Market rankings · Virginia
Grocery and convenience stores in Virginia
Markets across Virginia ranked by the Groundwork market score for grocery and convenience stores, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 6,412
- 3,231 chain locations (50%)
- Official establishments
- 2,921
- +7.3% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $22B
- On groceries
- Listings per 10k households
- 19.1
- 2% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $3.4M
- In line with the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #25 of 51
- Market score 51 · Upper middle
A site report maps the grocery and 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
As of September 2026, map listings count 6,412 grocery and convenience stores in Virginia. Of those, 3,231 are chain locations, or 50%, against 42% across the U.S. That is 19.1 per 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 18.7.
Household spending on groceries in Virginia comes to about $22B a year: $6,537 per household, 3% above the U.S. average. That works out to $3.4M per store, in line with the U.S. figure of $3.4M.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as grocery and convenience stores in Virginia was 2,921 in 2023, up 7.3% from 2019. That is one for every 1,152 households, against one for every 1,293 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 7.2% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 50 SBA-backed loans worth $19.6M have gone to businesses classed as grocery and convenience stores in Virginia.
Among the 50 states and DC, Virginia ranks #25 for grocery and convenience stores, with a Groundwork market score of 51 (upper 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 (90).
Every market in Virginia for grocery and 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 | 3,408 | 14.4 | $5M | +3.3% | #45 of 387 |
| 1Richmond, VA | 51 | 1,032 | 19.3 | $3.3M | +5.5% | #194 of 387 |
| 2Winchester, VA-WV | 50 | 135 | 24.3 | $2.6M | +6.5% | #204 of 387 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 48 | 212 | 16.2 | $3.4M | +2.3% | #210 of 387 |
| 3Charlottesville, VA | 48 | 183 | 20.2 | $3.2M | +3.1% | #212 of 387 |
| 4Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 43 | 1,317 | 18.6 | $3.4M | +0.9% | #244 of 387 |
| 5Lynchburg, VA | 30 | 211 | 20.4 | $2.9M | +2.9% | #323 of 387 |
| 6Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 30 | 117 | 22.4 | $2.6M | +3.2% | #324 of 387 |
| 7Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 28 | 136 | 19.4 | $3M | −0.1% | #331 of 387 |
| 8Roanoke, VA | 25 | 269 | 20.5 | $2.9M | +0.4% | #343 of 387 |
| 9Harrisonburg, VA | 24 | 145 | 29.0 | $2.1M | +3.5% | #350 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lake of the Woods, VA | 90 | 20 | 13.5 | $4.8M | +10.1% | #2 of 538 |
| Bluefield, WV-VA | 45 | 76 | 18.8 | $2.9M | −3.8% | #330 of 538 |
| 2Danville, VA | 24 | 98 | 22.2 | $2.4M | −1.7% | #478 of 538 |
| 3Martinsville, VA | 14 | 76 | 28.4 | $1.9M | −1.9% | #518 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Powhatan County, VA | 95 | 13 | 11.5 | $6M | +7.0% | #11 of 2,402 |
