10 Best Places To Call Home In Virginia In 2025
Virginia is a state where many people might want to look for a place to call home in 2025. The state is known for its pretty, quiet and charming towns that rival their big-city counterparts in lifestyle. With affordable home prices and rich amenities, these character-driven towns host colonial landmarks, family-friendly parks, award‑winning wineries, and great eateries. Read on for ten ideal towns, each presenting affordable homes and quality of life.
Winchester
Winchester has built its reputation blending historic charm with modern convenience and natural beauty. It is an ideal home for families, retirees, or professionals seeking a smaller-city lifestyle with big-city amenities. With median home prices between $370K-396K, Winchester offers scenic streetscapes with 18th-century architecture that is frequently displayed in travel photography and social media.
The Loudoun Street pedestrian mall is a hub and a hot spot, where you can sip on a latte or a craft beer, tour a museum, or support local vendors at one of the many boutiques. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley has galleries, gardens, and even a free outdoor installation that spans 90 acres of walking trails free to public from dawn to dusk. In the spring, the Apple Blossom Festival features 50 events over 10 days, including a parade, midway, fireworks, and lots and lots of music. No matter the time of year, hikers and bikers will enjoy the Appalachian Trail, and boating on the Shenandoah River is always a treat.
Waynesboro
With median home prices at $310K, Waynesboro is a favorite of those seeking outdoor activity and affordable housing. For those with an eye for aesthetics, the town has a scenic riverfront, magnificent covered bridges and glorious mountain views, and it serves as a de-facto gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway and picturesque Skyline Drive.
Other areas that can be enjoyed include exploration of the Natural Bridge about an hour away, a remarkable 200-foot gorge carved into the limstone by Cedar Creek. It is the main attraction in Natural Bridge State Park, which also features hiking trails and lovely Lace Falls. The South River offers great fishing, and you can also take in one of the many Waynesboro festivals throughout the year. Small-town charm plus rugged outdoor beauty equals a lovely home for families and professionals alike.
Front Royal
This small, rural community is closely knit but welcoming to new families and friends. Median home prices hover around $310K and the town offers many opportunities for exploration and fun. Outdoor sports and recreation abound at Shenandoah National Park for hiking and the Shenandoah River for tubing, rafting, or paddling. You might become a regular at the Virginia Beer Museum, with over 18 craft beers on tap at the Hell Town Saloon, and the local “Farm to Market on Main” farmers’ market runs every other Saturday from April to October at the Royal Gazebo downtown.
The annual Warren County Fair offers a chance to get to know the community and celebrate the region's agricultural roots, while the Ivy Lodge Museum speaks to Warren's Native American history, the arrival of colonial settlers, and the evolution of industry in the Virginia. With mountain access, boundless outdoor recreation, and attractive pricing, Front Royal is a smart choice for active lifestyles and peace of mind.
Lexington
Lexington has been around since 1777 and has a prominent place in U.S. history, which can be explored at the many memorials and museums. With home prices below the state median and averaging $400k, the idyllic town nestled in the Shenandoah Valley offers residents access to hiking along the Appalachian Trail and in the nearby George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
The town itself provides high end education at Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. Lexington is a hub for American history buffs, with both the Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson memorials, among others, and with the scenic Maury River nearby, Lexington provides a pretty and interesting home for families.
Blacksburg
Scenic would be one way to describe Blacksburg, the other would be educational. With average home prices hovering just below the state average between $425 and 475k, this wonderful town has many features that will call to those looking for a convenient and accessible hometown. Residents can send their children, or go themselves, to Virginia Tech, with its college sports, arts, innovative initiatives, and beautiful campus.
Outdoors, there is the local Huckleberry Trail, a 15-mile walk that runs between Blacksburg and Christiansburg, and access to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway less than an hour away. In town, a visit to the Alexander Black House and Cultural Center provides a fascining glimpse at the power of a community in action. The historic home was slated to be demolished in favour of a new parking garage and shopping complex, but the town purchased and relocated the building, carefully reconstructing the house where it now sits. And when dinner calls for a night out, the Blacksburg Tavern or Cabo Fish Taco are popular options in town.
