State rental market reference · Data updated October 18, 2026
Virginia rental market for DSCR investors: rent, taxes and insurance by county
What a rental in Virginia rents for, what it costs to carry, and whether it stays rented, from official data for all 133 counties. Read it before you price a deal here.
Virginia at a glance
What does a rental rent for?
$1,667 a month
HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent where most of Virginia's renters live, from $943 (Danville city) to $2,438 (Clarke County). It is the government figure for a modest 2-bedroom unit, utilities included, not the rent for a house.
What will property taxes cost?
0.73% of value a year
Homeowners in Virginia pay a median $2,790 a year on a median home value of $383,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024). A rental can be taxed at a different rate than an owner's home; the local tax bill is the real number.
What will insurance cost?
$1,180 a year
The median that homeowners with a mortgage in Virginia report paying for homeowners insurance (Census ACS 2020–2024). It is not a landlord quote: a rental policy usually costs more, and flood cover is extra.
Will it stay rented?
4.8% rental vacancy
Share of Virginia's rental homes vacant and for rent (Census ACS 2020–2024), across 1,099,123 renter households. Lower means rentals fill faster.
Are jobs growing?
Employment down 1.5% in a year
Employed residents in August 2026 against a year earlier; unemployment 3.6% (BLS, not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same month a year apart).
Is new supply coming?
33,094 homes permitted in 2025
About 9.8 new homes per 1,000 households; 62% single-family (Census Building Permits Survey). More new homes means more competition for tenants and buyers.
How often does it flood?
22,555 flood claims since 2005
National Flood Insurance Program claims on properties in Virginia since 2005, $374.4 million paid (FEMA). Claims show where water has reached insured buildings; they are not a flood map, so check the FEMA flood zone for the address.
What it means for a DSCR rental in Virginia
A lender's DSCR is the monthly rent divided by the full monthly payment: principal, interest, property taxes, insurance and any HOA dues. Many lenders accept 1.00x; 1.20x leaves a cushion.
Take a home at Virginia's median value of $383,700, bought with 25% down on a 7.5% 30-year loan, with the state's typical tax rate and insurance:
- Principal and interest ($287,775 loan)
- $2,012
- Property taxes
- $233
- Insurance
- $98
- Full monthly payment
- $2,344
- Rent for a 1.20x DSCR
- $2,810 a month
The government 2-bedroom figure where most of Virginia's renters live is $1,667 a month, below the $2,810 that home needs. A house usually rents for more than a 2-bedroom unit, so price the house you are looking at with its own rent. The last column of the table below gives the same figure for each county.
Rules and costs a landlord faces in Virginia
Each line quotes the official source it comes from and the date it was last checked. These are general rules, not legal advice; local rules can add to them.
- How long before you can file to evict for unpaid rent?
14 calendar days' notice for unpaid rent before an eviction can be filed.
If rent is unpaid when due, and the tenant fails to pay rent within 14 days after written notice is served on him notifying the tenant of his nonpayment, and of the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if the rent is not paid within the 14-day period
Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia), checked October 19, 2026
- How large a security deposit can you take?
Up to 2 months' rent.
No landlord may demand or receive a security deposit, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of two months' periodic rent.
Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia), checked October 19, 2026
- How fast must the deposit come back?
Within 45 days after the tenancy ends.
The security deposit and any deductions, damages, and charges shall be itemized by the landlord in a written notice given to the tenant ... within 45 days after the termination date of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, whichever occurs last.
Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia), checked October 19, 2026
- What does the state charge to record a purchase?
State tax: 25 cents on every $100.
On every deed admitted to record ... there is hereby levied a state recordation tax. The rate of the tax shall be 25 cents on every $100 or fraction thereof of (i) the consideration of the deed or (ii) the actual value of the property conveyed, whichever is greater.
Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia), checked October 19, 2026
Market hubs in Virginia
DSCRInfo does not publish a monthly market hub in Virginia yet. The figures above and the table below cover every county; the market hubs cover other states.
Virginia by county
All 133 counties, most renter households first. "Rent for 1.20x" is the monthly rent a home at that county's median value needs on the example loan above. A dash means the source publishes no reliable figure there.
