Virginia Tax Burden
Virginia ranks #21 nationally for total tax burden with a combined rate of 9.53%.
Compare with Neighboring States
Is Virginia a High-Tax State?
Virginia has a moderate tax burden, ranking #21 nationally at 9.53% — roughly in the middle of all states. The state income tax rate of 5.344% is among the higher rates nationally, significantly impacting residents' take-home pay.
Property taxes are a major factor here — at 0.66% effective rate, homeowners in Virginia pay significantly more than the national median of ~1.1%. On a $300,000 home, that's approximately $198,000/year in property taxes alone. With a median household income of $63,438, the average Virginia resident pays approximately $6,046 per year across all state and local taxes.
Tax Planning Tips for Virginia Residents
High income tax state: At 5.344%, Virginia's income tax takes a significant bite. Consider maximizing pre-tax retirement contributions (401k, IRA, HSA) to reduce your state tax bill. If you're nearing retirement, evaluate whether relocating to a no-income-tax state could save you significantly on withdrawals.
Property tax protest: With an effective rate of 0.66%, property tax appeals are worth pursuing in Virginia. Homeowners who formally protest their assessed value often achieve reductions of 5–15%. On a $300,000 home, that's a potential savings of $19,800/year. Check your county assessor's deadline — most states allow annual appeals.
High sales tax (5.75%): For major purchases — vehicles, appliances, furniture — calculate whether buying across state lines (if near a border) saves meaningful money. A $30,000 car purchase costs an extra $172,500 in sales tax in Virginia.
For retirees: At 5.344% income tax, all retirement withdrawals are potentially taxable. Check whether Virginia offers any exemptions for Social Security or pension income — many states do.
All 133 Counties in Virginia
| Rank | County | Property Tax | Income Tax | Sales Tax | Total Burden | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falls Church city | 1.07% | 5.593% | 5.75% | 13.57% | #101 |
| 2 | Alexandria city | 1.00% | 5.522% | 5.75% | 13.21% | #127 |
| 3 | Arlington County | 0.89% | 5.563% | 5.75% | 12.87% | #153 |
| 4 | Charlottesville city | 0.85% | 5.367% | 5.75% | 12.29% | #214 |
| 5 | Manassas Park city | 1.20% | 5.469% | 5.75% | 12.23% | #218 |
| 6 | Fairfax city | 0.94% | 5.550% | 5.75% | 12.20% | #224 |
| 7 | Fairfax County | 1.03% | 5.573% | 5.75% | 12.18% | #227 |
| 8 | Richmond city | 0.88% | 5.318% | 5.75% | 11.78% | #288 |
| 9 | Manassas city | 1.14% | 5.517% | 5.75% | 11.47% | #352 |
| 10 | Norfolk city | 1.02% | 5.328% | 5.75% | 11.46% | #355 |
| 11 | Portsmouth city | 1.11% | 5.299% | 5.75% | 11.35% | #375 |
| 12 | Prince William County | 1.00% | 5.541% | 5.75% | 11.28% | #398 |
| 13 | Newport News city | 1.06% | 5.344% | 5.75% | 11.13% | #437 |
