Best Places to Buy Rental Property in Virginia (2026)

We ranked all 78 Virginia counties that have both a median home price and a median rent, ordered by the cap rate a median-priced rental would produce. Halifax County leads at 7.1%, with a median price of $153,994.

Virginia counties ranked by cap rate

#MarketCap rateMedian priceMedian rentCash flowAnalyze
1Halifax County, VA7.1%$153,994$1,395$54Run numbers
2Accomack County, VA7.0%$245,742$2,206$73Run numbers
3Danville City, VA6.6%$133,231$1,132-$2Run numbers
4Martinsville City, VA6.2%$119,923$950-$47Run numbers
5Mecklenburg County, VA5.8%$212,023$1,589-$142Run numbers
6Bristol City, VA5.8%$183,577$1,361-$132Run numbers
7Petersburg City, VA5.3%$199,069$1,345-$229Run numbers
8Westmoreland County, VA4.9%$315,529$1,997-$450Run numbers
9Portsmouth City, VA4.8%$266,486$1,642-$409Run numbers
10Hampton City, VA4.7%$279,270$1,691-$448Run numbers
11Greene County, VA4.7%$386,319$2,331-$625Run numbers
12Caroline County, VA4.7%$360,427$2,166-$589Run numbers
13Hopewell City, VA4.7%$220,732$1,318-$366Run numbers
14Roanoke City, VA4.5%$219,673$1,280-$385Run numbers
15Norfolk City, VA4.4%$310,877$1,749-$585Run numbers
16Radford City, VA4.4%$265,319$1,495-$498Run numbers
17Prince Edward County, VA4.4%$241,495$1,358-$455Run numbers
18Campbell County, VA4.4%$273,460$1,528-$522Run numbers
19Colonial Heights City, VA4.3%$286,282$1,598-$547Run numbers
20Isle of Wight County, VA4.3%$383,688$2,128-$742Run numbers
21Newport News City, VA4.3%$291,426$1,592-$579Run numbers
22Orange County, VA4.2%$380,385$2,050-$775Run numbers
23Pulaski County, VA4.2%$225,840$1,210-$465Run numbers
24Shenandoah County, VA4.1%$340,191$1,805-$711Run numbers
25Suffolk City, VA4.1%$387,665$2,036-$824Run numbers
26Staunton City, VA4.1%$291,887$1,535-$619Run numbers
27Lynchburg City, VA4.1%$243,511$1,270-$523Run numbers
28Fluvanna County, VA4.1%$382,529$1,994-$822Run numbers
29Montgomery County, VA4.0%$338,166$1,757-$731Run numbers
30Salem City, VA4.0%$295,104$1,531-$640Run numbers
31Botetourt County, VA4.0%$315,570$1,635-$685Run numbers
32Waynesboro City, VA4.0%$299,447$1,525-$668Run numbers
33Warren County, VA4.0%$394,470$2,004-$882Run numbers
34Rockingham County, VA3.9%$361,245$1,806-$827Run numbers
35Louisa County, VA3.9%$419,890$2,081-$973Run numbers
36Buena Vista City, VA3.9%$191,764$950-$445Run numbers
37Virginia Beach City, VA3.9%$424,664$2,098-$989Run numbers
38Harrisonburg City, VA3.8%$327,726$1,611-$768Run numbers
39Poquoson City, VA3.8%$471,047$2,305-$1,111Run numbers
40Chesapeake City, VA3.8%$424,806$2,058-$1,016Run numbers
41Williamsburg City, VA3.7%$418,586$2,000-$1,018Run numbers
42Roanoke County, VA3.7%$335,201$1,586-$826Run numbers
43Lexington City, VA3.6%$359,259$1,683-$896Run numbers
44Hanover County, VA3.6%$456,445$2,126-$1,147Run numbers
45Frederick County, VA3.6%$428,315$1,985-$1,082Run numbers
46Spotsylvania County, VA3.5%$456,909$2,070-$1,185Run numbers
47Winchester City, VA3.5%$363,487$1,642-$946Run numbers
48Manassas Park City, VA3.5%$466,588$2,106-$1,215Run numbers
49Chesterfield County, VA3.5%$410,086$1,839-$1,076Run numbers
50Henrico County, VA3.5%$397,454$1,773-$1,049Run numbers

Showing the top 50 of 78 ranked counties.

Looking for every county in the state, including those without rent data? Browse the full Virginia market directory.

How this ranking is calculated

We scored 78 counties in Virginia and ranked them by capitalization rate, calculated as annual net operating income divided by median home price. Markets without both a median home price and a median rent are excluded, because cash flow cannot be estimated without both.

Every figure assumes a median-priced home rented at the local median rent, financed with 20 percent down on a 30-year loan at 7.40%, with closing costs at 3 percent of price and operating costs at 35 percent of rent. Operating costs cover taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and management.

These are modeled estimates for comparing markets, not quotes on a specific property. A real deal turns on the individual property, its condition, and the actual rent it can command. Run any market that interests you through the calculator with real numbers before you make an offer.

National rankings

Compare Virginia against the rest of the country.

Other states

States with fewer than 5 counties reporting both price and rent are omitted, because a ranking that short would not be meaningful.

Run the numbers on a Virginia property

Start from Halifax County median values and replace them with a real listing price and rent to see whether the deal actually works.