Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Virginia

Best Places to Live in Virginia

Every Virginia county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Lunenburg County leads at 83/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Virginia ranks #13 for homesteading and #18 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Virginia

    How Virginia treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 133 Virginia counties, ranked

    1. 1Lunenburg County83
    2. 2Prince Edward County79
    3. 3Grayson County78
    4. 4Patrick County77
    5. 5Tazewell County77
    6. 6Floyd County76
    7. 7Carroll County76
    8. 8Giles County76
    9. 9Brunswick County75
    10. 10Page County75
    11. 11Dickenson County75
    12. 12Cumberland County75
    13. 13Pittsylvania County74
    14. 14Richmond County74
    15. 15Fluvanna County74
    16. 16Buchanan County74
    17. 17Amelia County74
    18. 18Wythe County74
    19. 19Westmoreland County74
    20. 20Lee County74
    21. 21Smyth County74
    22. 22Charlotte County73
    23. 23Buckingham County73
    24. 24Halifax County73
    25. 25Southampton County72
    26. 26Botetourt County72
    27. 27Dinwiddie County72
    28. 28Pulaski County71
    29. 29Russell County71
    30. 30Lancaster County71
    31. 31Appomattox County71
    32. 32Bath County71
    33. 33Northumberland County70
    34. 34Amherst County70
    35. 35Bland County70
    36. 36Nottoway County70
    37. 37Mecklenburg County70
    38. 38Campbell County70
    39. 39Rockbridge County69
    40. 40Accomack County69
    41. 41Highland County69
    42. 42Washington County68
    43. 43Northampton County68
    44. 44Roanoke County68
    45. 45Scott County68
    46. 46Franklin County67
    47. 47Caroline County67
    48. 48Wise County67
    49. 49Middlesex County67
    50. 50Greene County67
    51. 51Gloucester County66
    52. 52Nelson County65
    53. 53Alleghany County65
    54. 54Craig County65
    55. 55Bedford County65
    56. 56Henry County64
    57. 57Augusta County64
    58. 58Rappahannock County64
    59. 59Madison County63
    60. 60King William County63
    61. 61Orange County63
    62. 62King and Queen County63
    63. 63Shenandoah County63
    64. 64Sussex County63
    65. 65Montgomery County63
    66. 66Mathews County63
    67. 67Greensville County63
    68. 68Essex County62
    69. 69Rockingham County62
    70. 70Louisa County62
    71. 71Albemarle County62
    72. 72Powhatan County61
    73. 73Spotsylvania County61
    74. 74Surry County61
    75. 75King George County60
    76. 76Suffolk City59
    77. 77Culpeper County58
    78. 78Warren County58
    79. 79Frederick County58
    80. 80Prince George County58
    81. 81Virginia Beach City57
    82. 82Isle of Wight County54
    83. 83James City County54
    84. 84Chesterfield County53
    85. 85Fauquier County53
    86. 86Goochland County51
    87. 87Chesapeake City51
    88. 88New Kent County50
    89. 89Hanover County49
    90. 90Clarke County48
    91. 91Charles City County48
    92. 92York County47
    93. 93Loudoun County45
    94. 94Henrico County45
    95. 95Stafford County44
    96. 96Norton City41
    97. 97Covington City41
    98. 98Lynchburg City39
    99. 99Prince William County38
    100. 100Buena Vista City38
    101. 101Galax City38
    102. 102Radford City37
    103. 103Bristol City37
    104. 104Franklin City36
    105. 105Emporia City36
    106. 106Staunton City36
    107. 107Arlington County35
    108. 108Roanoke City35
    109. 109Waynesboro City35
    110. 110Fairfax County35
    111. 111Salem City35
    112. 112Martinsville City35
    113. 113Charlottesville City34
    114. 114Harrisonburg City34
    115. 115Danville City33
    116. 116Colonial Heights City31
    117. 117Petersburg City31
    118. 118Winchester City31
    119. 119Williamsburg City30
    120. 120Hopewell City30
    121. 121Norfolk City30
    122. 122Portsmouth City30
    123. 123Newport News City28
    124. 124Richmond City28
    125. 125Hampton City27
    126. 126Poquoson City26
    127. 127Fredericksburg City26
    128. 128Manassas City24
    129. 129Manassas Park City24
    130. 130Fairfax City23
    131. 131Falls Church City23
    132. 132Alexandria City21
    133. 133Lexington City18

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