Market rankings · Virginia
Gas stations in Virginia
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Virginia, ranked by the Groundwork market score for gas stations, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,747
- 3,226 chain locations (86%)
- Official establishments
- 2,817
- −8.2% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $10.1B
- On gasoline and other fuels
- Listings per 10k households
- 11.1
- 2% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $2.7M
- 13% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #10 of 51
- Market score 68 · Upper middle
A site report maps the gas stations 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
There are 3,747 gas stations on map listings in Virginia as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 86% of them, against 84% across the U.S. That comes to 11.1 for every 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 10.9.
Household spending on gasoline and other fuels in Virginia comes to about $10.1B a year: $3,000 per household, 16% above the U.S. average. Spread across 3,747 gas stations, that is $2.7M per station, 13% above the U.S. figure of $2.4M.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as gasoline stations in Virginia was 2,817 in 2023, down 8.2% from 2019. That is one for every 1,195 households, against one for every 1,184 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 3.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 22 SBA-backed loans worth $16.9M have gone to businesses classed as gasoline stations in Virginia.
Among the 50 states and DC, Virginia ranks #10 for gas stations, with a Groundwork market score of 68 (upper middle). Of the 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area scores highest (76). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest (85).
Every market in Virginia for gas stations
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 | 76 | 1,534 | 6.5 | $4.1M | +3.3% | #28 of 387 |
| 1Charlottesville, VA | 72 | 83 | 9.2 | $3.3M | +3.1% | #51 of 387 |
| 2Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 71 | 550 | 7.8 | $3.7M | +0.9% | #58 of 387 |
| 3Harrisonburg, VA | 71 | 54 | 10.8 | $3.1M | +3.5% | #60 of 387 |
| 4Winchester, VA-WV | 67 | 69 | 12.4 | $2.6M | +6.5% | #87 of 387 |
| 5Richmond, VA | 66 | 663 | 12.4 | $2.4M | +5.5% | #93 of 387 |
| 6Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 57 | 71 | 13.6 | $2.3M | +3.2% | #154 of 387 |
| 7Roanoke, VA | 50 | 178 | 13.5 | $2.2M | +0.4% | #199 of 387 |
| 8Lynchburg, VA | 44 | 199 | 19.2 | $1.7M | +2.9% | #243 of 387 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 36 | 236 | 18.0 | $1.7M | +2.3% | #290 of 387 |
| 9Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 33 | 135 | 19.2 | $1.6M | −0.1% | #312 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lake of the Woods, VA | 85 | 20 | 13.5 | $2.6M | +10.1% | #9 of 536 |
| 2Danville, VA | 49 | 80 | 18.1 | $1.6M | −1.7% | #286 of 536 |
| 3Martinsville, VA | 35 | 55 | 20.6 | $1.4M | −1.9% | #420 of 536 |