Smithfield
For newcomers looking for a home that combines coastal beauty and living history, Smithfield is it. With its claim to fame being the historic Smithfield Plantation, offering a glimpse at the life of Revolutionary War patriot Colonel William Preston in the late 1700s, and the charming downtown filled with 18th-century heritage buildings, the town is proud of its colonial roots.
Local businesses flourish in the area and include hot spots like the Wharf Hill Brewing Co. and Smithfield Station. Weekends can be spent enjoying the great outdoors with fishing and boating on the Pagan River, and Windsor Castle Park offers 208 acres of accessible green space with trails and river access right in the heart of Smithfield. Median home prices of around $360K make the town’s waterfront streets and pretty homes affordable for many.
Abingdon
With median home prices around $275K, Abingdon offers everything a resident could wish from a small town. Culture abounds as this town plays host to the Barter Theatre, as well as the Virginia Highlands Festival, celebrating and showcasing the region's art, music, and culture. For a small town, it has its fair share of restaurants to enjoy, like The Tavern, with an ecclectic and diverse menu, and The Peppermill, for a nice family dinner.
Outdoor fun can be had on the Virginia Creeper Trail for biking or horseback riding, and the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail features an interpretive center with a museum, library, and gift shop to commemorate the historic route used by pioneers headed west. Abingdon’s proximity to nature, coupled with affordable housing and cultural richness, make this a well-rounded choice for would-be Virginians.
Gloucester
As with most of Virginia, history plays a major part in attracting people to live in Gloucester. The Gloucester Courthouse sits on a walled circular green alongside a handful of other historic buildings, including the old debtors prison and jail, and makes for a nice spot to explore the town's heritage or simply sit for a picnic on the lawn. Another popular spot for gathering and lounging is Gloucester Point Beach, with BBQ grills, a playground, picnic spots and a shelter.
Beaverdam Park has a boat launch and offers rental services, and the county is home to many local wineries with their own unique blends that can be found in local hotspots like the Mobjack Tavern. Mornings can start with a coffee and something sweet at Sweet Tooth Cafe and Bakery, a local favorite. With median home prices around $355K, Gloucester offers water access, vineyard vistas, historic homes, and marshland sunsets, all with family-friendly neighborhoods and undeniable colonial charm.
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is another history-rich town in this founding state. Though median home prices are slightly above the state average at $500K, it is still considered affordable for all the amenities available and its desireable riverside location. The Fredericksburg Battlefield and Visitor Center serves as a launching point for the greater Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania National Military Park, with a national cemetery and guided walk down the Sunken Road.
There is an artistic side to the town as well, as Fredericksburg is the home of the Gari Melchers Home and Studio, a National Historic Landmark and museum with galleries, gardens, and walking trails. The lovely downtown offers river sunsets and red brick streets leading to downtown shops and live music during the summer festivals. For outdoor life, Rappahannock Riverwalk Park and scenic rail trails are convenient, accessible, and inviting. The combination of arts, history, and culture provide a great place to put down roots.
Staunton
Considered to be one of the prettiest places in Virginia, and with median home prices at $285-300K, Staunton is also one of the most affordable. Getting around the lovely downtown is made easy with the Staunton Trolley, and the days can be whiled away exploring local attractions like the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and the Frontier Culture Museum.
Residents can become annual patrons of the famous American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse, as well as enjoying the Staunton Music and Queen City Mischief & Magic Festivals throughout the year. Locals often frequent the Mill Street Grill for crab or enjoy a reunion at Mrs. Rowe's Family Restaurant, after which you can saunter to your heart's content in the walkable downtown. Family-friendly and beautiful, Staunton is an excellent choice for those looking for affordable housing in a vibrant community.
These Virginia towns all offer home prices at or below the state average, and a rich mix of history, nature, and attractions that cater to a wide range of locals and visitors alike. Each one combines deep cultural and historical roots with outdoor adventures and genuine charm. From hilltop hikes and culinary delights to journeys through time in centuries‑old landmarks, each of these Virginian town delivers small‑town serenity with big‑town quality of life.
