Rent Trends / VA
Rent Trends in Virginia: 2015 to 2026
Yearly Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for 98 cities in Virginia. The average across tracked cities is $2,147/month in 2026, up from $1,408 in 2015 (+52.5%). That sits $185 above (+9.4% vs) the U.S. typical rent of $1,962.
Last updated: September 14, 2026
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · Jan snapshots for 2015–2025; 2026 column = June 2026 release · U.S. typical rent $1,962 (June 2026)
What the Virginia rent trend shows
This page follows market rents in Virginia from 2015 through mid-2026 using the same Zillow ZORI vintage for every city in the table. State figures below are simple averages of the tracked cities — useful for comparing places inside Virginia and stacking the state against the published U.S. typical rent ($1,962/month in June 2026, up from $1,357 in January 2019 on our national series).
Since 2023, the tracked-city average in Virginia has risen from about $1,903 to $2,147 (+12.8%). That is the post-spike path — not a full reset to mid-2010s rents. The latest year step (2025 → 2026) is +5.7% ($2,031 → $2,147).
Within the state, long-run winners and losers split by city. The largest percentage increase from the earliest reading to 2026 is Richmond (+83.3%, $909 → $1,666). 33 of 98 tracked cities are higher than their 2015 (or earliest) level.
For the national rent story, see the Rent Index. Statewide maps live on Rent by State. Full city database: Rent by City.
City-level breakdown in Virginia
Lowest 2026 rents
- Martinsville — $883
- Madison Heights — $1,090
- Emporia — $1,100
- Danville — $1,195
- Farmville — $1,215
Highest 2026 rents
- Great Falls — $5,481
- Fort Hunt — $4,274
- Haymarket — $3,637
- Occoquan — $3,600
- Vienna — $3,445 (+47.7% since 2015)
Full list with every year from 2015–2026 is in the sortable table below.
All Virginia cities — yearly rent table
| City | Metro | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25 | '26 | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $1,190 | $1,205 | $1,224 | $1,257 | $1,293 | $1,337 | $1,435 | $1,640 | $1,744 | $1,790 | $1,885 | $2,076 | +74.5% | |
| Richmond | $909 | $958 | $981 | $1,038 | $1,097 | $1,137 | $1,194 | $1,338 | $1,440 | $1,484 | $1,566 | $1,666 | +83.3% | |
| Chesapeake | $1,231 | $1,243 | $1,253 | $1,288 | $1,305 | $1,354 | $1,435 | $1,633 | $1,703 | $1,773 | $1,863 | $2,066 | +67.8% | |
| Arlington | $2,025 | $2,066 | $2,098 | $2,106 | $2,200 | $2,247 | $2,078 | $2,339 | $2,438 | $2,552 | $2,673 | $2,729 | +34.8% | |
| Norfolk | $961 | $975 | $993 | $1,020 | $1,085 | $1,120 | $1,196 | $1,329 | $1,437 | $1,496 | $1,586 | $1,736 | +80.6% | |
| Woodbridge | $1,441 | $1,459 | $1,495 | $1,537 | $1,560 | $1,593 | $1,671 | $1,839 | $1,923 | $2,031 | $2,133 | $2,194 | +52.3% | |
| Alexandria | $1,660 | $1,685 | $1,713 | $1,758 | $1,818 | $1,884 | $1,820 | $2,012 | $2,078 | $2,176 | $2,294 | $2,325 | +40.1% | |
| Henrico | $1,034 | $1,018 | $1,050 | $1,126 | $1,177 | $1,210 | $1,284 | $1,487 | $1,572 | $1,566 | $1,662 | $1,764 | +70.6% | |
| Fredericksburg | $1,210 | $1,221 | $1,249 | $1,300 | $1,329 | $1,379 | $1,461 | $1,665 | $1,769 | $1,864 | $1,981 | $2,065 | +70.7% | |
| Newport News | $890 | $897 | $902 | $918 | $956 | $978 | $1,075 | $1,272 | $1,335 | $1,390 | $1,446 | $1,590 | +78.7% | |
| Roanoke | $770 | $761 | $799 | $800 | $830 | $889 | $925 | $1,071 | $1,159 | $1,232 | $1,297 | $1,401 | +81.9% | |
| Fairfax | $1,748 | $1,765 | $1,785 | $1,811 | $1,860 | $1,915 | $1,843 | $2,047 | $2,149 | $2,278 | $2,396 | $2,459 | +40.7% | |
| Manassas | $1,372 | $1,353 | $1,430 | $1,476 | $1,486 | $1,529 | $1,587 | $1,777 | $1,896 | $1,968 | $2,091 | $2,190 | +59.6% | |
| Hampton | $956 | $969 | $980 | $995 | $1,026 | $1,071 | $1,175 | $1,411 | $1,433 | $1,484 | $1,548 | $1,682 | +75.9% | |
| Charlottesville | $1,128 | $1,190 | $1,229 | $1,303 | $1,352 | $1,407 | $1,462 | $1,628 | $1,737 | $1,794 | $1,887 | $1,992 | +76.6% | |
| Falls Church | $1,684 | $1,715 | $1,781 | $1,845 | $1,896 | $1,933 | $1,902 | $2,127 | $2,287 | $2,368 | $2,464 | $2,562 | +52.1% | |
| Ashburn | $2,025 | $2,050 | $2,093 | $2,113 | $2,184 | $2,214 | $2,244 | $2,509 | $2,675 | $2,772 | $2,929 | $3,075 | +51.9% | |
| Springfield | $1,940 | $1,984 | $2,065 | $2,119 | $2,192 | $2,261 | $2,279 | $2,472 | $2,643 | $2,803 | $2,896 | $3,100 | +59.8% | |
| Midlothian | $1,168 | $1,208 | $1,223 | $1,285 | $1,375 | $1,411 | $1,478 | $1,686 | $1,761 | $1,856 | $1,914 | $2,083 | +78.3% | |
| Lynchburg | $742 | $784 | $788 | $816 | $835 | $864 | $928 | $1,085 | $1,216 | $1,242 | $1,277 | $1,333 | +79.6% | |