| Bluefield, WV-VA | 30 | 77 | 19.0 | $1.5M | −3.8% | #461 of 536 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Stafford County, VA | 97 | 28 | 5.4 | $6.7M | +8.3% | #2 of 2,358 |
| 2Fluvanna County, VA | 94 | 6 | 5.8 | $6.8M | +6.2% | #5 of 2,358 |
| 3Spotsylvania County, VA | 92 | 52 | 9.9 | $3.6M | +10.5% | #17 of 2,358 |
| 4Loudoun County, VA | 91 | 99 | 6.9 | $4.6M | +6.4% | #18 of 2,358 |
| 5Prince William County, VA | 90 | 100 | 6.4 | $5.2M | +4.2% | #24 of 2,358 |
| 6Rockingham County, VA | 89 | 33 | 10.1 | $3.5M | +6.6% | #36 of 2,358 |
| 7Chesterfield County, VA | 89 | 135 | 9.6 | $3.4M | +8.7% | #37 of 2,358 |
| 8Floyd County, VA | 85 | 5 | 7.5 | $4.6M | +2.1% | #69 of 2,358 |
| 9Culpeper County, VA | 85 | 19 | 10.0 | $3.5M | +9.3% | #73 of 2,358 |
| 10James City County, VA | 85 | 33 | 10.3 | $3M | +6.2% | #76 of 2,358 |
| 11Frederick County, VA | 84 | 46 | 13.0 | $2.7M | +8.8% | #89 of 2,358 |
| 12Albemarle County, VA | 83 | 32 | 7.0 | $4.2M | +5.1% | #90 of 2,358 |
| 13York County, VA | 83 | 24 | 8.9 | $3.7M | +1.6% | #92 of 2,358 |
| 14Greene County, VA | 83 | 8 | 10.0 | $3.6M | +6.6% | #93 of 2,358 |
| 15Suffolk city, VA | 83 | 41 | 10.8 | $2.9M | +10.4% | #99 of 2,358 |
| 16King George County, VA | 82 | 10 | 9.9 | $3.7M | +10.5% | #113 of 2,358 |
| 17Manassas city, VA | 82 | 13 | 9.2 | $3.4M | +3.9% | #115 of 2,358 |
| 18Powhatan County, VA | 82 | 15 | 13.2 | $3.2M | +7.0% | #116 of 2,358 |
| 19Chesapeake city, VA | 81 | 69 | 7.4 | $4.2M | +2.3% | #127 of 2,358 |
| 20Bedford County, VA | 81 | 48 | 14.5 | $2.5M | +4.4% | #142 of 2,358 |
| 21Madison County, VA | 80 | 5 | 9.1 | $4.1M | +2.7% | #144 of 2,358 |
| 22Isle of Wight County, VA | 80 | 17 | 10.8 | $3.2M | +6.7% | #151 of 2,358 |
| 23Fauquier County, VA | 79 | 32 | 12.0 | $3M | +4.8% | #171 of 2,358 |
| 24Louisa County, VA | 79 | 21 | 13.5 | $2.8M | +13.6% | #174 of 2,358 |
| 25Fairfax County, VA | 78 | 239 | 5.8 | $5M | +1.7% | #184 of 2,358 |
Show all 133 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Clarke County, VA | 78 | 7 | 11.9 | $3M | +5.4% | #194 of 2,358 |
| 27Warren County, VA | 78 | 19 | 12.4 | $2.8M | +4.8% | #199 of 2,358 |
| 28Orange County, VA | 77 | 20 | 13.5 | $2.6M | +10.1% | #223 of 2,358 |
| 29Augusta County, VA | 75 | 42 | 13.5 | $2.6M | +1.8% | #265 of 2,358 |
| 30Goochland County, VA | 74 | 16 | 15.5 | $2.3M | +17.4% | #303 of 2,358 |
| 31Virginia Beach city, VA | 73 | 112 | 6.2 | $4.7M | −1.3% | #312 of 2,358 |
| 32Gloucester County, VA | 72 | 22 | 14.4 | $2.6M | +3.6% | #347 of 2,358 |
| 33Hanover County, VA | 72 | 68 | 15.9 | $2.2M | +5.6% | #353 of 2,358 |
| 34Arlington County, VA | 71 | 46 | 4.1 | $4.9M | +2.1% | #359 of 2,358 |
| 35Franklin County, VA | 71 | 27 | 11.7 | $3M | +1.9% | #368 of 2,358 |
| 36Henrico County, VA | 69 | 155 | 11.3 | $2.6M | +2.3% | #433 of 2,358 |
| 37Alexandria city, VA | 68 | 36 | 4.7 | $4.3M | +1.0% | #450 of 2,358 |
| 38Roanoke County, VA | 68 | 52 | 13.1 | $2.4M | +0.2% | #464 of 2,358 |
| 39King William County, VA | 68 | 12 | 16.3 | $2.3M | +9.5% | #467 of 2,358 |