| 2King George County, VA | 94 | 15 | 14.8 | $4.7M | +10.5% | #20 of 2,402 |
| 3Fluvanna County, VA | 93 | 10 | 9.7 | $6.7M | +6.2% | #21 of 2,402 |
| 4Orange County, VA | 87 | 20 | 13.5 | $4.8M | +10.1% | #76 of 2,402 |
| 5Stafford County, VA | 87 | 89 | 17.0 | $4.4M | +8.3% | #80 of 2,402 |
| 6Loudoun County, VA | 85 | 217 | 15.2 | $5.3M | +6.4% | #98 of 2,402 |
| 7Goochland County, VA | 84 | 15 | 14.5 | $4.9M | +17.4% | #112 of 2,402 |
| 8James City County, VA | 83 | 51 | 15.9 | $4.3M | +6.2% | #129 of 2,402 |
| 9York County, VA | 82 | 35 | 13.0 | $5.3M | +1.6% | #143 of 2,402 |
| 10Louisa County, VA | 81 | 27 | 17.4 | $3.6M | +13.6% | #171 of 2,402 |
| 11Arlington County, VA | 80 | 124 | 11.1 | $6.7M | +2.1% | #174 of 2,402 |
| 12New Kent County, VA | 80 | 17 | 18.4 | $3.8M | +21.2% | #186 of 2,402 |
| 13Chesterfield County, VA | 78 | 227 | 16.2 | $4.1M | +8.7% | #222 of 2,402 |
| 14Frederick County, VA | 77 | 70 | 19.8 | $3.3M | +8.8% | #254 of 2,402 |
| 15Greene County, VA | 76 | 14 | 17.4 | $3.7M | +6.6% | #272 of 2,402 |
| 16Fairfax County, VA | 75 | 509 | 12.3 | $6.2M | +1.7% | #282 of 2,402 |
| 17Prince William County, VA | 75 | 232 | 14.8 | $4.9M | +4.2% | #286 of 2,402 |
| 18Fauquier County, VA | 75 | 64 | 24.0 | $3M | +4.8% | #304 of 2,402 |
| 19Albemarle County, VA | 74 | 76 | 16.6 | $4.1M | +5.1% | #318 of 2,402 |
| 20Poquoson city, VA | 74 | 10 | 21.2 | $3.3M | +6.6% | #333 of 2,402 |
| 21Spotsylvania County, VA | 73 | 103 | 19.6 | $3.5M | +10.5% | #365 of 2,402 |
| 22King William County, VA | 73 | 17 | 23.1 | $2.7M | +9.5% | #374 of 2,402 |
| 23Isle of Wight County, VA | 72 | 33 | 20.9 | $3.1M | +6.7% | #395 of 2,402 |
| 24Alexandria city, VA | 70 | 80 | 10.5 | $6.7M | +1.0% | #426 of 2,402 |
| 25Appomattox County, VA | 70 | 11 | 16.6 | $3.4M | +6.3% | #445 of 2,402 |
Show all 133 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Bedford County, VA | 69 | 53 | 16.0 | $3.8M | +4.4% | #464 of 2,402 |
| 27Hanover County, VA | 69 | 92 | 21.6 | $3.2M | +5.6% | #477 of 2,402 |
| 28Chesapeake city, VA | 68 | 153 | 16.3 | $4M | +2.3% | #494 of 2,402 |
| 29Suffolk city, VA | 68 | 76 | 20.0 | $3.2M | +10.4% | #512 of 2,402 |
| 30Roanoke County, VA | 65 | 54 | 13.6 | $4.6M | +0.2% | #579 of 2,402 |
| 31Prince George County, VA | 65 | 34 | 26.3 | $2.4M | +2.0% | #614 of 2,402 |
| 32Caroline County, VA | 63 | 24 | 20.0 | $3.2M | +11.3% | #672 of 2,402 |
| 33Culpeper County, VA | 63 | 52 | 27.5 | $2.4M | +9.3% | #691 of 2,402 |
| 34Henrico County, VA | 62 | 242 | 17.6 | $3.7M | +2.3% | #703 of 2,402 |
| 35Dinwiddie County, VA | 61 | 18 | 16.9 | $3.6M | +3.6% | #754 of 2,402 |
| 36Augusta County, VA | 60 | 64 | 20.6 | $2.9M | +1.8% | #804 of 2,402 |
| 37Gloucester County, VA | 60 | 33 | 21.6 | $2.9M | +3.6% | #805 of 2,402 |
| 38Fairfax city, VA | 57 | 24 | 26.2 | $2.8M | +10.8% | #906 of 2,402 |
| 39Alleghany County, VA | 56 | 8 | 12.5 | $4.3M | −4.2% | #917 of 2,402 |
