 48 | 11.8 | $4.5M | −3.8% | #396 of 529 |
| 2Danville, VA | 20 | 51 | 11.6 | $4.6M | −1.7% | #482 of 529 |
| 3Martinsville, VA | 11 | 47 | 17.6 | $3M | −1.9% | #518 of 529 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Powhatan County, VA | 91 | 7 | 6.2 | $11.1M | +7.0% | #29 of 2,261 |
| 2Loudoun County, VA | 89 | 88 | 6.2 | $13M | +6.4% | #43 of 2,261 |
| 3Arlington County, VA | 82 | 52 | 4.6 | $16M | +2.1% | #126 of 2,261 |
| 4Fairfax County, VA | 81 | 170 | 4.1 | $18.5M | +1.7% | #136 of 2,261 |
| 5King George County, VA | 81 | 10 | 9.9 | $7M | +10.5% | #156 of 2,261 |
| 6James City County, VA | 80 | 24 | 7.5 | $9.1M | +6.2% | #172 of 2,261 |
| 7Stafford County, VA | 80 | 51 | 9.7 | $7.6M | +8.3% | #175 of 2,261 |
| 8Orange County, VA | 79 | 9 | 6.1 | $10.7M | +10.1% | #190 of 2,261 |
| 9Greene County, VA | 79 | 7 | 8.7 | $7.4M | +6.6% | #203 of 2,261 |
| 10Prince William County, VA | 77 | 101 | 6.4 | $11.4M | +4.2% | #244 of 2,261 |
| 11New Kent County, VA | 77 | 8 | 8.6 | $8.1M | +21.2% | #256 of 2,261 |
| 12Poquoson city, VA | 77 | 5 | 10.6 | $6.6M | +6.6% | #263 of 2,261 |
| 13Culpeper County, VA | 77 | 20 | 10.6 | $6.2M | +9.3% | #265 of 2,261 |
| 14Alexandria city, VA | 75 | 23 | 3.0 | $23.4M | +1.0% | #285 of 2,261 |
| 15Goochland County, VA | 75 | 9 | 8.7 | $8.2M | +17.4% | #300 of 2,261 |
| 16Chesterfield County, VA | 75 | 121 | 8.6 | $7.8M | +8.7% | #302 of 2,261 |
| 17York County, VA | 74 | 22 | 8.2 | $8.4M | +1.6% | #321 of 2,261 |
| 18Louisa County, VA | 74 | 12 | 7.7 | $8.2M | +13.6% | #324 of 2,261 |
| 19Albemarle County, VA | 72 | 38 | 8.3 | $8.2M | +5.1% | #373 of 2,261 |
| 20Isle of Wight County, VA | 72 | 15 | 9.5 | $6.8M | +6.7% | #385 of 2,261 |
| 21Frederick County, VA | 72 | 37 | 10.5 | $6.3M | +8.8% | #388 of 2,261 |
| 22Fairfax city, VA | 68 | 8 | 8.7 | $8.3M | +10.8% | #483 of 2,261 |
| 23Suffolk city, VA | 68 | 36 | 9.5 | $6.8M | +10.4% | #495 of 2,261 |
| 24Fauquier County, VA | 68 | 36 | 13.5 | $5.3M | +4.8% | #507 of 2,261 |
| 25Falls Church city, VA | 66 | 6 | 9.6 | $7.9M | +3.3% | #548 of 2,261 |
Show all 133 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Appomattox County, VA | 66 | 5 | 7.5 | $7.5M | +6.3% | #554 of 2,261 |
| 27Northumberland County, VA | 65 | 5 | 8.9 | $6.6M | +6.1% | #597 of 2,261 |
| 28Spotsylvania County, VA | 65 | 63 | 12.0 | $5.7M | +10.5% | #601 of 2,261 |
| 29Fredericksburg city, VA | 64 | 9 | 7.7 | $8.3M | +8.6% | #617 of 2,261 |
| 30Henrico County, VA | 64 | 113 | 8.2 | $7.8M | +2.3% | #620 of 2,261 |
| 31Bedford County, VA | 63 | 25 | 7.5 | $8.1M | +4.4% | #650 of 2,261 |
| 32King William County, VA | 61 | 10 | 13.6 | $4.6M | +9.5% | #741 of 2,261 |
| 33Roanoke County, VA | 59 | 29 | 7.3 | $8.5M | +0.2% | #786 of 2,261 |
| 34Washington County, VA | 59 | 16 | 7.2 | $7.9M | 0.0% | #790 of 2,261 |
| 35Hanover County, VA | 59 | 55 | 12.9 | $5.3M | +5.6% | #811 of 2,261 |
| 36Amelia County, VA | 58 | 5 | 9.2 | $6.3M | +2.7% | #832 of 2,261 |
| 37Dinwiddie County, VA | 57 | 9 | 8.4 | $7.2M | +3.6% | #860 of 2,261 |
| 38Chesapeake city, VA | 57 | 90 | 9.6 | $6.8M | +2.3% | #869 of 2,261 |
| 39Gloucester County, VA | 57 | 18 | 11.8 | $5.3M | +3.6% | #882 of 2,261 |