| 40Hampton city, VA | 67 | 41 | 7.1 | $3.8M | 0.0% | #476 of 2,358 |
| 41Richmond city, VA | 67 | 90 | 8.6 | $2.6M | +4.6% | #486 of 2,358 |
| 42Westmoreland County, VA | 67 | 12 | 14.7 | $2.1M | +6.5% | #497 of 2,358 |
| 43New Kent County, VA | 67 | 21 | 22.7 | $1.7M | +21.2% | #504 of 2,358 |
| 44Radford city, VA | 65 | 9 | 16.2 | $1.9M | +7.0% | #577 of 2,358 |
| 45Fairfax city, VA | 63 | 14 | 15.3 | $1.9M | +10.8% | #632 of 2,358 |
| 46Page County, VA | 62 | 17 | 17.2 | $1.9M | +0.3% | #681 of 2,358 |
| 47Norfolk city, VA | 61 | 53 | 5.6 | $4.3M | −2.9% | #689 of 2,358 |
| 48Prince George County, VA | 61 | 27 | 20.9 | $1.8M | +2.0% | #721 of 2,358 |
| 49Newport News city, VA | 60 | 56 | 7.4 | $3.5M | −1.5% | #731 of 2,358 |
| 50Pittsylvania County, VA | 60 | 47 | 18.8 | $1.8M | −1.5% | #780 of 2,358 |
| 51Shenandoah County, VA | 59 | 32 | 17.8 | $1.9M | +3.6% | #803 of 2,358 |
| 52Fredericksburg city, VA | 58 | 15 | 12.8 | $2M | +8.6% | #846 of 2,358 |
| 53Patrick County, VA | 57 | 9 | 11.6 | $2.9M | −0.9% | #858 of 2,358 |
| 54Colonial Heights city, VA | 57 | 10 | 13.3 | $2.2M | +3.2% | #872 of 2,358 |
| 55Staunton city, VA | 57 | 14 | 12.4 | $2.1M | +3.8% | #875 of 2,358 |
| 56Buckingham County, VA | 56 | 10 | 15.9 | $2.3M | +1.9% | #910 of 2,358 |
| 57Northumberland County, VA | 56 | 9 | 16.0 | $2M | +6.1% | #921 of 2,358 |
| 58Appomattox County, VA | 56 | 13 | 19.6 | $1.8M | +6.3% | #927 of 2,358 |
| 59Dinwiddie County, VA | 56 | 29 | 27.2 | $1.4M | +3.6% | #932 of 2,358 |
| 60Portsmouth city, VA | 55 | 36 | 8.9 | $2.8M | −1.2% | #943 of 2,358 |
| 61Southampton County, VA | 55 | 11 | 16.0 | $2.2M | +0.9% | #949 of 2,358 |
| 62Harrisonburg city, VA | 54 | 21 | 12.1 | $2.5M | −1.7% | #984 of 2,358 |
| 63Salem city, VA | 53 | 17 | 16.6 | $1.8M | +1.7% | #1,042 of 2,358 |
| 64Buchanan County, VA | 52 | 9 | 12.0 | $2.5M | −8.7% | #1,058 of 2,358 |
| 65Lancaster County, VA | 52 | 7 | 12.3 | $2.4M | +0.9% | #1,060 of 2,358 |
| 66Halifax County, VA | 52 | 25 | 18.4 | $1.8M | −1.4% | #1,093 of 2,358 |
| 67Botetourt County, VA | 52 | 29 | 21.9 | $1.6M | +1.5% | #1,101 of 2,358 |
| 68Roanoke city, VA | 51 | 50 | 11.5 | $2.1M | −0.8% | #1,125 of 2,358 |
| 69Montgomery County, VA | 50 | 60 | 16.2 | $1.8M | −1.2% | #1,168 of 2,358 |
| 70Campbell County, VA | 50 | 47 | 21.1 | $1.6M | +0.1% | #1,175 of 2,358 |
| 71Hopewell city, VA | 49 | 12 | 13.0 | $2.1M | +1.1% | #1,213 of 2,358 |
| 72Amherst County, VA | 49 | 31 | 24.4 | $1.4M | +2.1% | #1,239 of 2,358 |
| 73Falls Church city, VA | 48 | 9 | 14.3 | $1.7M | +3.3% | #1,278 of 2,358 |
| 74Waynesboro city, VA | 47 | 15 | 15.2 | $1.7M | +7.5% | #1,319 of 2,358 |
| 75Caroline County, VA | 47 | 33 | 27.5 | $1.3M | +11.3% | #1,333 of 2,358 |
| 76Grayson County, VA | 45 | 14 | 22.1 | $1.5M | −0.3% | #1,414 of 2,358 |
| 77Martinsville city, VA | 44 | 8 | 14.0 | $1.7M | +2.8% | #1,434 of 2,358 |
| 78Charlottesville city, VA | 43 | 23 | 11.6 | $2.1M | −4.4% | #1,465 of 2,358 |
| 79Smyth County, VA | 41 | 20 | 15.8 | $1.8M | −3.0% | #1,545 of 2,358 |
| 80Accomack County, VA | 40 | 24 | 16.6 | $1.8M | +1.4% | #1,585 of 2,358 |