| 14 | Winchester city | 0.80% | 5.338% | 5.75% | 11.06% | #457 |
| 15 | Loudoun County | 0.91% | 5.599% | 5.75% | 11.02% | #470 |
| 16 | Williamsburg city | 0.61% | 5.365% | 5.75% | 10.79% | #540 |
| 17 | Albemarle County | 0.74% | 5.486% | 5.75% | 10.78% | #546 |
| 18 | Fauquier County | 0.81% | 5.540% | 5.75% | 10.74% | #565 |
| 19 | Suffolk city | 0.94% | 5.457% | 5.75% | 10.71% | #582 |
| 20 | Fredericksburg city | 0.64% | 5.441% | 5.75% | 10.69% | #587 |
| 21 | Hampton city | 0.98% | 5.350% | 5.75% | 10.60% | #622 |
| 22 | Virginia Beach city | 0.82% | 5.456% | 5.75% | 10.57% | #641 |
| 23 | Poquoson city | 0.88% | 5.525% | 5.75% | 10.56% | #647 |
| 24 | Harrisonburg city | 0.71% | 5.291% | 5.75% | 10.55% | #649 |
| 25 | Salem city | 0.96% | 5.374% | 5.75% | 10.52% | #665 |
| 26 | Roanoke city | 1.06% | 5.250% | 5.75% | 10.47% | #695 |
| 27 | Chesapeake city | 0.84% | 5.472% | 5.75% | 10.46% | #702 |
| 28 | Montgomery County | 0.76% | 5.355% | 5.75% | 10.39% | #739 |
| 29 | Lynchburg city | 0.88% | 5.292% | 5.75% | 10.25% | #809 |
| 30 | Petersburg city | 1.00% | 5.201% | 5.75% | 10.24% | #813 |
| 31 | Colonial Heights city | 0.96% | 5.393% | 5.75% | 10.22% | #820 |
| 32 | Rappahannock County | 0.54% | 5.489% | 5.75% | 10.17% | #840 |
| 33 | Henrico County | 0.74% | 5.438% | 5.75% | 10.13% | #853 |
| 34 | Westmoreland County | 0.67% | 5.295% | 5.75% | 10.10% | #867 |
| 35 | James City County | 0.68% | 5.494% | 5.75% | 10.08% | #877 |
| 36 | Waynesboro city | 0.67% | 5.260% | 5.75% | 10.07% | #883 |
| 37 | Roanoke County | 0.89% | 5.432% | 5.75% | 10.05% | #892 |
| 38 | Chesterfield County | 0.82% | 5.481% | 5.75% | 9.99% | #912 |
| 39 | Buena Vista city | 0.94% | 5.222% | 5.75% | 9.98% | #914 |
| 40 | Clarke County | 0.55% | 5.510% | 5.75% | 9.97% | #919 |
| 41 | Isle of Wight County | 0.73% | 5.469% | 5.75% | 9.96% | #930 |
| 42 | Stafford County | 0.74% | 5.549% | 5.75% | 9.95% | #941 |
| 43 | Staunton city | 0.74% | 5.319% | 5.75% | 9.95% | #941 |
| 44 | Northampton County | 0.60% | 5.279% | 5.75% | 9.90% | #966 |
| 45 | Hopewell city | 0.92% | 5.242% | 5.75% | 9.90% | #966 |
| 46 | Radford city | 0.68% | 5.245% | 5.75% | 9.88% | #977 |
| 47 | Bristol city | 0.81% | 5.181% | 5.75% | 9.84% | #1005 |
| 48 | Madison County | 0.60% | 5.405% | 5.75% | 9.83% | #1010 |
| 49 | York County | 0.66% | 5.505% | 5.75% | 9.83% | #1010 |
| 50 | Essex County | 0.63% | 5.258% | 5.75% | 9.79% | #1033 |
| 51 | Page County | 0.73% | 5.296% | 5.75% | 9.75% | #1060 |
| 52 | Franklin city | 0.74% | 5.302% | 5.75% | 9.75% | #1060 |
| 53 | Prince George County | 0.76% | 5.429% | 5.75% | 9.71% | #1081 |
| 54 | Northumberland County | 0.52% | 5.352% | 5.75% | 9.70% | #1088 |
| 55 | Hanover County | 0.69% | 5.504% | 5.75% | 9.68% | #1104 |
| 56 | Nelson County | 0.56% | 5.348% | 5.75% | 9.65% | #1128 |
| 57 | Lexington city | 0.95% | 5.475% | 5.75% | 9.65% | #1128 |