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | $2,438 | 1.01% | $1,260 | 4.4% | -2.5% | 2,862 | 1,097 | $5,480 |
| Arlington County | $2,438 | 0.91% | $1,080 | 4.8% | -2.4% | 1,309 | 167 | $6,550 |
| Virginia Beach city | $1,667 | 0.80% | $1,460 | 5.2% | -1.4% | 436 | 3,621 | $2,860 |
| Richmond city | $1,651 | 0.89% | $1,170 | 6.1% | -1.6% | 2,681 | 72 | $2,650 |
| Norfolk city | $1,667 | 1.00% | $1,390 | 4.4% | -1.4% | 156 | 3,418 | $2,250 |
| Henrico County | $1,651 | 0.71% | $1,050 | 5.6% | -1.6% | 2,323 | 102 | $2,620 |
| Alexandria city | $2,438 | 0.96% | $1,010 | 4.1% | -2.4% | 17 | 293 | $5,430 |
| Prince William County | $2,438 | 0.94% | $1,240 | 3.9% | -2.4% | 1,340 | 302 | $3,960 |
| Newport News city | $1,667 | 1.01% | $1,240 | 5.6% | -1.3% | 125 | 649 | $2,030 |
| Chesterfield County | $1,651 | 0.76% | $1,180 | 5.3% | -1.6% | 2,194 | 90 | $2,700 |
| Loudoun County | $2,438 | 0.85% | $1,330 | 3.9% | -2.3% | 1,561 | 85 | $5,450 |
| Hampton city | $1,667 | 0.95% | $1,270 | 6.3% | -1.4% | 100 | 2,551 | $1,910 |
| Chesapeake city | $1,667 | 0.82% | $1,360 | 3.8% | -1.4% | 846 | 1,564 | $2,830 |
| Roanoke city | $1,464 | 0.99% | $900 | 7.4% | -0.7% | 410 | 199 | $1,480 |
| Portsmouth city | $1,667 | 1.04% | $1,190 | 3.5% | -1.3% | 179 | 1,013 | $1,930 |
| Montgomery County | $1,340 | 0.74% | $960 | 4.8% | -1.9% | 328 | 58 | $2,240 |
| Albemarle County | $1,642 | 0.75% | $1,280 | 2.7% | +1.4% | 729 | 29 | $3,620 |
| Lynchburg city | $1,117 | 0.79% | $940 | 10.6% | -0.2% | 213 | 22 | $1,720 |
| Suffolk city | $1,667 | 0.93% | $1,340 | 3.4% | -1.3% | 589 | 133 | $2,640 |
| Charlottesville city | $1,642 | 0.80% | $1,000 | 2.0% | +1.3% | 889 | 15 | $3,550 |
| Harrisonburg city | $1,264 | 0.76% | $880 | 2.2% | -0.3% | 162 | 18 | $2,200 |
| Spotsylvania County | $2,438 | 0.58% | $1,240 | 7.1% | -2.4% | 681 | 38 | $2,910 |
| Stafford County | $2,438 | 0.70% | $1,370 | 5.4% | -2.4% | 450 | 90 | $3,530 |
| Danville city | $943 | 0.65% | $830 | 4.3% | +0.2% | 14 | 104 | $910 |
| Roanoke County | $1,464 | 0.85% | $1,050 | 5.6% | -0.8% | 161 | 140 | $2,150 |
Show the other 108 counties
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg city | $1,651 | 0.81% | $1,080 | 10.9% | -1.5% | 95 | 63 | $1,450 |
| Rockingham County | $1,264 | 0.53% | $970 | 2.6% | -0.2% | 685 | 35 | $2,230 |
| York County | $1,667 | 0.64% | $1,350 | 5.4% | -1.3% | 204 | 478 | $3,140 |
| Hanover County | $1,651 | 0.66% | $1,150 | 2.5% | -1.6% | 511 | 21 | $2,900 |
| James City County | $1,667 | 0.65% | $1,400 | 7.6% | -1.6% | 225 | 124 | $3,240 |
| Frederick County | $1,505 | 0.48% | $1,130 | 2.3% | -2.0% | 707 | 26 | $2,730 |
| Fredericksburg city | $2,438 | 0.60% | $1,180 | 4.4% | -2.3% | 25 | 13 | $3,450 |
| Winchester city | $1,505 | 0.76% | $1,190 | 4.1% | -1.9% | 68 | 11 | $2,540 |
| Augusta County | $1,199 | 0.47% | $910 | 3.1% | +0.8% | 495 | 38 | $2,160 |
| Fauquier County | $2,438 | 0.75% | $1,350 | 3.0% | -2.3% | 417 | 20 | $4,180 |
