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. Prince Edward County leads at 83/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Virginia ranks #12 for homesteading and #20 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. 1Prince Edward County83
    2. 2Lunenburg County81
    3. 3Patrick County80
    4. 4Floyd County78
    5. 5Carroll County78
    6. 6Cumberland County76
    7. 7Pittsylvania County76
    8. 8Dickenson County76
    9. 9Richmond County76
    10. 10Fluvanna County76
    11. 11Wythe County76
    12. 12Amelia County76
    13. 13Buchanan County76
    14. 14Smyth County75
    15. 15Charlotte County75
    16. 16Halifax County75
    17. 17Buckingham County75
    18. 18Appomattox County75
    19. 19Tazewell County75
    20. 20Northumberland County74
    21. 21Dinwiddie County74
    22. 22Botetourt County74
    23. 23Pulaski County73
    24. 24Brunswick County73
    25. 25Lancaster County73
    26. 26Russell County73
    27. 27Amherst County72
    28. 28Nottoway County72
    29. 29Mecklenburg County72
    30. 30Grayson County72
    31. 31Campbell County71
    32. 32Rockbridge County71
    33. 33Giles County71
    34. 34Accomack County70
    35. 35Washington County70
    36. 36Southampton County70
    37. 37Roanoke County70
    38. 38Scott County70
    39. 39Caroline County70
    40. 40Franklin County69
    41. 41Middlesex County69
    42. 42Greene County69
    43. 43Wise County69
    44. 44Highland County68
    45. 45Gloucester County68
    46. 46Nelson County67
    47. 47Alleghany County67
    48. 48Bland County67
    49. 49Bedford County67
    50. 50Henry County66
    51. 51Bath County66
    52. 52Page County66
    53. 53Lee County66
    54. 54Rappahannock County66
    55. 55Augusta County66
    56. 56Madison County66
    57. 57King William County66
    58. 58Orange County65
    59. 59Shenandoah County65
    60. 60King and Queen County65
    61. 61Mathews County65
    62. 62Sussex County65
    63. 63Northampton County65
    64. 64Montgomery County65
    65. 65Greensville County65
    66. 66Essex County65
    67. 67Louisa County64
    68. 68Rockingham County64
    69. 69Spotsylvania County64
    70. 70Surry County63
    71. 71Albemarle County63
    72. 72Powhatan County63
    73. 73Westmoreland County63
    74. 74Warren County62
    75. 75King George County62
    76. 76Suffolk City61
    77. 77Craig County61
    78. 78Culpeper County61
    79. 79Frederick County60
    80. 80Prince George County60
    81. 81Virginia Beach City59
    82. 82Isle of Wight County56
    83. 83James City County56
    84. 84Fauquier County55
    85. 85Chesterfield County55
    86. 86Goochland County53
    87. 87Chesapeake City53
    88. 88New Kent County51
    89. 89Hanover County50
    90. 90Clarke County50
    91. 91Charles City County49
    92. 92York County49
    93. 93Loudoun County47
    94. 94Stafford County46
    95. 95Henrico County46
    96. 96Norton City42
    97. 97Covington City42
    98. 98Lynchburg City40
    99. 99Buena Vista City40
    100. 100Galax City40
    101. 101Prince William County40
    102. 102Radford City38
    103. 103Bristol City38
    104. 104Franklin City38
    105. 105Emporia City38
    106. 106Staunton City37
    107. 107Roanoke City37
    108. 108Waynesboro City37
    109. 109Martinsville City37
    110. 110Salem City37
    111. 111Arlington County36
    112. 112Fairfax County36
    113. 113Harrisonburg City36
    114. 114Charlottesville City36
    115. 115Danville City35
    116. 116Colonial Heights City33
    117. 117Petersburg City32
    118. 118Winchester City32
    119. 119Williamsburg City32
    120. 120Hopewell City32
    121. 121Norfolk City31
    122. 122Portsmouth City31
    123. 123Newport News City30
    124. 124Richmond City30
    125. 125Hampton City29
    126. 126Poquoson City27
    127. 127Fredericksburg City27
    128. 128Manassas City25
    129. 129Manassas Park City25
    130. 130Fairfax City24
    131. 131Falls Church City24
    132. 132Alexandria City22
    133. 133Lexington City19

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