| 40Virginia Beach city, VA | 55 | 320 | 17.8 | $3.7M | −1.3% | #968 of 2,402 |
| 41Montgomery County, VA | 54 | 61 | 16.5 | $3.6M | −1.2% | #1,010 of 2,402 |
| 42Amelia County, VA | 54 | 12 | 22.2 | $2.6M | +2.7% | #1,041 of 2,402 |
| 43Manassas Park city, VA | 53 | 12 | 23.1 | $2.9M | −3.5% | #1,072 of 2,402 |
| 44Rockingham County, VA | 53 | 85 | 26.0 | $2.4M | +6.6% | #1,091 of 2,402 |
| 45Clarke County, VA | 53 | 18 | 30.6 | $2.2M | +5.4% | #1,095 of 2,402 |
| 46Russell County, VA | 50 | 20 | 18.7 | $2.9M | −1.7% | #1,208 of 2,402 |
| 47Manassas city, VA | 49 | 39 | 27.5 | $2.5M | +3.9% | #1,256 of 2,402 |
| 48Northumberland County, VA | 49 | 16 | 28.4 | $2.1M | +6.1% | #1,267 of 2,402 |
| 49Franklin County, VA | 48 | 46 | 20.0 | $2.9M | +1.9% | #1,284 of 2,402 |
| 50Hampton city, VA | 47 | 101 | 17.4 | $3.4M | 0.0% | #1,309 of 2,402 |
| 51Botetourt County, VA | 46 | 31 | 23.4 | $2.6M | +1.5% | #1,360 of 2,402 |
| 52Amherst County, VA | 46 | 28 | 22.1 | $2.6M | +2.1% | #1,363 of 2,402 |
| 53Fredericksburg city, VA | 46 | 36 | 30.7 | $2.1M | +8.6% | #1,374 of 2,402 |
| 54Nelson County, VA | 46 | 19 | 29.9 | $2M | +1.2% | #1,376 of 2,402 |
| 55Southampton County, VA | 45 | 23 | 33.5 | $1.7M | +0.9% | #1,420 of 2,402 |
| 56Rockbridge County, VA | 44 | 16 | 16.8 | $3.5M | 0.0% | #1,422 of 2,402 |
| 57Richmond city, VA | 44 | 227 | 21.8 | $2.7M | +4.6% | #1,430 of 2,402 |
| 58Washington County, VA | 44 | 48 | 21.7 | $2.6M | 0.0% | #1,432 of 2,402 |
| 59Warren County, VA | 44 | 46 | 30.0 | $2.1M | +4.8% | #1,453 of 2,402 |
| 60Radford city, VA | 43 | 10 | 18.1 | $3M | +7.0% | #1,469 of 2,402 |
| 61Pulaski County, VA | 43 | 34 | 23.5 | $2.4M | −0.6% | #1,482 of 2,402 |
| 62Page County, VA | 42 | 22 | 22.2 | $2.5M | +0.3% | #1,517 of 2,402 |
| 63Westmoreland County, VA | 42 | 19 | 23.3 | $2.5M | +6.5% | #1,519 of 2,402 |
| 64Madison County, VA | 42 | 17 | 31.0 | $2M | +2.7% | #1,534 of 2,402 |
| 65Waynesboro city, VA | 41 | 22 | 22.4 | $2.5M | +7.5% | #1,548 of 2,402 |
| 66Shenandoah County, VA | 40 | 55 | 30.6 | $1.9M | +3.6% | #1,615 of 2,402 |
| 67Tazewell County, VA | 39 | 30 | 18.4 | $2.9M | −4.4% | #1,626 of 2,402 |
| 68Colonial Heights city, VA | 39 | 20 | 26.6 | $2.3M | +3.2% | #1,640 of 2,402 |
| 69Newport News city, VA | 38 | 155 | 20.4 | $2.9M | −1.5% | #1,658 of 2,402 |
| 70Falls Church city, VA | 38 | 28 | 44.6 | $1.7M | +3.3% | #1,691 of 2,402 |
| 71Lynchburg city, VA | 37 | 60 | 20.9 | $2.7M | +3.0% | #1,702 of 2,402 |
| 72Portsmouth city, VA | 36 | 72 | 17.9 | $3.1M | −1.2% | #1,734 of 2,402 |
| 73Norfolk city, VA | 36 | 197 | 20.7 | $2.8M | −2.9% | #1,736 of 2,402 |
| 74Lancaster County, VA | 36 | 15 | 26.3 | $2.3M | +0.9% | #1,745 of 2,402 |
| 75Grayson County, VA | 35 | 12 | 18.9 | $2.8M | −0.3% | #1,776 of 2,402 |
| 76Smyth County, VA | 35 | 25 | 19.7 | $2.7M | −3.0% | #1,777 of 2,402 |
| 77Salem city, VA | 35 | 27 | 26.3 | $2.3M | +1.7% | #1,788 of 2,402 |
| 78Floyd County, VA | 34 | 16 | 24.1 | $2.3M | +2.1% | #1,814 of 2,402 |
| 79Staunton city, VA | 34 | 31 | 27.4 | $2.1M | +3.8% | #1,824 of 2,402 |