| 58 | Culpeper County | 0.57% | 5.471% | 5.75% | 9.63% | #1136 |
| 59 | Louisa County | 0.66% | 5.414% | 5.75% | 9.60% | #1146 |
| 60 | Botetourt County | 0.67% | 5.419% | 5.75% | 9.59% | #1151 |
| 61 | Greene County | 0.64% | 5.433% | 5.75% | 9.59% | #1151 |
| 62 | Middlesex County | 0.55% | 5.379% | 5.75% | 9.59% | #1151 |
| 63 | Powhatan County | 0.66% | 5.512% | 5.75% | 9.57% | #1169 |
| 64 | Cumberland County | 0.64% | 5.294% | 5.75% | 9.55% | #1174 |
| 65 | Orange County | 0.61% | 5.455% | 5.75% | 9.55% | #1174 |
| 66 | New Kent County | 0.68% | 5.522% | 5.75% | 9.54% | #1185 |
| 67 | Warren County | 0.60% | 5.425% | 5.75% | 9.53% | #1191 |
| 68 | Goochland County | 0.51% | 5.506% | 5.75% | 9.51% | #1204 |
| 69 | Shenandoah County | 0.57% | 5.336% | 5.75% | 9.49% | #1213 |
| 70 | Spotsylvania County | 0.63% | 5.505% | 5.75% | 9.49% | #1213 |
| 71 | King William County | 0.67% | 5.426% | 5.75% | 9.46% | #1230 |
| 72 | Rockbridge County | 0.59% | 5.334% | 5.75% | 9.45% | #1238 |
| 73 | King George County | 0.56% | 5.501% | 5.75% | 9.43% | #1251 |
| 74 | Lancaster County | 0.47% | 5.339% | 5.75% | 9.43% | #1251 |
| 75 | Mathews County | 0.47% | 5.424% | 5.75% | 9.43% | #1251 |
| 76 | Emporia city | 0.76% | 5.129% | 5.75% | 9.39% | #1277 |
| 77 | Fluvanna County | 0.67% | 5.466% | 5.75% | 9.38% | #1283 |
| 78 | Rockingham County | 0.55% | 5.398% | 5.75% | 9.31% | #1319 |
| 79 | Richmond County | 0.59% | 5.339% | 5.75% | 9.29% | #1329 |
| 80 | Surry County | 0.60% | 5.375% | 5.75% | 9.29% | #1329 |
| 81 | Gloucester County | 0.59% | 5.443% | 5.75% | 9.28% | #1335 |
| 82 | Southampton County | 0.68% | 5.370% | 5.75% | 9.27% | #1342 |
| 83 | Pulaski County | 0.67% | 5.319% | 5.75% | 9.26% | #1350 |
| 84 | Charles City County | 0.66% | 5.357% | 5.75% | 9.25% | #1360 |
| 85 | Frederick County | 0.52% | 5.471% | 5.75% | 9.25% | #1360 |
| 86 | Highland County | 0.62% | 5.299% | 5.75% | 9.18% | #1410 |
| 87 | Norton city | 0.79% | 5.054% | 5.75% | 9.18% | #1410 |
| 88 | Dinwiddie County | 0.64% | 5.417% | 5.75% | 9.17% | #1415 |
| 89 | Floyd County | 0.55% | 5.299% | 5.75% | 9.16% | #1420 |
| 90 | Augusta County | 0.50% | 5.412% | 5.75% | 9.07% | #1490 |
| 91 | Caroline County | 0.57% | 5.442% | 5.75% | 9.06% | #1503 |
| 92 | Franklin County | 0.57% | 5.361% | 5.75% | 9.05% | #1514 |
| 93 | King and Queen County | 0.57% | 5.383% | 5.75% | 9.02% | #1529 |
| 94 | Alleghany County | 0.77% | 5.260% | 5.75% | 8.96% | #1567 |
| 95 | Galax city | 0.77% | 5.173% | 5.75% | 8.95% | #1577 |
| 96 | Martinsville city | 0.93% | 5.092% | 5.75% | 8.95% | #1577 |
| 97 | Bedford County | 0.46% | 5.406% | 5.75% | 8.94% | #1588 |
| 98 | Accomack County | 0.51% | 5.261% | 5.75% | 8.93% | #1593 |
| 99 | Carroll County | 0.63% | 5.226% | 5.75% | 8.92% | #1599 |
| 100 | Scott County | 0.67% | 5.172% | 5.75% | 8.92% | #1599 |
| 101 | Appomattox County | 0.56% | 5.321% | 5.75% | 8.87% | #1643 |