| Campbell County | $1,117 | 0.45% | $860 | 4.2% | +0.0% | 350 | 20 | $1,510 |
| Washington County | $1,091 | 0.50% | $930 | 6.0% | -0.4% | 191 | 36 | $1,550 |
| Pittsylvania County | $943 | 0.59% | $900 | 4.9% | +0.4% | 72 | 7 | $1,200 |
| Henry County | $943 | 0.47% | $870 | 2.6% | -1.0% | 44 | 38 | $1,000 |
| Bedford County | $1,117 | 0.43% | $980 | 5.4% | -0.2% | 355 | 17 | $2,100 |
| Franklin County | $1,080 | 0.50% | $1,030 | 1.8% | -0.7% | 143 | 16 | $1,740 |
| Shenandoah County | $1,172 | 0.52% | $940 | 3.3% | -1.9% | 191 | 21 | $2,100 |
| Culpeper County | $1,596 | 0.52% | $1,160 | 0.0% | -2.2% | 366 | 20 | $2,900 |
| Staunton city | $1,199 | 0.70% | $880 | 2.5% | +0.8% | 147 | 21 | $1,900 |
| Mecklenburg County | $960 | 0.45% | $1,040 | 1.9% | +1.1% | 174 | 1 | $1,400 |
| Tazewell County | $943 | 0.62% | $780 | 3.7% | -0.7% | 15 | 120 | $900 |
| Accomack County | $1,110 | 0.48% | $1,220 | 0.9% | +0.3% | 154 | 565 | $1,510 |
| Manassas city | $2,438 | 1.09% | $1,190 | 2.7% | -2.5% | 115 | 17 | $3,440 |
| Waynesboro city | $1,199 | 0.67% | $800 | 3.9% | +0.9% | 353 | 21 | $1,790 |
| Hopewell city | $1,651 | 0.86% | $950 | 2.4% | -1.7% | 31 | 8 | $1,390 |
| Pulaski County | $952 | 0.63% | $920 | 2.5% | -2.0% | 55 | 57 | $1,420 |
| Salem city | $1,464 | 0.90% | $900 | 6.1% | -0.7% | 17 | 117 | $1,950 |
| Warren County | $1,449 | 0.52% | $1,050 | 4.2% | -2.5% | 157 | 64 | $2,480 |
| Smyth County | $943 | 0.58% | $880 | 4.4% | -2.7% | 12 | 51 | $1,050 |
| Wise County | $943 | 0.58% | $970 | 7.0% | -0.1% | 45 | 63 | $910 |
| Halifax County | $943 | 0.46% | $990 | 0.0% | -0.6% | 101 | 16 | $1,150 |
| Prince George County | $1,651 | 0.74% | $1,100 | 2.8% | -1.6% | 132 | 19 | $2,170 |
| Prince Edward County | $1,126 | 0.43% | $940 | 0.9% | +2.3% | 27 | 9 | $1,550 |
| Radford city | $1,340 | 0.72% | $870 | 5.7% | -1.9% | 13 | 3 | $1,630 |
| Orange County | $1,262 | 0.55% | $1,130 | 0.0% | -1.1% | 339 | 16 | $2,610 |
| Isle of Wight County | $1,667 | 0.70% | $1,550 | 5.4% | -1.3% | 303 | 112 | $2,650 |
| Gloucester County | $1,667 | 0.57% | $1,340 | 7.5% | -1.3% | 122 | 488 | $2,410 |
| Falls Church city | $2,438 | 0.95% | $1,270 | 3.2% | -2.5% | 18 | 65 | $7,770 |
| Wythe County | $943 | 0.53% | $810 | 0.0% | -0.4% | 81 | 19 | $1,250 |
| Carroll County | $943 | 0.53% | $780 | 3.4% | -0.5% | 77 | 11 | $1,150 |
| Page County | $953 | 0.64% | $910 | 8.4% | -1.3% | 141 | 9 | $1,710 |
| Louisa County | $1,291 | 0.60% | $1,110 | 2.8% | +0.6% | 404 | 3 | $2,280 |
| Fairfax city | $2,438 | 0.90% | $1,250 | 0.0% | -2.4% | 89 | 41 | $5,320 |
| Bristol city | $1,091 | 0.75% | $810 | 11.3% | -0.3% | 21 | 10 | $1,380 |
| Martinsville city | $943 | 0.77% | $880 | 7.6% | -1.6% | 0 | 0 | $780 |
| Russell County | $943 | 0.48% | $900 | 4.0% | -1.6% | 11 | 9 | $910 |
| Amherst County | $1,117 | 0.46% | $910 | 3.2% | -0.2% | 112 | 6 | $1,530 |
| King George County | $1,520 | 0.53% | $1,370 | 5.4% | -2.2% | 93 | 11 | $3,060 |
| Colonial Heights city | $1,651 | 0.84% | $1,110 | 5.9% | -1.6% | 15 | 15 | $1,870 |