| 80Carroll County, VA | 34 | 42 | 33.4 | $1.6M | +0.5% | #1,838 of 2,402 |
| 81Lunenburg County, VA | 32 | 10 | 21.0 | $2.6M | +0.9% | #1,885 of 2,402 |
| 82Pittsylvania County, VA | 31 | 47 | 18.8 | $2.9M | −1.5% | #1,915 of 2,402 |
| 83Giles County, VA | 31 | 15 | 22.4 | $2.6M | −1.3% | #1,917 of 2,402 |
| 84Campbell County, VA | 30 | 59 | 26.5 | $2.2M | +0.1% | #1,949 of 2,402 |
| 85Buckingham County, VA | 29 | 18 | 28.7 | $2M | +1.9% | #1,983 of 2,402 |
| 86Winchester city, VA | 29 | 46 | 40.0 | $1.4M | +1.0% | #1,994 of 2,402 |
| 87Prince Edward County, VA | 28 | 22 | 28.8 | $1.9M | +2.3% | #2,013 of 2,402 |
| 88Middlesex County, VA | 28 | 20 | 41.9 | $1.4M | +2.2% | #2,029 of 2,402 |
| 89Wise County, VA | 27 | 31 | 22.3 | $2.4M | −3.5% | #2,036 of 2,402 |
| 90Patrick County, VA | 27 | 26 | 33.4 | $1.7M | −0.9% | #2,053 of 2,402 |
| 91Williamsburg city, VA | 27 | 24 | 47.8 | $1.3M | +2.6% | #2,057 of 2,402 |
| 92Nottoway County, VA | 26 | 17 | 30.3 | $1.8M | +1.0% | #2,077 of 2,402 |
| 93Mecklenburg County, VA | 26 | 47 | 34.6 | $1.6M | +1.5% | #2,087 of 2,402 |
| 94Accomack County, VA | 25 | 50 | 34.6 | $1.6M | +1.4% | #2,112 of 2,402 |
| 95Dickenson County, VA | 24 | 11 | 18.5 | $2.8M | −6.0% | #2,122 of 2,402 |
| 96Greensville County, VA | 23 | 8 | 25.0 | $2.2M | −1.8% | #2,143 of 2,402 |
| 97Charlottesville city, VA | 23 | 64 | 32.3 | $1.9M | −4.4% | #2,150 of 2,402 |
| 98Halifax County, VA | 22 | 31 | 22.8 | $2.4M | −1.4% | #2,163 of 2,402 |
| 99Roanoke city, VA | 22 | 105 | 24.1 | $2.3M | −0.8% | #2,166 of 2,402 |
| 100Hopewell city, VA | 22 | 25 | 27.0 | $2M | +1.1% | #2,174 of 2,402 |
| 101Charlotte County, VA | 20 | 13 | 27.6 | $2M | −1.2% | #2,212 of 2,402 |
| 102Essex County, VA | 20 | 14 | 31.5 | $1.8M | +0.5% | #2,215 of 2,402 |
| 103Martinsville city, VA | 19 | 19 | 33.3 | $1.6M | +2.8% | #2,233 of 2,402 |
| 104Northampton County, VA | 18 | 24 | 44.1 | $1.3M | −2.8% | #2,256 of 2,402 |
| 105Petersburg city, VA | 17 | 44 | 29.1 | $1.8M | +1.0% | #2,266 of 2,402 |
| 106Wythe County, VA | 17 | 46 | 36.7 | $1.5M | −1.2% | #2,273 of 2,402 |
| 107Harrisonburg city, VA | 16 | 60 | 34.6 | $1.6M | −1.7% | #2,285 of 2,402 |
| 108Scott County, VA | 15 | 25 | 27.4 | $1.9M | −1.8% | #2,297 of 2,402 |
| 109Sussex County, VA | 15 | 22 | 58.1 | $984K | −0.4% | #2,302 of 2,402 |
| 110Henry County, VA | 14 | 57 | 27.1 | $2M | −3.1% | #2,305 of 2,402 |
| 111Buchanan County, VA | 12 | 20 | 26.6 | $1.9M | −8.7% | #2,331 of 2,402 |
| 112Brunswick County, VA | 12 | 23 | 35.5 | $1.5M | −0.6% | #2,337 of 2,402 |
| 113Lee County, VA | 12 | 33 | 38.7 | $1.3M | −2.1% | #2,341 of 2,402 |
| 114Danville city, VA | 11 | 51 | 26.7 | $1.9M | −2.2% | #2,344 of 2,402 |
| 115Bristol city, VA | 7 | 24 | 33.2 | $1.6M | −5.2% | #2,381 of 2,402 |
| Cumberland County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 10.0 | $5.7M | +6.9% | |
| Richmond County, VA | Not scored | 10 | 31.5 | $1.8M | +4.2% | |
| Mathews County, VA | Not scored | 6 | 15.0 | $4M | +0.1% | |
