(STACKER) — This information will come as no surprise to people who live in the Richmond region, but it’s official – six counties in our area claimed spots in the list of top 25 Virginia counties to raise a family.
The list from Stacker, a group that specializes in using data to show trends and information, features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. For this list, Stacker used data from Niche that ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation and weather.
Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Frederick County
– Population: 86,415
– Median home value: $251,200 (78% own)
– Median rent: $1,125 (22% rent)
– Median household income: $78,002
– Top public schools:
– Top private schools: Mountain View Christian Academy (B), Lighthouse Baptist Academy (unavailable), The Independent School of Winchester (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Stephens City (A-), Lake Holiday (B+), Middletown (B+)
24. Prince George County
– Population: 38,114
– Median home value: $213,300 (68% own)
– Median rent: $1,338 (32% rent)
– Median household income: $71,912
– Top public schools: South Elementary School (A-), L.L. Beazley Elementary School (A-), J.E.J. Moore Middle School (B+)
– Top private schools:
– Top places to live: Prince George (B-)
#23. Washington County
– Population: 54,071
– Median home value: $151,800 (75% own)
– Median rent: $716 (25% rent)
– Median household income: $48,495
– Top public schools: Greendale Elementary School (A-), High Point Elementary School (A-), Watauga Elementary School (A-)
– Top private schools: Sullins Academy (unavailable), Cornerstone Christian Academy (unavailable), Victory Children’s Center (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Abingdon (A-), Emory (A), Glade Spring (B+)
#22. New Kent County
– Population: 21,686
– Median home value: $281,100 (86% own)
– Median rent: $1,010 (14% rent)
– Median household income: $87,904
– Top public schools: New Kent High School (B+), New Kent Elementary School (B+), New Kent Middle School (B)
– Top private schools: Cumberland Academy (unavailable)
– Top places to live: New Kent (B-)
#21. Appomattox County
– Population: 15,707
– Median home value: $158,800 (78% own)
– Median rent: $691 (22% rent)
– Median household income: $58,696
– Top public schools: Appomattox Middle School (A-), Appomattox County High School (B), Appomattox Elementary School (B-)
– Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (B)
– Top places to live: Appomattox (B)
#20. Powhatan County
– Population: 28,815
– Median home value: $279,200 (90% own)
– Median rent: $980 (10% rent)
– Median household income: $89,090
– Top public schools: Powhatan Elementary School (A-), Powhatan High School (B+), Flat Rock Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: The Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School (B+)
– Top places to live: Powhatan (C)
#19. Isle of Wight County
– Population: 36,627
– Median home value: $266,800 (76% own)
– Median rent: $1,045 (24% rent)
– Median household income: $73,991
– Top public schools: Georgie D. Tyler Middle School (A-), Windsor Elementary School (B+), Carrsville Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: Isle of Wight Academy (B)
– Top places to live: Carrollton (B+), Smithfield (B), Windsor (B-)
#18. Fauquier County
– Population: 69,728
– Median home value: $395,500 (78% own)
– Median rent: $1,281 (22% rent)
– Median household income: $100,783
– Top public schools: Kettle Run High School (A), P.B. Smith Elementary School (B+), Grace Miller Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: Wakefield School (A+), Highland School (A+), Fresta Valley Christian School (B)
– Top places to live: New Baltimore (B+), Warrenton (B), Bealeton (B)
#17. Rockingham County
– Population: 80,284
– Median home value: $211,500 (74% own)
– Median rent: $907 (26% rent)
– Median household income: $61,864
– Top public schools:
– Top private schools: Calvary Christian Academy (B), Blue Ridge Christian School (B), Berea Christian School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Bridgewater (A+), Dayton (A), Belmont Estates (A)
#16. Botetourt County
– Population: 33,343
– Median home value: $227,700 (86% own)
– Median rent: $908 (14% rent)
– Median household income: $71,110
– Top public schools: Read Mountain Middle School (A-), Central Academy Middle School (A-), Colonial Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools:
– Top places to live: Blue Ridge (A-), Cloverdale (A-), Daleville (A-)
#15. King George County
– Population: 26,229
– Median home value: $307,900 (79% own)
– Median rent: $1,208 (21% rent)
– Median household income: $94,274
– Top public schools: Potomac Elementary School (B+), King George High School (B+), King George Middle School (B)
– Top private schools:
– Top places to live: Dahlgren (B+), King George (B+), Fairview Beach (B)
#14. Spotsylvania County
– Population: 132,833
– Median home value: $284,000 (78% own)
– Median rent: $1,477 (22% rent)
– Median household income: $88,628
– Top public schools: Riverbend High School (A-), Chancellor Elementary School (A-), Courtland High School (B+)
– Top private schools: Fredericksburg Academy (A+), St. Michael the Archangel High School (A-), Fredericksburg Christian School (B+)
– Top places to live: Spotsylvania Courthouse (B)
#13. Montgomery County
– Population: 98,140
– Median home value: $227,100 (55% own)
– Median rent: $992 (45% rent)
– Median household income: $57,977