| Williamsburg city | $1,667 | 0.59% | $1,210 | 8.7% | -1.4% | 22 | 2 | $3,070 |
| Lee County | $943 | 0.60% | $1,090 | 8.1% | -0.5% | 16 | 6 | $790 |
| Dinwiddie County | $1,651 | 0.55% | $1,090 | 6.1% | -1.4% | 14 | 1 | $1,870 |
| Caroline County | $1,244 | 0.52% | $1,020 | 5.0% | +2.6% | 224 | 3 | $2,200 |
| Scott County | $1,091 | 0.62% | $950 | 5.8% | -0.2% | 32 | 9 | $1,080 |
| Rockbridge County | $1,057 | 0.60% | $970 | 5.5% | +1.1% | 91 | 31 | $1,810 |
| Botetourt County | $1,464 | 0.64% | $980 | 9.3% | -0.9% | 127 | 36 | $2,100 |
| Nottoway County | $1,026 | 0.45% | $1,100 | 0.5% | -0.7% | 42 | 1 | $1,240 |
| Northampton County | $992 | 0.57% | $1,320 | 0.0% | +1.5% | 145 | 47 | $2,300 |
| Patrick County | $943 | 0.55% | $930 | 5.4% | -1.0% | 34 | 6 | $1,140 |
| Manassas Park city | $2,438 | 1.17% | $920 | 9.5% | -2.4% | 8 | 2 | $3,050 |
| Brunswick County | $943 | 0.57% | $1,040 | 1.3% | +1.2% | 36 | 5 | $1,080 |
| Southampton County | $1,032 | 0.66% | $1,150 | 4.0% | +0.1% | 49 | 30 | $1,620 |
| Westmoreland County | $1,245 | 0.60% | $1,000 | 10.0% | -1.5% | 214 | 101 | $1,960 |
| Appomattox County | $1,117 | 0.52% | $970 | 2.1% | +0.0% | 85 | 1 | $1,510 |
| Franklin city | $1,032 | 0.71% | $1,220 | 6.5% | -1.4% | – | 83 | $1,920 |
| Goochland County | $1,651 | 0.50% | $1,340 | 0.0% | -1.6% | 314 | 4 | $3,530 |
| Buckingham County | $943 | 0.52% | $1,020 | 0.0% | +0.8% | 86 | 0 | $1,280 |
| Dickenson County | $943 | 0.47% | $740 | 6.0% | +0.3% | 5 | 9 | $770 |
| Giles County | $999 | 0.61% | $790 | 12.5% | -1.8% | 23 | 39 | $1,120 |
| Lunenburg County | $943 | 0.39% | $990 | 0.0% | +0.4% | 27 | 0 | $1,100 |
| Emporia city | $1,018 | 0.79% | $1,250 | 3.3% | -3.1% | 4 | 8 | $1,180 |
| Greene County | $1,642 | 0.61% | $1,050 | 2.8% | +1.3% | 266 | 16 | $2,470 |
| Nelson County | $1,642 | 0.50% | $1,140 | 4.2% | +1.2% | 62 | 12 | $2,300 |
| Buchanan County | $943 | 0.44% | $940 | 3.9% | -2.7% | 12 | 67 | $730 |
| Essex County | $1,155 | 0.57% | $1,230 | 4.7% | -0.5% | 62 | 78 | $1,760 |
| Grayson County | $943 | 0.56% | $740 | 3.0% | -1.7% | 33 | 2 | $1,100 |
| Madison County | $1,133 | 0.53% | $1,130 | 0.0% | -1.0% | 48 | 1 | $2,640 |
| Galax city | $943 | 0.76% | $690 | 2.5% | -1.8% | 6 | 0 | $1,070 |
| Charlotte County | $943 | 0.52% | $920 | 0.2% | +0.6% | 42 | 1 | $1,070 |
| Fluvanna County | $1,642 | 0.63% | $1,050 | 5.3% | +1.4% | 189 | 2 | $2,280 |
| Sussex County | $1,651 | 0.59% | $1,020 | 4.4% | -0.9% | 34 | 3 | $1,370 |
| Alleghany County | $943 | 0.79% | $860 | 9.2% | +0.3% | 13 | 43 | $980 |
| Buena Vista city | $1,057 | 0.91% | $690 | 0.8% | +4.7% | 13 | 1 | $1,190 |
| Clarke County | $2,438 | 0.48% | $1,340 | 0.0% | -2.3% | 17 | 5 | $3,860 |
| Greensville County | $1,018 | 0.54% | $770 | 2.2% | -2.8% | 10 | 4 | $1,170 |
| Floyd County | $1,090 | 0.55% | $930 | 0.0% | -1.7% | 73 | 13 | $1,640 |
| Lancaster County | $1,091 | 0.48% | $1,290 | 8.5% | +2.2% | 116 | 208 | $2,340 |
