Groundwork

Market rankings · Virginia

Real estate businesses in Virginia

Every metro area, small-town market and county in Virginia, ranked by the Groundwork market score for real estate businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
13,788
752 chain locations (5%)
Official establishments
8,193
+16.8% since 2019
Household spending a year
$56.7B
On rent and homeowner costs
Listings per 10k households
41.0
6% above the U.S.
Housing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)
95
5% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#37 of 51
Market score 40 · Lower middle

A site report maps the real estate businesses on map listings around any address in Virginia by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

There are 13,788 real estate businesses on map listings in Virginia as of September 2026. Of those, 752 are chain locations, or 5%, against 6% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 41.0, 6% above the U.S. rate of 38.5.

Household spending on rent and homeowner costs in Virginia comes to about $56.7B a year: $16,844 per household, in line with the U.S. average. Housing spending per office is 5% below the U.S. figure. The spending figure is all rent and homeowner costs, a measure of housing demand, not money real estate businesses take in.

In 2023, official counts showed 8,193 businesses with payroll in Virginia classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors, up 16.8% from 2019. That is one for every 411 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 15.8% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 66 SBA-backed loans worth $15.2M have gone to businesses classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in Virginia.

Among the 50 states and DC, Virginia ranks #37 for real estate businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 40 (lower middle). Of the 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Kingsport-Bristol metro area scores highest (69). Of the 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest (63).

Every market in Virginia for real estate businesses

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

Metro areas reaching Virginia, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA6923918.3174+2.3%#38 of 387
1Harrisonburg, VA5713627.2127+3.5%#116 of 387
2Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA5015830.2112+3.2%#182 of 387
3Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA4820128.6117−0.1%#197 of 387
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV4710,98446.395+3.3%#217 of 387
4Richmond, VA462,10239.495+5.5%#229 of 387
5Winchester, VA-WV4423842.986+6.5%#248 of 387
6Lynchburg, VA3735934.796+2.9%#313 of 387
7Charlottesville, VA3739543.789+3.1%#316 of 387
8Roanoke, VA3446435.396+0.4%#344 of 387
9Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC293,27946.479+0.9%#373 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Virginia, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
1Lake of the Woods, VA633825.6149+10.1%#109 of 536
2Danville, VA545312.0250−1.7%#205 of 536
3Martinsville, VA543713.8216−1.9%#209 of 536
Bluefield, WV-VA536115.1201−3.8%#224 of 536