| 102 | Washington County | 0.54% | 5.314% | 5.75% | 8.87% | #1643 |
| 103 | Patrick County | 0.60% | 5.226% | 5.75% | 8.81% | #1691 |
| 104 | Grayson County | 0.58% | 5.156% | 5.75% | 8.80% | #1697 |
| 105 | Pittsylvania County | 0.60% | 5.261% | 5.75% | 8.80% | #1697 |
| 106 | Amelia County | 0.42% | 5.344% | 5.75% | 8.78% | #1710 |
| 107 | Danville city | 0.71% | 5.129% | 5.75% | 8.78% | #1710 |
| 108 | Bland County | 0.70% | 5.320% | 5.75% | 8.77% | #1720 |
| 109 | Greensville County | 0.57% | 5.253% | 5.75% | 8.77% | #1720 |
| 110 | Mecklenburg County | 0.52% | 5.248% | 5.75% | 8.76% | #1727 |
| 111 | Amherst County | 0.53% | 5.350% | 5.75% | 8.75% | #1731 |
| 112 | Prince Edward County | 0.46% | 5.301% | 5.75% | 8.75% | #1731 |
| 113 | Smyth County | 0.63% | 5.179% | 5.75% | 8.75% | #1731 |
| 114 | Giles County | 0.66% | 5.335% | 5.75% | 8.74% | #1744 |
| 115 | Sussex County | 0.59% | 5.315% | 5.75% | 8.71% | #1769 |
| 116 | Campbell County | 0.48% | 5.314% | 5.75% | 8.69% | #1778 |
| 117 | Tazewell County | 0.64% | 5.196% | 5.75% | 8.63% | #1818 |
| 118 | Buckingham County | 0.51% | 5.320% | 5.75% | 8.58% | #1847 |
| 119 | Wythe County | 0.48% | 5.272% | 5.75% | 8.57% | #1850 |
| 120 | Bath County | 0.41% | 5.288% | 5.75% | 8.54% | #1864 |
| 121 | Craig County | 0.46% | 5.362% | 5.75% | 8.53% | #1873 |
| 122 | Russell County | 0.57% | 5.166% | 5.75% | 8.51% | #1881 |
| 123 | Nottoway County | 0.47% | 5.337% | 5.75% | 8.50% | #1891 |
| 124 | Covington city | 0.80% | 5.187% | 5.75% | 8.49% | #1899 |
| 125 | Charlotte County | 0.50% | 5.250% | 5.75% | 8.47% | #1915 |
| 126 | Halifax County | 0.50% | 5.226% | 5.75% | 8.47% | #1915 |
| 127 | Wise County | 0.60% | 5.208% | 5.75% | 8.46% | #1926 |
| 128 | Brunswick County | 0.53% | 5.261% | 5.75% | 8.44% | #1937 |
| 129 | Lee County | 0.60% | 5.131% | 5.75% | 8.41% | #1964 |
| 130 | Henry County | 0.52% | 5.161% | 5.75% | 8.38% | #1982 |
| 131 | Lunenburg County | 0.43% | 5.277% | 5.75% | 8.27% | #2038 |
| 132 | Dickenson County | 0.53% | 5.109% | 5.75% | 8.18% | #2071 |
| 133 | Buchanan County | 0.49% | 5.100% | 5.75% | 8.05% | #2105 |
Virginia Tax Burden Summary
Virginia ranks #21 for total tax burden in the United States with a combined effective rate of 9.53%. Residents earning $100,000 pay approximately $9,530 in total state and local taxes — including $198,000 in property tax on a $300,000 home, $534,400 in state income tax, and an estimated $230,000 in sales tax on $40,000 of taxable spending.
With a median household income of $63,438 and a population of 8,624,511, Virginia has 133 counties with tax burdens ranging from 8.05% to 13.57%. With a tax burden near the national median, individual county choices within Virginia can make a meaningful difference — the spread between the highest and lowest-taxed counties is often larger than the difference between states.