| Lexington city | $1,057 | 0.81% | $890 | 19.1% | +2.4% | 0 | 0 | $2,040 |
| Cumberland County | $1,046 | 0.57% | $1,140 | 0.0% | +0.2% | 70 | 3 | $1,760 |
| Amelia County | $1,651 | 0.38% | $1,140 | 0.0% | -1.4% | 50 | 3 | $2,000 |
| King William County | $1,651 | 0.55% | $1,110 | 0.2% | -1.6% | 215 | 19 | $2,270 |
| Richmond County | $1,187 | 0.56% | $960 | 9.0% | +1.3% | 27 | 25 | $1,680 |
| Norton city | $943 | 0.73% | $1,080 | 3.6% | +0.3% | 1 | 14 | $880 |
| Rappahannock County | $1,555 | 0.49% | $1,320 | 0.0% | -2.6% | 39 | 4 | $3,570 |
| Northumberland County | $1,382 | 0.47% | $1,430 | 14.5% | +0.8% | 65 | 212 | $2,490 |
| Covington city | $943 | 0.82% | $600 | 0.0% | +0.1% | 5 | 64 | $650 |
| Powhatan County | $1,651 | 0.59% | $1,220 | 3.0% | -1.7% | 127 | 1 | $2,990 |
| King and Queen County | $1,170 | 0.52% | $1,390 | 5.3% | -0.9% | 36 | 6 | $1,720 |
| Poquoson city | $1,667 | 0.92% | $2,000 | 9.8% | -1.2% | 98 | 1,863 | $3,090 |
| New Kent County | $1,651 | 0.64% | $1,290 | 15.0% | -1.6% | 295 | 12 | $2,860 |
| Mathews County | $1,667 | 0.43% | $1,420 | 0.0% | -2.1% | 32 | 432 | $2,570 |
| Middlesex County | $1,259 | 0.50% | $1,290 | 12.9% | -0.6% | 62 | 91 | $2,520 |
| Surry County | $1,064 | 0.69% | $1,230 | 6.0% | -1.0% | 35 | 24 | $1,790 |
| Bath County | $1,010 | 0.39% | $860 | 1.8% | +6.5% | 6 | 4 | $1,470 |
| Charles City County | $1,651 | 0.56% | $1,140 | 0.7% | -1.3% | 24 | 1 | $1,770 |
| Bland County | $943 | 0.56% | $660 | 5.8% | +1.3% | 10 | 22 | $1,110 |
| Craig County | $1,464 | 0.56% | $660 | 0.0% | -1.1% | 19 | 6 | $1,360 |
| Highland County | $943 | 0.57% | $890 | – | +3.7% | 11 | 1 | $1,460 |
Where these numbers come from
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents, in effect from October 1, 2026: the rent and utilities of a modest 2-bedroom unit, set for housing vouchers. It is not a house rent. Where HUD publishes by town (New England), the county shows the range. HUD Fair Market Rents
- Property tax, insurance, vacancy and home value
- Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. Property tax is the median tax paid divided by the median home value of owner-occupied homes. Insurance is the median that owners with a mortgage report paying, not a landlord quote. Rental vacancy is homes vacant for rent divided by all rental homes. Figures from too few homes are left blank. American Community Survey
- Jobs
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employed residents in August 2026 against the same month a year earlier, not seasonally adjusted. BLS LAUS
- Permits
- Census Building Permits Survey: new housing units authorized in 2025, all building sizes. Building Permits Survey
- Flood claims
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program claims with a loss in 2005 or later, and the net amount paid. Only insured buildings appear. Check a flood zone
These are screening figures for comparing places, not a quote, an appraisal or a loan offer. Virginia total flood payments since 2005: $374.4 million.