| 40Madison County, VA | 55 | 7 | 12.8 | $4.9M | +2.7% | #958 of 2,261 |
| 41Montgomery County, VA | 54 | 29 | 7.8 | $7.6M | −1.2% | #970 of 2,261 |
| 42Manassas city, VA | 53 | 18 | 12.7 | $5.5M | +3.9% | #1,033 of 2,261 |
| 43Virginia Beach city, VA | 51 | 168 | 9.3 | $7M | −1.3% | #1,078 of 2,261 |
| 44Floyd County, VA | 51 | 6 | 9.1 | $6.3M | +2.1% | #1,084 of 2,261 |
| 45Lancaster County, VA | 50 | 6 | 10.5 | $5.6M | +0.9% | #1,129 of 2,261 |
| 46Rockingham County, VA | 50 | 41 | 12.5 | $4.9M | +6.6% | #1,135 of 2,261 |
| 47Nelson County, VA | 49 | 8 | 12.6 | $4.9M | +1.2% | #1,169 of 2,261 |
| 48Caroline County, VA | 49 | 17 | 14.2 | $4.4M | +11.3% | #1,173 of 2,261 |
| 49Prince George County, VA | 48 | 20 | 15.5 | $4.1M | +2.0% | #1,213 of 2,261 |
| 50Augusta County, VA | 47 | 36 | 11.6 | $5.2M | +1.8% | #1,242 of 2,261 |
| 51Manassas Park city, VA | 45 | 7 | 13.5 | $5M | −3.5% | #1,306 of 2,261 |
| 52Clarke County, VA | 45 | 10 | 17.0 | $4M | +5.4% | #1,312 of 2,261 |
| 53Richmond city, VA | 44 | 108 | 10.4 | $5.7M | +4.6% | #1,330 of 2,261 |
| 54Westmoreland County, VA | 43 | 9 | 11.0 | $5.2M | +6.5% | #1,372 of 2,261 |
| 55Waynesboro city, VA | 42 | 12 | 12.2 | $4.6M | +7.5% | #1,420 of 2,261 |
| 56Botetourt County, VA | 41 | 17 | 12.9 | $4.8M | +1.5% | #1,452 of 2,261 |
| 57Warren County, VA | 41 | 26 | 17.0 | $3.7M | +4.8% | #1,462 of 2,261 |
| 58Radford city, VA | 40 | 5 | 9.0 | $6M | +7.0% | #1,473 of 2,261 |
| 59Amherst County, VA | 40 | 15 | 11.8 | $4.9M | +2.1% | #1,481 of 2,261 |
| 60Southampton County, VA | 40 | 9 | 13.1 | $4.5M | +0.9% | #1,488 of 2,261 |
| 61Winchester city, VA | 40 | 18 | 15.7 | $3.7M | +1.0% | #1,496 of 2,261 |
| 62Russell County, VA | 39 | 8 | 7.5 | $7.1M | −1.7% | #1,506 of 2,261 |
| 63Shenandoah County, VA | 37 | 30 | 16.7 | $3.5M | +3.6% | #1,601 of 2,261 |
| 64Alleghany County, VA | 36 | 5 | 7.8 | $6.9M | −4.2% | #1,607 of 2,261 |
| 65Colonial Heights city, VA | 36 | 11 | 14.6 | $4.1M | +3.2% | #1,618 of 2,261 |
| 66Middlesex County, VA | 36 | 10 | 21.0 | $2.9M | +2.2% | #1,631 of 2,261 |
| 67Hampton city, VA | 34 | 67 | 11.5 | $5.1M | 0.0% | #1,671 of 2,261 |
| 68Tazewell County, VA | 34 | 19 | 11.7 | $4.6M | −4.4% | #1,676 of 2,261 |
| 69Lynchburg city, VA | 33 | 32 | 11.1 | $5M | +3.0% | #1,707 of 2,261 |
| 70Franklin County, VA | 33 | 31 | 13.5 | $4.4M | +1.9% | #1,714 of 2,261 |
| 71Staunton city, VA | 33 | 17 | 15.0 | $3.8M | +3.8% | #1,723 of 2,261 |
| 72Grayson County, VA | 32 | 6 | 9.5 | $5.6M | −0.3% | #1,735 of 2,261 |
| 73Page County, VA | 32 | 12 | 12.1 | $4.6M | +0.3% | #1,743 of 2,261 |
| 74Pulaski County, VA | 32 | 20 | 13.8 | $4.1M | −0.6% | #1,751 of 2,261 |
| 75Portsmouth city, VA | 31 | 37 | 9.2 | $6.1M | −1.2% | #1,763 of 2,261 |
| 76Norfolk city, VA | 31 | 104 | 11.0 | $5.3M | −2.9% | #1,766 of 2,261 |
| 77Newport News city, VA | 31 | 88 | 11.6 | $5M | −1.5% | #1,768 of 2,261 |
| 78Smyth County, VA | 31 | 15 | 11.8 | $4.5M | −3.0% | #1,773 of 2,261 |
| 79Accomack County, VA | 31 | 24 | 16.6 | $3.4M | +1.4% | #1,784 of 2,261 |
| 80Giles County, VA | 29 | 8 | 11.9 | $4.8M | −1.3% | #1,819 of 2,261 |
| 81Salem city, VA | 29 | 17 | 16.6 | $3.6M | +1.7% | #1,835 of 2,261 |