– Top public schools: Blacksburg High School (A+), Gilbert Linkous Elementary School (A-), Margaret Beeks Elementary School (A-)
– Top private schools: Dayspring Christian Academy (B), Pathway Christian Academy (unavailable), Blacksburg New School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Blacksburg (A+), Merrimac (A-), Christiansburg (A-)
#12. Goochland County
– Population: 22,865
– Median home value: $375,200 (85% own)
– Median rent: $1,208 (15% rent)
– Median household income: $93,994
– Top public schools: Goochland High School (A-), Randolph Elementary School (B+), Goochland Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: Saint Gertrude High School (A), Benedictine College Preparatory (A), Richmond Academy (A)
– Top places to live: Goochland (A-)
#11. Hanover County
– Population: 105,537
– Median home value: $282,900 (83% own)
– Median rent: $1,159 (17% rent)
– Median household income: $89,390
– Top public schools: Atlee High School (A-), Rural Point Elementary School (A-), Oak Knoll Middle School (A-)
– Top private schools: Atlee Christian Academy (unavailable), Heritage Christian Academy (unavailable), Liberty Christian School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Mechanicsville (A-), Ashland (A-), Hanover (B)
#10. Roanoke County
– Population: 93,823
– Median home value: $199,800 (75% own)
– Median rent: $956 (25% rent)
– Median household income: $68,948
– Top public schools: Hidden Valley High School (A), Cave Spring High School (A), Green Valley Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: North Cross School (A+), Faith Christian School (A), Roanoke Valley Christian Schools (B-)
– Top places to live: Cave Spring (A+), Hollins (A-), Vinton (B+)
#9. Henrico County
– Population: 327,535
– Median home value: $242,600 (63% own)
– Median rent: $1,170 (37% rent)
– Median household income: $70,307
– Top public schools: Deep Run High School (A+), Mills E. Godwin High School (A+), Glen Allen High School (A)
– Top private schools: Collegiate School (A+), The Steward School (A+), Grove Christian School (A-)
– Top places to live: Innsbrook (A+), Short Pump (A+), Wyndham (A+)
#8. Prince William County
– Population: 461,423
– Median home value: $382,400 (73% own)
– Median rent: $1,713 (27% rent)
– Median household income: $107,132
– Top public schools: Battlefield High School (A), Patriot High School (A), Charles J. Colgan Senior High School (A)
– Top private schools: Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School (A), Evangel Christian School (A-), Heritage Christian School (A-)
– Top places to live: Occoquan (A+), Gainesville (A), Montclair (A)
#7. Albemarle County
– Population: 107,405
– Median home value: $356,100 (63% own)
– Median rent: $1,273 (37% rent)
– Median household income: $79,880
– Top public schools:
– Top private schools: Miller School of Albemarle (A+), Tandem Friends School (A+), Charlottesville Catholic School (A+)
– Top places to live: Crozet (A), Hollymead (A), Pantops (A)
#6. Stafford County
– Population: 146,773
– Median home value: $346,100 (77% own)
– Median rent: $1,546 (23% rent)
– Median household income: $111,108
– Top public schools: Colonial Forge High School (A), Mountain View High School (A), Rodney E. Thompson Middle School (A-)
– Top private schools: Grace Preparatory School (B+), Holy Cross Academy (unavailable), Ferry Farm Baptist Church Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Falmouth (A-), Aquia Harbour (A-), Southern Gateway (B)
#5. Chesterfield County
– Population: 343,551
– Median home value: $241,200 (76% own)
– Median rent: $1,251 (24% rent)
– Median household income: $82,599
– Top public schools: Clover Hill High School (A), Midlothian High School (A), Cosby High School (A)
– Top private schools: Banner Christian School (A-), Richmond Christian School (B+), Millwood School (B+)
– Top places to live: Woodlake (A+), Brandermill (A+), Bon Air (A+)
#4. James City County
– Population: 74,916
– Median home value: $340,500 (76% own)
– Median rent: $1,327 (24% rent)
– Median household income: $87,678
– Top public schools:
– Top private schools: Providence Classical School (A), Williamsburg Christian Academy (A), Williamsburg Montessori School (unavailable)
#3. York County
– Population: 67,982
– Median home value: $327,100 (71% own)
– Median rent: $1,480 (29% rent)
– Median household income: $92,069
– Top public schools: Tabb High School (A+), Grafton High School (A), Tabb Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Summit Christian Academy (B+), Little Log Cabin CC & Learning Center (unavailable), Grace Episcopal Day School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Yorktown (A-)
#2. Fairfax County
– Population: 1,145,862
– Median home value: $563,100 (68% own)
– Median rent: $1,881 (32% rent)
– Median household income: $124,831
– Top public schools: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (A+), McLean High School (A+), Langley High School (A+)
– Top private schools: The Potomac School (A+), The Madeira School (A+), Flint Hill School (A+)
– Top places to live: Franklin Farm (A+), Wakefield (A+), Oakton (A+)
#1. Loudoun County
– Population: 395,134
– Median home value: $508,100 (78% own)
– Median rent: $1,870 (22% rent)
– Median household income: $142,299
– Top public schools: Riverside High School (A+), Briar Woods High School (A+), Rock Ridge High School (A+)
– Top private schools: Foxcroft School (A+), Loudoun School for Advanced Studies (A+), Fairfax Christian School (A+)
– Top places to live: Stone Ridge (A+), Cascades (A+), Broadlands (A+)