Counties

Counties in Virginia, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
1Caroline County, VA851613.3275+11.3%#9 of 2,229
2Prince George County, VA7997.0523+2.0%#34 of 2,229
3King William County, VA7968.2444+9.5%#37 of 2,229
4Rockingham County, VA78268.0448+6.6%#47 of 2,229
5Frederick County, VA783610.2384+8.8%#50 of 2,229
6Greene County, VA7767.5508+6.6%#63 of 2,229
7Fluvanna County, VA761211.6328+6.2%#83 of 2,229
8Madison County, VA73712.8284+2.7%#142 of 2,229
9Southampton County, VA7157.3457+0.9%#173 of 2,229
10Amherst County, VA711411.0300+2.1%#185 of 2,229
11New Kent County, VA712021.6192+21.2%#193 of 2,229
12Appomattox County, VA70913.6239+6.3%#206 of 2,229
13King George County, VA693130.6134+10.5%#253 of 2,229
14Westmoreland County, VA681619.6167+6.5%#281 of 2,229
15Giles County, VA6769.0364−1.3%#284 of 2,229
16Page County, VA6799.1344+0.3%#287 of 2,229
17Pulaski County, VA671510.4312−0.6%#290 of 2,229
18Clarke County, VA67915.3267+5.4%#297 of 2,229
19Floyd County, VA671015.1215+2.1%#305 of 2,229
20Pittsylvania County, VA66124.8641−1.5%#321 of 2,229
21Petersburg city, VA66149.2318+1.0%#328 of 2,229
22Orange County, VA663825.6149+10.1%#359 of 2,229
23Goochland County, VA652423.2187+17.4%#383 of 2,229
24Louisa County, VA642415.4238+13.6%#405 of 2,229
25Isle of Wight County, VA633220.3186+6.7%#461 of 2,229
Show all 133 counties
Counties in Virginia, ranked for real estate businesses by Groundwork market score, continued
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsHousing spending per listing (U.S. = 100)Population growthU.S. rank
26Henry County, VA62167.6393−3.1%#476 of 2,229
27Stafford County, VA6116631.7143+8.3%#553 of 2,229
28Wise County, VA591410.1294−3.5%#597 of 2,229
29Smyth County, VA591511.8253−3.0%#601 of 2,229
30Washington County, VA593214.52260.0%#607 of 2,229
31Culpeper County, VA595830.6126+9.3%#638 of 2,229
32Amelia County, VA58814.8224+2.7%#652 of 2,229
33Powhatan County, VA582925.6159+7.0%#673 of 2,229
34Northumberland County, VA571017.7191+6.1%#715 of 2,229
35Halifax County, VA561914.0217−1.4%#758 of 2,229
36Suffolk city, VA5610427.4137+10.4%#789 of 2,229
37Hampton city, VA559316.02090.0%#809 of 2,229
38Lunenburg County, VA54612.6243+0.9%#852 of 2,229
39Portsmouth city, VA545613.9229−1.2%#854 of 2,229
40York County, VA546323.4175+1.6%#860 of 2,229
41Campbell County, VA533314.8221+0.1%#903 of 2,229
42Essex County, VA53715.7201+0.5%#910 of 2,229
43Grayson County, VA52812.6235−0.3%#960 of 2,229
44Carroll County, VA522620.7147+0.5%#990 of 2,229
45Gloucester County, VA523925.5143+3.6%#992 of 2,229
46Nottoway County, VA51916.0195+1.0%#1,027 of 2,229
47Prince William County, VA5058937.6119+4.2%#1,104 of 2,229
48Hopewell city, VA491819.4159+1.1%#1,128 of 2,229
49Spotsylvania County, VA4921641.299+10.5%#1,156 of 2,229
50Franklin County, VA485624.3139+1.9%#1,180 of 2,229
51Hanover County, VA4814433.7122+5.6%#1,187 of 2,229
52Fauquier County, VA4810037.4117+4.8%#1,189 of 2,229
53Augusta County, VA477925.4137+1.8%#1,228 of 2,229
54Chesterfield County, VA4752637.5106+8.7%#1,249 of 2,229
55Wythe County, VA462116.8185−1.2%#1,265 of 2,229
56Shenandoah County, VA465932.8103+3.6%#1,314 of 2,229
57Loudoun County, VA4674151.898+6.4%#1,317 of 2,229
58Warren County, VA456743.784+4.8%#1,370 of 2,229
59Patrick County, VA431418.0174−0.9%#1,442 of 2,229
60Arlington County, VA4346041.1112+2.1%#1,472 of 2,229
61Nelson County, VA421625.1142+1.2%#1,508 of 2,229
62Accomack County, VA423524.2132+1.4%#1,513 of 2,229
63Manassas city, VA426847.987+3.9%#1,543 of 2,229
64Tazewell County, VA413119.0157−4.4%#1,558 of 2,229
65Albemarle County, VA3923851.878+5.1%#1,702 of 2,229
66Botetourt County, VA384433.3107+1.5%#1,738 of 2,229
67Waynesboro city, VA383838.683+7.5%#1,748 of 2,229
68James City County, VA3823071.957+6.2%#1,758 of 2,229
69Fairfax city, VA38162177.025+10.8%#1,761 of 2,229
70Northampton County, VA371120.2167−2.8%#1,769 of 2,229
71Alexandria city, VA3538750.984+1.0%#1,880 of 2,229
72Fairfax County, VA352,36657.183+1.7%#1,885 of 2,229
73Staunton city, VA344136.389+3.8%#1,931 of 2,229
74Bedford County, VA3415948.074+4.4%#1,941 of 2,229
75Fredericksburg city, VA34266227.017+8.6%#1,959 of 2,229
76Chesapeake city, VA3345348.480+2.3%#1,986 of 2,229
77Middlesex County, VA332246.175+2.2%#1,987 of 2,229
78Falls Church city, VA3399157.830+3.3%#1,993 of 2,229
79Bristol city, VA321318.0167−5.2%#1,995 of 2,229
80Danville city, VA324121.5136−2.2%#1,999 of 2,229
81Henrico County, VA3272052.473+2.3%#2,017 of 2,229
82Richmond city, VA3253050.867+4.6%#2,020 of 2,229
83Lancaster County, VA312136.893+0.9%#2,042 of 2,229
84Mecklenburg County, VA314734.691+1.5%#2,045 of 2,229
85Prince Edward County, VA312938.084+2.3%#2,046 of 2,229
86Radford city, VA312443.372+7.0%#2,052 of 2,229
87Colonial Heights city, VA304863.754+3.2%#2,081 of 2,229
88Norfolk city, VA2928530.0112−2.9%#2,089 of 2,229
89Montgomery County, VA2914639.588−1.2%#2,095 of 2,229
90Martinsville city, VA272136.881+2.8%#2,150 of 2,229
91Roanoke County, VA2719348.675+0.2%#2,151 of 2,229
92Salem city, VA274745.875+1.7%#2,152 of 2,229
93Roanoke city, VA2612328.2111−0.8%#2,157 of 2,229
94Williamsburg city, VA263875.746+2.6%#2,171 of 2,229
95Lynchburg city, VA2414450.263+3.0%#2,189 of 2,229
96Newport News city, VA2137349.068−1.5%#2,209 of 2,229
97Virginia Beach city, VA211,41978.948−1.3%#2,211 of 2,229
98Winchester city, VA20189164.520+1.0%#2,217 of 2,229
99Charlottesville city, VA1712362.158−4.4%#2,223 of 2,229
100Harrisonburg city, VA1611063.451−1.7%#2,227 of 2,229
Dinwiddie County, VANot scored32.81,237+3.6%
Russell County, VANot scored32.81,079−1.7%
Rockbridge County, VANot scored33.11,0660.0%
Lee County, VANot scored33.5815−2.1%
Scott County, VANot scored33.3890−1.8%
Buchanan County, VANot scored22.71,053−8.7%
Buckingham County, VANot scored23.2996+1.9%
Manassas Park city, VANot scored47.7513−3.5%
Brunswick County, VANot scored00.0n/a−0.6%
Alleghany County, VANot scored34.7652−4.2%
Dickenson County, VANot scored00.0n/a−6.0%
Poquoson city, VANot scored48.5494+6.6%
Charlotte County, VANot scored24.3729−1.2%
Greensville County, VANot scored13.1981−1.8%
Sussex County, VANot scored25.3614−0.4%
Cumberland County, VANot scored12.51,311+6.9%
Richmond County, VANot scored39.4347+4.2%
Mathews County, VANot scored922.6156+0.1%
Franklin city, VANot scored1955.057+4.1%
Lexington city, VANot scored1777.744+6.2%
Rappahannock County, VANot scored826.8147+1.6%
Galax city, VANot scored932.693−0.7%
King and Queen County, VANot scored00.0n/a+2.4%
Charles City County, VANot scored13.41,013−1.8%
Buena Vista city, VANot scored727.4108+0.9%
Surry County, VANot scored310.6327+0.8%
Bland County, VANot scored312.6254−1.7%
Covington city, VANot scored519.4142−1.2%
Emporia city, VANot scored29.3329−4.4%
Craig County, VANot scored15.8591−1.6%
Bath County, VANot scored527.4118−2.6%
Norton city, VANot scored16.2445−5.5%
Highland County, VANot scored219.9161+3.4%

