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Best Cities for Rental Property in Virginia

15 Virginia cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Virginia markets is 4.1%, with median home prices averaging $337K and rents averaging $1,631/mo. Danville leads with a 6.5% cap rate at a $160K median price. Property taxes average 0.86% across Virginia markets.

4.1%
Avg Cap Rate
$337K
Avg Price
$1,631/mo
Avg Rent
15
Cities Tracked

Virginia Rental Market Analysis

Virginia offers 15 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 4.1% is above the 3.81% national average, making Virginia an attractive state for cash flow investors. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Virginia home prices average $337K, which is 1% above the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,631/mo. The most affordable entry point is Martinsville at $135K, while Danville offers the highest cap rate at 6.5%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 0.86% across Virginia, below the 1.08% national average — a meaningful cash flow advantage that adds roughly $746 per year to NOI on an average-priced property. Fredericksburg has the lowest rate at 0.76%.Vacancy averages 5.2%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Virginia averages 0.71% per year, led by Fredericksburg at 1.5%. Home values are appreciating at 2.9% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Virginia offers moderate opportunities for rental investors. The best deals are in cities at the top of the ranking — use the calculators on each city page to model specific properties.

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How Virginia Compares to National Averages

Metric
Virginia
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
4.1%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$337K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,631/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
0.86%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.2%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.71%/yr
0.92%/yr

Virginia Cities by Cap Rate Tier

6% – 7% (1)5% – 6% (2)4% – 5% (2)3% – 4% (10)

All 15 Virginia Cities Ranked

1
Danville, VA6.5% cap rate
$160K median$1,150/mo rent0.86% tax0.7% growth
2
Martinsville, VA5.8% cap rate
$135K median$880/mo rent0.86% tax0.7% growth
3
Blacksburg, VA5.4% cap rate
$280K median$1,730/mo rent0.86% tax0.7% growth
4
Harrisonburg, VA4.0% cap rate
$340K median$1,700/mo rent0.86% tax0.7% growth
5
Virginia Beach, VA4.0% cap rate
$365K median$1,790/mo rent0.79% tax0.8% growth
6
Chesapeake, VA4.0% cap rate
$365K median$1,790/mo rent0.82% tax0.9% growth
7
Lynchburg, VA3.8% cap rate
$280K median$1,340/mo rent0.8% tax0.5% growth
8
Newport News, VA3.8% cap rate
$365K median$1,790/mo rent0.98% tax0.4% growth
9
Winchester, VA3.7% cap rate
$380K median$1,800/mo rent0.86% tax0.7% growth
10
Norfolk, VA3.7% cap rate
$365K median$1,790/mo rent1.05% tax0.3% growth
11
Roanoke, VA3.7% cap rate
$290K median$1,370/mo rent0.84% tax0.3% growth
12
Richmond, VA3.3% cap rate
$385K median$1,660/mo rent0.82% tax1.1% growth
13
Staunton, VA3.3% cap rate
$320K median$1,390/mo rent0.86% tax0.7% growth
14
Charlottesville, VA3.2% cap rate
$455K median$1,960/mo rent0.86% tax0.7% growth
15
Fredericksburg, VA3.1% cap rate
$570K median$2,330/mo rent0.76% tax1.5% growth

Other South States

Mississippi (9 cities · 6.3% avg)Louisiana (13 cities · 5.9% avg)West Virginia (10 cities · 5.9% avg)Alabama (18 cities · 5.7% avg)Oklahoma (18 cities · 5.7% avg)Georgia (26 cities · 5.0% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Virginia a good state for rental property investing?
Virginia has an average cap rate of 4.1% across 15 cities, which is above the national average of 3.81%. The best-performing city is Danville at 6.5%. Average home prices of $337K are above the national average. Property taxes at 0.86% are investor-friendly.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Virginia?
Danville leads Virginia with a 6.5% cap rate, $160K median price, and $1,150/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Fredericksburg (1.5% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Virginia?
Property taxes in Virginia average 0.86%, which is below the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Fredericksburg at 0.76%. On an average-priced home of $337K, annual taxes are approximately $2,894.
How many Virginia cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 15 Virginia cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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