| Portsmouth | $911 | $897 | $933 | $951 | $979 | $1,025 | $1,091 | $1,199 | $1,332 | $1,385 | $1,469 | $1,599 | +75.5% | |
| Williamsburg | $1,235 | $1,247 | $1,266 | $1,294 | $1,327 | $1,364 | $1,435 | $1,587 | $1,724 | $1,832 | $1,919 | $2,065 | +67.2% | |
| Sterling | $1,704 | $1,763 | $1,757 | $1,787 | $1,850 | $1,887 | $1,958 | $2,174 | $2,349 | $2,417 | $2,560 | $2,689 | +57.8% | |
| Suffolk | $1,128 | $1,143 | $1,156 | $1,185 | $1,232 | $1,282 | $1,329 | $1,576 | $1,628 | $1,655 | $1,835 | $1,999 | +77.2% | |
| Herndon | $1,682 | $1,718 | $1,739 | $1,766 | $1,807 | $1,847 | $1,813 | $2,009 | $2,105 | $2,250 | $2,391 | $2,482 | +47.6% | |
| Leesburg | $1,468 | $1,526 | $1,522 | $1,594 | $1,687 | $1,704 | $1,736 | $1,953 | $2,119 | $2,190 | $2,295 | $2,475 | +68.6% | |
| Stafford | $1,533 | $1,584 | $1,583 | $1,634 | $1,727 | $1,731 | $1,848 | $2,074 | $2,202 | $2,323 | $2,439 | $2,549 | +66.3% | |
| Chesterfield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,580 | $1,729 | $1,882 | $1,958 | $2,124 | +34.4% | |
| Winchester | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,397 | $1,520 | $1,590 | $1,688 | $1,812 | +29.7% | |
| Glen Allen | $1,254 | $1,264 | $1,330 | $1,394 | $1,419 | $1,443 | $1,511 | $1,727 | $1,849 | $1,923 | $1,968 | $2,098 | +67.3% | |
| Harrisonburg | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,203 | $1,273 | $1,435 | $1,522 | $1,651 | $1,831 | +52.2% | |
| Centreville | $1,595 | $1,591 | $1,645 | $1,684 | $1,696 | $1,770 | $1,787 | $1,971 | $2,085 | $2,216 | $2,391 | $2,431 | +52.4% | |
| Vienna | $2,333 | $2,320 | $2,382 | $2,401 | $2,490 | $2,535 | $2,529 | $2,765 | $2,884 | $3,046 | $3,233 | $3,445 | +47.7% | |
| Reston | $1,760 | $1,779 | $1,792 | $1,861 | $1,938 | $1,968 | $1,911 | $2,091 | $2,197 | $2,320 | $2,454 | $2,615 | +48.6% | |
| Mechanicsville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,150 | +0.0% | |
| Chantilly | $1,861 | $1,930 | $1,958 | $2,035 | $2,084 | $2,140 | $2,247 | $2,489 | $2,649 | $2,911 | $2,989 | $3,154 | +69.5% | |
| Petersburg | — | — | $698 | $732 | $759 | $818 | $860 | $1,021 | $1,065 | $1,184 | $1,249 | $1,346 | +92.8% | |
| Danville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,042 | $1,118 | $1,195 | +14.7% | |
| Annandale | — | — | — | $1,788 | $1,813 | $1,891 | $1,832 | $1,951 | $2,224 | $2,393 | $2,536 | $2,498 | +39.7% | |
| McLean | $1,921 | $1,920 | $1,973 | $2,032 | $2,092 | $2,169 | $2,073 | $2,243 | $2,410 | $2,499 | $2,614 | $2,772 | +44.3% | |
| Blacksburg | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,512 | $1,614 | $1,675 | $1,746 | +15.5% | |
| Chester | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,583 | $1,669 | $1,639 | $1,725 | $1,826 | +15.4% | |
| Yorktown | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,657 | $1,825 | $1,941 | $2,095 | +26.4% | |
| Burke | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,411 | $2,740 | $2,788 | $2,993 | +24.1% | |
| Salem | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,579 | $1,621 | +2.7% | |
| Lorton | — | $1,610 | $1,735 | $1,746 | $1,882 | $1,904 | $1,904 | $2,079 | $2,255 | $2,398 | $2,543 | $2,616 | +62.5% | |
| Spotsylvania | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,636 | $1,644 | $1,685 | $1,792 | $2,011 | +22.9% | |
| Gainesville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,510 | $2,739 | $2,705 | $2,959 | +17.9% | |
| Staunton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,434 | $1,476 | $1,558 | +8.6% | |
| Mount Vernon | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,376 | $2,439 | $2,601 | +9.5% | |
| Warrenton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,307 | +0.0% | |
| Culpeper | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,798 | +0.0% | |
| Dumfries | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,605 | $2,827 | $2,971 | $3,211 | +23.3% | |
| Bristow | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3,157 | +0.0% | |
| Waynesboro | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,267 | $1,315 | $1,461 | +15.3% | |
| Martinsville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $883 | +0.0% | |
| Hopewell | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,230 | $1,322 | $1,340 | +8.9% | |
| Aldie | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3,206 | +0.0% | |
| Colonial Heights | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,481 | $1,565 | +5.7% | |
| Front Royal | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,779 | +0.0% | |
| Bristol | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,310 | +0.0% | |
