Bolthole · Virginia

Best Places to Live in Virginia

Every Virginia county ranked by BoltScore — for land, water, freedom, and self-sufficiency. Dickenson County leads at 79/100. No bunkers, no doom — just where the ground is worth standing on.

Nationally, Virginia ranks #17 for homesteading and #21 for off-grid living.

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Counties by BoltScore

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Virginia

    How Virginia treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. Scores feed the national rankings; 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. 1Dickenson County79
    2. 2Norton County78
    3. 3Lunenburg County78
    4. 4Covington County77
    5. 5Bristol County77
    6. 6Sussex County76
    7. 7Richmond County76
    8. 8Charlotte County76
    9. 9Greensville County75
    10. 10Buena Vista County75
    11. 11Buchanan County75
    12. 12Brunswick County75
    13. 13Bath County74
    14. 14Surry County74
    15. 15Appomattox County74
    16. 16Galax County74
    17. 17Highland County74
    18. 18King and Queen County74
    19. 19Emporia County73
    20. 20Cumberland County73
    21. 21Patrick County73
    22. 22Southampton County73
    23. 23Russell County72
    24. 24Nottoway County72
    25. 25Craig County72
    26. 26Essex County72
    27. 27Charles City County72
    28. 28Lee County72
    29. 29Wise County71
    30. 30Martinsville County71
    31. 31Amelia County71
    32. 32Halifax County71
    33. 33Dinwiddie County71
    34. 34Buckingham County71
    35. 35Prince Edward County71
    36. 36King William County71
    37. 37Botetourt County70
    38. 38Mecklenburg County70
    39. 39Amherst County70
    40. 40Prince George County70
    41. 41Scott County70
    42. 42Madison County70
    43. 43Bland County70
    44. 44Alleghany County69
    45. 45Mathews County69
    46. 46Washington County69
    47. 47Campbell County69
    48. 48Middlesex County69
    49. 49Giles County69
    50. 50Fluvanna County68
    51. 51Tazewell County68
    52. 52Radford County68
    53. 53Waynesboro County68
    54. 54Grayson County68
    55. 55Colonial Heights County68
    56. 56Floyd County67
    57. 57Salem County67
    58. 58New Kent County67
    59. 59Northumberland County67
    60. 60Orange County67
    61. 61Lexington County67
    62. 62Greene County67
    63. 63Pittsylvania County67
    64. 64Smyth County67
    65. 65Hopewell County67
    66. 66Nelson County66
    67. 67Henry County66
    68. 68Rappahannock County66
    69. 69Staunton County66
    70. 70Pulaski County66
    71. 71Rockbridge County66
    72. 72Bedford County66
    73. 73Franklin County66
    74. 74Franklin County66
    75. 75Powhatan County66
    76. 76Petersburg County66
    77. 77Carroll County65
    78. 78Caroline County65
    79. 79Gloucester County65
    80. 80Lancaster County65
    81. 81Lynchburg County65
    82. 82Isle of Wight County65
    83. 83Westmoreland County64
    84. 84Harrisonburg County64
    85. 85Wythe County64
    86. 86Clarke County63
    87. 87Louisa County63
    88. 88Danville County63
    89. 89Roanoke County63
    90. 90King George County63
    91. 91Northampton County63
    92. 92Winchester County62
    93. 93Goochland County62
    94. 94Poquoson County62
    95. 95Montgomery County62
    96. 96Culpeper County60
    97. 97Williamsburg County60
    98. 98Warren County60
    99. 99Page County59
    100. 100Roanoke County59
    101. 101Falls Church County59
    102. 102Suffolk County59
    103. 103Portsmouth County59
    104. 104Frederick County58
    105. 105Augusta County58
    106. 106Fredericksburg County58
    107. 107Accomack County58
    108. 108Manassas Park County58
    109. 109Shenandoah County58
    110. 110Charlottesville County57
    111. 111Fairfax County57
    112. 112Hampton County57
    113. 113Fauquier County56
    114. 114Hanover County56
    115. 115Manassas County56
    116. 116Rockingham County55
    117. 117Newport News County55
    118. 118Virginia Beach County55
    119. 119Spotsylvania County54
    120. 120Chesapeake County54
    121. 121Norfolk County53
    122. 122Albemarle County52
    123. 123Chesterfield County51
    124. 124Henrico County51
    125. 125James City County49
    126. 126Richmond County49
    127. 127York County48
    128. 128Alexandria County47
    129. 129Arlington County46
    130. 130Stafford County46
    131. 131Loudoun County44
    132. 132Fairfax County42
    133. 133Prince William County41

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