| Franklin city, VA | Not scored | 12 | 34.7 | $1.6M | +4.1% | |
| Lexington city, VA | Not scored | 14 | 64.0 | $939K | +6.2% | |
| Rappahannock County, VA | Not scored | 8 | 26.8 | $2.4M | +1.6% | |
| Galax city, VA | Not scored | 17 | 61.5 | $859K | −0.7% | |
| King and Queen County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 13.3 | $4.4M | +2.4% | |
| Charles City County, VA | Not scored | 3 | 10.3 | $5.9M | −1.8% | |
| Buena Vista city, VA | Not scored | 5 | 19.6 | $2.7M | +0.9% | |
| Surry County, VA | Not scored | 7 | 24.7 | $2.4M | +0.8% | |
| Bland County, VA | Not scored | 4 | 16.8 | $3.4M | −1.7% | |
| Covington city, VA | Not scored | 3 | 11.6 | $4.3M | −1.2% | |
| Emporia city, VA | Not scored | 20 | 92.7 | $586K | −4.4% | |
| Craig County, VA | Not scored | 6 | 34.6 | $1.7M | −1.6% | |
| Bath County, VA | Not scored | 5 | 27.4 | $2.1M | −2.6% | |
| Norton city, VA | Not scored | 9 | 56.1 | $892K | −5.5% | |
| Highland County, VA | Not scored | 5 | 49.9 | $1.1M | +3.4% |
Markets with fewer than 5 grocery and convenience stores on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many grocery and convenience stores are in Virginia?
Virginia has 6,412 grocery and convenience stores on map listings as of September 2026. 3,231 of them (50%) are chain locations. The listings count grocery, convenience and specialty food stores. Official counts show 2,921 businesses with payroll classed as grocery and convenience stores in 2023, up 7.3% from 2019. Another 1,547 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
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 6,412 grocery and convenience stores on map listings, it comes to $3.4M per store. 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 grocery and convenience stores?
Virginia has 19.1 grocery and convenience stores per 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 18.7. Spending per store is $3.4M, in line with the U.S. figure of $3.4M. At the national ratio of grocery and convenience stores to household spending, Virginia would have about 6,494, against 6,412 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,152 households, against one for every 1,293 across the U.S. The official count rose 7.3% from 2019 to 2023, against +7.2% for the U.S.
Which market in Virginia has the highest market score for grocery and 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 90 (very high). Among 115 scored counties in Virginia, Powhatan County scores highest, at 95 (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 51 for grocery and convenience stores (upper middle), #25 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 grocery and 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.
Grocery and convenience stores in other states
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Top markets for grocery and convenience stores across the U.S. · All business types in Virginia
Related business types in Virginia
- Grocery stores2,226 listings
- Convenience stores3,168 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.