Virginia · 63 places of 5,000+
Largest cities in Virginia by population
Short answer
- Largest
- 454,808
- Places 5,000+
- 63
- 100,000+
- 8
The 20 largest
Virginia Beach leads with 454,808 residents, 1.8 times the 254,997 of second-place Chesapeake. The ten largest places hold 1,951,818 people, 22% of the state's 8,811,195. 8 places have 100,000 or more.
The median place of 5,000+ is Vienna at 16,562. Within the top ten, Suffolk grew most since July 2020 (+8.8%) and Norfolk least (-2.8%). 1 of the 63 places cross a county line; their totals include every county part.
- 01Virginia Beach454,808
- 02Chesapeake254,997
- 03Richmond233,655
- 04Norfolk231,105
- 05Newport News183,056
- 06Alexandria159,102
- 07Hampton137,596
- 08Suffolk103,105
- 09Roanoke97,912
- 10Portsmouth96,482
- 11Lynchburg80,301
- 12Harrisonburg51,164
- 13Leesburg49,831
- 14Blacksburg45,452
- 15Charlottesville44,767
- 16Manassas43,616
- 17Danville41,993
- 18Petersburg34,058
- 19Fredericksburg29,992
- 20Winchester27,800
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Virginia Beach, ranked first.
All 63 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach | 454,808 | -1.1% | Virginia Beach city |
| 2 | Chesapeake | 254,997 | +2.1% | Chesapeake city |
| 3 | Richmond | 233,655 | +3.0% | Richmond city |
| 4 | Norfolk | 231,105 | -2.8% | Norfolk city |
| 5 | Newport News | 183,056 | -1.6% | Newport News city |
| 6 | Alexandria | 159,102 | -0.0% | Alexandria city |
| 7 | Hampton | 137,596 | +0.2% | Hampton city |
| 8 | Suffolk | 103,105 | +8.8% | Suffolk city |
| 9 | Roanoke | 97,912 | -2.0% | Roanoke city |
| 10 | Portsmouth | 96,482 | -1.5% | Portsmouth city |
| 11 | Lynchburg | 80,301 | +1.7% | Lynchburg city |
| 12 | Harrisonburg | 51,164 | -1.0% | Harrisonburg city |
| 13 | Leesburg | 49,831 | +2.9% | Loudoun County |
| 14 | Blacksburg | 45,452 | +1.6% | Montgomery County |
| 15 | Charlottesville | 44,767 | -3.6% | Charlottesville city |
| 16 | Manassas | 43,616 | +2.2% | Manassas city |
| 17 | Danville | 41,993 | -1.4% | Danville city |
| 18 | Petersburg | 34,058 | +2.0% | Petersburg city |
| 19 | Fredericksburg | 29,992 | +7.1% | Fredericksburg city |
| 20 | Winchester | 27,800 | -0.7% | Winchester city |
| 21 | Staunton | 26,361 | +2.1% | Staunton city |
| 22 | Fairfax | 26,340 | +8.9% | Fairfax city |
| 23 | Salem | 25,908 | +2.0% | Salem city |
| 24 | Herndon | 25,180 | +2.4% | Fairfax County |
| 25 | Waynesboro | 23,498 | +5.5% | Waynesboro city |
| 26 | Hopewell | 22,970 | -0.2% | Hopewell city |
| 27 | Christiansburg | 22,632 | -2.9% | Montgomery County |
| 28 | Culpeper | 21,464 | +6.4% | Culpeper County |
| 29 | Colonial Heights | 18,674 | +2.8% | Colonial Heights city |
| 30 | Radford | 17,273 | +7.2% | Radford city |
| 31 | Manassas Park | 16,611 | -3.2% | Manassas Park city |
| 32 | Vienna | 16,562 | +0.7% | Fairfax County |
| 33 | Bristol | 16,316 | -5.7% | Bristol city |
| 34 | Williamsburg | 16,030 | +3.6% | Williamsburg city |
| 35 | Front Royal | 15,628 | +3.9% | Warren County |
| 36 | Falls Church | 15,034 | +2.4% | Falls Church city |
| 37 | Martinsville | 13,834 | +2.7% | Martinsville city |
| 38 | Poquoson | 12,854 | +3.1% | Poquoson city |
| 39 | Warrenton | 10,224 | +1.8% | Fauquier County |
| 40 | Smithfield | 9,032 | +5.5% | Isle of Wight County |
| 41 | Purcellville | 8,965 | +0.2% | Loudoun County |
| 42 | Pulaski | 8,805 | -1.9% | Pulaski County |
| 43 | Franklin | 8,373 | +2.8% | Franklin city |
| 44 | Abingdon | 8,316 | -0.6% | Washington County |
| 45 | Wytheville | 8,160 | -1.3% | Wythe County |
| 46 | Vinton | 8,059 | +0.2% | Roanoke County |
| 47 | Ashland | 7,910 | +4.0% | Hanover County |
| 48 | Bedford | 7,823 | +2.6% | Bedford County |
| 49 | Lexington | 7,802 | +6.7% | Lexington city |
| 50 | South Boston | 7,795 | -1.9% | Halifax County |
| 51 | Farmville | 7,578 | +0.4% | Prince Edward County +1 |
| 52 | Strasburg | 7,290 | +2.6% | Shenandoah County |
| 53 | Bridgewater | 6,826 | +3.5% | Rockingham County |
| 54 | Galax | 6,739 | +0.3% | Galax city |
| 55 | Buena Vista | 6,581 | -0.6% | Buena Vista city |
| 56 | Dumfries | 5,978 | +4.5% | Prince William County |
| 57 | Woodstock | 5,954 | +2.7% | Shenandoah County |
| 58 | Covington | 5,663 | -1.4% | Covington city |
| 59 | Marion | 5,602 | -2.5% | Smyth County |
| 60 | Emporia | 5,402 | -5.1% | Emporia city |
| 61 | Orange | 5,210 | +6.4% | Orange County |
| 62 | Big Stone Gap | 5,087 | -3.0% | Wise County |
| 63 | Richlands | 5,074 | -3.8% | Tazewell County |
Questions people ask
What is the largest city in Virginia?
Virginia Beach, with 454,808 residents on July 1, 2024 in the Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
What is the second largest city in Virginia?
Chesapeake, with 254,997 residents, 199,811 fewer than Virginia Beach.
How many cities in Virginia have more than 100,000 people?
8: Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News, Alexandria, Hampton, Suffolk.
How is city size measured here?
By the Census Bureau's July 1, 2024 population estimate for each incorporated place, inside its legal city limits. Metro areas and census-designated places are not ranked.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.