| 82Charlottesville city, VA | 28 | 27 | 13.6 | $4.5M | −4.4% | #1,851 of 2,261 |
| 83Campbell County, VA | 28 | 30 | 13.5 | $4.3M | +0.1% | #1,853 of 2,261 |
| 84Williamsburg city, VA | 28 | 13 | 25.9 | $2.3M | +2.6% | #1,871 of 2,261 |
| 85Wise County, VA | 27 | 13 | 9.3 | $5.6M | −3.5% | #1,874 of 2,261 |
| 86Roanoke city, VA | 27 | 43 | 9.9 | $5.6M | −0.8% | #1,875 of 2,261 |
| 87Rockbridge County, VA | 27 | 13 | 13.6 | $4.3M | 0.0% | #1,884 of 2,261 |
| 88Dickenson County, VA | 26 | 5 | 8.4 | $6.1M | −6.0% | #1,899 of 2,261 |
| 89Northampton County, VA | 26 | 8 | 14.7 | $3.9M | −2.8% | #1,906 of 2,261 |
| 90Nottoway County, VA | 26 | 9 | 16.0 | $3.5M | +1.0% | #1,912 of 2,261 |
| 91Charlotte County, VA | 25 | 6 | 12.8 | $4.3M | −1.2% | #1,926 of 2,261 |
| 92Pittsylvania County, VA | 23 | 28 | 11.2 | $4.9M | −1.5% | #1,968 of 2,261 |
| 93Mecklenburg County, VA | 23 | 31 | 22.8 | $2.4M | +1.5% | #1,984 of 2,261 |
| 94Buckingham County, VA | 22 | 13 | 20.7 | $2.7M | +1.9% | #1,999 of 2,261 |
| 95Prince Edward County, VA | 21 | 16 | 20.9 | $2.7M | +2.3% | #2,021 of 2,261 |
| 96Harrisonburg city, VA | 20 | 26 | 15.0 | $3.8M | −1.7% | #2,030 of 2,261 |
| 97Essex County, VA | 19 | 7 | 15.7 | $3.5M | +0.5% | #2,045 of 2,261 |
| 98Martinsville city, VA | 19 | 13 | 22.8 | $2.3M | +2.8% | #2,055 of 2,261 |
| 99Halifax County, VA | 18 | 20 | 14.7 | $3.7M | −1.4% | #2,063 of 2,261 |
| 100Patrick County, VA | 17 | 17 | 21.8 | $2.5M | −0.9% | #2,085 of 2,261 |
| 101Carroll County, VA | 17 | 27 | 21.5 | $2.5M | +0.5% | #2,086 of 2,261 |
| 102Petersburg city, VA | 16 | 23 | 15.2 | $3.4M | +1.0% | #2,102 of 2,261 |
| 103Hopewell city, VA | 16 | 17 | 18.4 | $3M | +1.1% | #2,107 of 2,261 |
| 104Wythe County, VA | 16 | 25 | 19.9 | $2.7M | −1.2% | #2,112 of 2,261 |
| 105Danville city, VA | 15 | 23 | 12.1 | $4.3M | −2.2% | #2,117 of 2,261 |
| 106Sussex County, VA | 15 | 10 | 26.4 | $2.2M | −0.4% | #2,129 of 2,261 |
| 107Lee County, VA | 13 | 12 | 14.1 | $3.6M | −2.1% | #2,152 of 2,261 |
| 108Greensville County, VA | 13 | 5 | 15.6 | $3.5M | −1.8% | #2,153 of 2,261 |
| 109Henry County, VA | 10 | 34 | 16.2 | $3.3M | −3.1% | #2,194 of 2,261 |
| 110Scott County, VA | 10 | 18 | 19.7 | $2.6M | −1.8% | #2,195 of 2,261 |
| 111Brunswick County, VA | 10 | 14 | 21.6 | $2.5M | −0.6% | #2,196 of 2,261 |
| 112Buchanan County, VA | 7 | 12 | 15.9 | $3.1M | −8.7% | #2,225 of 2,261 |
| 113Bristol city, VA | 5 | 14 | 19.4 | $2.8M | −5.2% | #2,242 of 2,261 |
| Fluvanna County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 2.9 | $22.5M | +6.2% | |
| Lunenburg County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 6.3 | $8.6M | +0.9% | |
| Cumberland County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 5.0 | $11.4M | +6.9% | |
| Richmond County, VA | Not scored | 5 | 15.7 | $3.7M | +4.2% | |
| Mathews County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 10.0 | $6M | +0.1% | |
| Franklin city, VA | Not scored | 10 | 29.0 | $1.9M | +4.1% | |
| Lexington city, VA | Not scored | 3 | 13.7 | $4.4M | +6.2% | |
| Rappahannock County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 6.7 | $9.8M | +1.6% | |
| Galax city, VA | Not scored | 8 | 29.0 | $1.8M | −0.7% | |