| 81Nelson County, VA | 40 | 14 | 22.0 | $1.5M | +1.2% | #1,599 of 2,358 |
| 82Lunenburg County, VA | 40 | 10 | 21.0 | $1.5M | +0.9% | #1,602 of 2,358 |
| 83Lynchburg city, VA | 40 | 60 | 20.9 | $1.2M | +3.0% | #1,608 of 2,358 |
| 84Amelia County, VA | 40 | 19 | 35.1 | $1.1M | +2.7% | #1,610 of 2,358 |
| 85Winchester city, VA | 39 | 16 | 13.9 | $1.9M | +1.0% | #1,624 of 2,358 |
| 86Williamsburg city, VA | 39 | 8 | 15.9 | $1.7M | +2.6% | #1,630 of 2,358 |
| 87Alleghany County, VA | 38 | 15 | 23.5 | $1.4M | −4.2% | #1,671 of 2,358 |
| 88Pulaski County, VA | 35 | 34 | 23.5 | $1.3M | −0.6% | #1,798 of 2,358 |
| 89Prince Edward County, VA | 35 | 25 | 32.7 | $961K | +2.3% | #1,810 of 2,358 |
| 90Rockbridge County, VA | 34 | 31 | 32.5 | $1.1M | 0.0% | #1,842 of 2,358 |
| 91Mecklenburg County, VA | 33 | 32 | 23.6 | $1.3M | +1.5% | #1,864 of 2,358 |
| 92Carroll County, VA | 33 | 37 | 29.4 | $1.1M | +0.5% | #1,874 of 2,358 |
| 93Washington County, VA | 32 | 54 | 24.4 | $1.3M | 0.0% | #1,904 of 2,358 |
| 94Charlotte County, VA | 31 | 13 | 27.6 | $1.2M | −1.2% | #1,929 of 2,358 |
| 95Brunswick County, VA | 31 | 19 | 29.3 | $1.1M | −0.6% | #1,933 of 2,358 |
| 96Henry County, VA | 30 | 47 | 22.3 | $1.4M | −3.1% | #1,956 of 2,358 |
| 97Essex County, VA | 30 | 11 | 24.7 | $1.2M | +0.5% | #1,964 of 2,358 |
| 98Nottoway County, VA | 30 | 17 | 30.3 | $1M | +1.0% | #1,974 of 2,358 |
| 99Russell County, VA | 28 | 24 | 22.5 | $1.3M | −1.7% | #2,025 of 2,358 |
| 100Scott County, VA | 26 | 21 | 23.0 | $1.3M | −1.8% | #2,082 of 2,358 |
| 101Lee County, VA | 24 | 19 | 22.3 | $1.3M | −2.1% | #2,138 of 2,358 |
| 102Wythe County, VA | 24 | 32 | 25.5 | $1.2M | −1.2% | #2,143 of 2,358 |
| 103Petersburg city, VA | 23 | 30 | 19.8 | $1.1M | +1.0% | #2,169 of 2,358 |
| 104Tazewell County, VA | 22 | 33 | 20.3 | $1.4M | −4.4% | #2,178 of 2,358 |
| 105Dickenson County, VA | 22 | 16 | 27.0 | $1.1M | −6.0% | #2,189 of 2,358 |
| 106Giles County, VA | 22 | 27 | 40.3 | $792K | −1.3% | #2,195 of 2,358 |
| 107Sussex County, VA | 22 | 16 | 42.3 | $747K | −0.4% | #2,196 of 2,358 |
| 108Greensville County, VA | 20 | 14 | 43.8 | $724K | −1.8% | #2,220 of 2,358 |
| 109Danville city, VA | 19 | 33 | 17.3 | $1.3M | −2.2% | #2,224 of 2,358 |
| 110Wise County, VA | 15 | 47 | 33.8 | $871K | −3.5% | #2,286 of 2,358 |
| 111Northampton County, VA | 13 | 18 | 33.1 | $859K | −2.8% | #2,310 of 2,358 |
| 112Bristol city, VA | 4 | 28 | 38.7 | $628K | −5.2% | #2,358 of 2,358 |
| Manassas Park city, VA | Not scored | 4 | 7.7 | $4.1M | −3.5% | |
| Poquoson city, VA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +6.6% | |
| Middlesex County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 8.4 | $4.1M | +2.2% | |
| Cumberland County, VA | Not scored | 12 | 29.9 | $1.1M | +6.9% | |
| Richmond County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 9.4 | $3.9M | +4.2% | |
| Mathews County, VA | Not scored | 5 | 12.5 | $2.5M | +0.1% | |
| Franklin city, VA | Not scored | 13 | 37.6 | $739K | +4.1% | |
| Lexington city, VA | Not scored | 5 | 22.9 | $1.2M | +6.2% | |