Markets with fewer than 5 real estate businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many real estate businesses are in Virginia?

As of September 2026, map listings count 13,788 real estate businesses in Virginia. 752 of them (5%) are chain locations. The listings count real estate agents and brokers, property managers, mortgage brokers and lenders, and home inspectors. Official counts show 8,193 businesses with payroll classed as real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders and inspectors in 2023, up 16.8% from 2019. Official counts also show 41,768 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Virginia spend on rent and homeowner costs?

About $56.7B a year, or $16,844 per household. That is in line with the U.S. average (an index of 101, where 100 is the U.S. average). For the 13,788 real estate businesses on map listings, housing spending per office is 5% below the U.S. figure. That figure is all rent and homeowner costs, used as a measure of housing demand; it is not money real estate businesses take in. 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 real estate businesses?

Virginia has 41.0 real estate businesses per 10,000 households, 6% above the U.S. rate of 38.5. The index of housing spending per office is 95, where 100 is the U.S. At the U.S. ratio of real estate businesses to household spending, Virginia would have about 13,087, against 13,788 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 411 households, against one for every 414 across the U.S. The official count rose 16.8% from 2019 to 2023, against +15.8% for the U.S.

Which market in Virginia has the highest market score for real estate businesses?

Among 11 scored metro areas in or partly in Virginia, the Kingsport-Bristol metro area scores highest, at 69 (upper middle). Among 4 scored small-town markets in or partly in Virginia, the Lake of the Woods area scores highest, at 63 (upper middle). Among 100 scored counties in Virginia, Caroline County scores highest, at 85 (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 40 for real estate businesses (lower middle), #37 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 real estate businesses 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.

Real estate in other states

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Top markets for real estate businesses across the U.S. · All business types 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.