| Christiansburg | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,331 | $1,420 | $1,487 | $1,589 | +19.4% | |
| Haymarket | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3,637 | +0.0% | |
| Forest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,516 | +0.0% | |
| King George | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,875 | +0.0% | |
| Radford | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,385 | $1,467 | +5.9% | |
| Gloucester | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,100 | +0.0% | |
| Stephens City | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,066 | $2,149 | +4.0% | |
| Purcellville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3,100 | +0.0% | |
| Palmyra | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,000 | +0.0% | |
| Ashland | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,876 | +0.0% | |
| Farmville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,215 | +0.0% | |
| Oakton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3,037 | +0.0% | |
| Vinton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,392 | +0.0% | |
| Madison Heights | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,090 | +0.0% | |
| East Highland Park | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,760 | +0.0% | |
| Lexington | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,651 | +0.0% | |
| Great Falls | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $5,481 | +0.0% | |
| Ruther Glen | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,113 | +0.0% | |
| Locust Grove | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,638 | +0.0% | |
| Manassas Park | — | — | — | — | — | $1,533 | $1,581 | $1,744 | $1,789 | $1,905 | $2,071 | $2,090 | +36.3% | |
| Fort Hunt | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $4,274 | +0.0% | |
| Lincolnia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,862 | $2,088 | $2,193 | $2,188 | +17.5% | |
| Emporia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,100 | +0.0% | |
| Lakeside | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,247 | +0.0% | |
| Strasburg | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,267 | +0.0% | |
| Huntington | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,720 | $1,956 | $1,993 | $2,172 | $2,259 | $2,194 | +27.6% | |
| Carrollton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,750 | +0.0% | |
| Highland Springs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,576 | +0.0% | |
| Bridgewater | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,548 | +0.0% | |
| Crozet | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,508 | +0.0% | |
| Bellwood | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,686 | +0.0% | |
| Montrose | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,595 | +0.0% | |
| Belle Haven | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,023 | $2,102 | $2,252 | +11.3% | |
| Stanardsville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,250 | +0.0% | |
| Verona | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,288 | +0.0% | |
| Daleville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,810 | +0.0% | |
| Occoquan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $3,600 | +0.0% |
Click any column header to sort · % Chg uses earliest available year → 2026
Frequently asked questions — Virginia rent
Is Virginia cheap to rent in 2026?
It depends which city you pick. The average across 98 tracked Virginia cities is about $2,147/month — $185 above (+9.4% vs) the U.S. typical rent of $1,962. Use the city table for local prices; the national typical rent is $1,962/month as of June 2026.
What city in Virginia has the cheapest rent?
Among cities in our ZORI sample, Martinsville is the lowest at about $883/month (2026). Other lower-rent cities include Madison Heights ($1,090), Emporia ($1,100), Danville ($1,195).
What city in Virginia has the most expensive rent?
Great Falls leads our sample at about $5,481/month in 2026, followed by Fort Hunt ($4,274) and Haymarket ($3,637).
How much have rents in Virginia changed since 2015?
Across tracked cities, the average moved from about $1,408 in 2015 to $2,147 in 2026 (+52.5%). 33 of 98 cities are higher than their earliest reading in this series; the largest percentage jump is Richmond (+83.3%).
Are rents in Virginia still rising year over year?
From 2025 to 2026, the average across tracked Virginia cities went from about $2,031 to $2,147 (+5.7%). Since 2023 ($1,903), that is +12.8%. Individual cities can diverge — sort by % Chg or compare the '25 and '26 columns.