| Rappahannock County, VA | Not scored | 5 | 16.8 | $2M | +1.6% | |
| Galax city, VA | Not scored | 9 | 32.6 | $755K | −0.7% | |
| King and Queen County, VA | Not scored | 6 | 20.0 | $1.7M | +2.4% | |
| Charles City County, VA | Not scored | 2 | 6.9 | $5.7M | −1.8% | |
| Buena Vista city, VA | Not scored | 6 | 23.5 | $1.2M | +0.9% | |
| Surry County, VA | Not scored | 1 | 3.5 | $10.1M | +0.8% | |
| Bland County, VA | Not scored | 7 | 29.5 | $1.1M | −1.7% | |
| Covington city, VA | Not scored | 11 | 42.7 | $626K | −1.2% | |
| Emporia city, VA | Not scored | 20 | 92.7 | $307K | −4.4% | |
| Craig County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 17.3 | $2.4M | −1.6% | |
| Bath County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 16.5 | $2.1M | −2.6% | |
| Norton city, VA | Not scored | 10 | 62.3 | $357K | −5.5% | |
| Highland County, VA | Not scored | 5 | 49.9 | $689K | +3.4% |
Markets with fewer than 5 gas stations on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many gas stations are in Virginia?
As of September 2026, map listings count 3,747 gas stations in Virginia. 3,226 of them (86%) are chain locations. The listings count gas stations. Official counts show 2,817 businesses with payroll classed as gasoline stations in 2023, down 8.2% from 2019. Another 80 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in Virginia spend on gasoline and other fuels?
About $10.1B a year, or $3,000 per household. That is 16% above the U.S. average (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,747 gas stations on map listings, it comes to $2.7M per station. 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 gas stations?
Virginia has 11.1 gas stations per 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 10.9. Spending per station is $2.7M, 13% above the U.S. figure of $2.4M. At the U.S. ratio of gas stations to household spending, Virginia would have about 4,233, against 3,747 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,195 households, against one for every 1,184 across the U.S. The official count fell 8.2% from 2019 to 2023, against −3.1% for the U.S.
Which market in Virginia has the highest market score for gas stations?
Among 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest, at 85 (high). Among 112 scored counties in Virginia, Stafford County scores highest, at 97 (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 68 for gas stations (upper middle), #10 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 gas stations 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.
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Top markets for gas stations across the U.S. · All business types in Virginia
Related business types in Virginia
- Auto repair and car care10,597 listings
- Auto repair shops6,568 listings
- Collision repair and body shops831 listings
- Car washes and detailing1,048 listings
- Tire shops1,197 listings
- Oil change and quick lube170 listings
- Insurance agencies4,196 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.