| King and Queen County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 6.7 | $8.7M | +2.4% | |
| Charles City County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 6.9 | $8.8M | −1.8% | |
| Buena Vista city, VA | Not scored | 2 | 7.8 | $6.7M | +0.9% | |
| Surry County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 10.6 | $5.7M | +0.8% | |
| Bland County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 12.6 | $4.5M | −1.7% | |
| Covington city, VA | Not scored | 1 | 3.9 | $12.8M | −1.2% | |
| Emporia city, VA | Not scored | 12 | 55.6 | $977K | −4.4% | |
| Craig County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 11.5 | $5.2M | −1.6% | |
| Bath County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 16.5 | $3.4M | −2.6% | |
| Norton city, VA | Not scored | 6 | 37.4 | $1.3M | −5.5% | |
| Highland County, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +3.4% |
Markets with fewer than 5 convenience stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many convenience stores are in Virginia?
There are 3,168 convenience stores on map listings in Virginia as of September 2026. 1,987 of them (63%) are chain locations. The listings count convenience stores without fuel. Official counts show 1,438 businesses with payroll classed as convenience stores in 2023, up 19.9% from 2019.
How much do households in Virginia spend on groceries?
About $22B a year, or $6,537 per household. That is 3% above the U.S. average (an index of 103, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,168 convenience stores on map listings, it comes to $6.9M per store. The spending figure covers all groceries, not only convenience stores. 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 convenience stores?
Virginia has 9.4 convenience stores per 10,000 households, 18% above the U.S. rate of 8.0. Spending per store is $6.9M, 12% below the U.S. figure of $7.9M. At the national ratio of convenience stores to household spending, Virginia would have about 2,793, against 3,168 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 2,341 households, against one for every 3,493 across the U.S. The official count rose 19.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +22.0% for the U.S.
Which market in Virginia has the highest market score for convenience stores?
Among 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area scores highest, at 72 (upper middle). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest, at 83 (high). Among 113 scored counties in Virginia, Powhatan County scores highest, at 91 (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 43 for convenience stores (lower middle), #34 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 convenience stores 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.
Convenience stores in other states
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Top markets for convenience stores across the U.S. · All business types in Virginia
Related business types in Virginia
- Grocery and convenience stores6,412 listings
- Grocery stores2,226 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Virginia?
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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.