CountyScore

Culpeper County

Virginia · VA

#103 in Virginia
67
County Score

County Report Card

About Culpeper County, Virginia

Culpeper outperforms U.S. average

Culpeper's 67.0 composite score beats the national median of 50.0 by 34%, placing it comfortably above average among U.S. counties. Strong tax efficiency and reasonable incomes support this solid national position.

Slightly below Virginia average

Culpeper's 67.0 score falls just short of Virginia's state average of 70.3, ranking it near the middle of Virginia's county performance. The gap indicates Culpeper trails Virginia's stronger communities modestly.

Efficient taxes and solid income base

Culpeper boasts a tax score of 86.8 with an effective tax rate of 0.548%, offering meaningful fiscal relief alongside median household income of $96,098. These factors provide upper-middle-class stability and economic footing.

Moderate affordability and missing data

The cost score of 57.4 reflects moderate housing challenges, with median home values of $386,400 and rent at $1,417/month limiting accessibility. Safety, health, and school information gaps prevent complete livability assessment.

Suits established families seeking balance

Culpeper appeals to established families and professionals seeking tax-efficient living with solid income potential, though housing costs require financial stability. The county delivers above-average national livability at slightly below-average Virginia performance.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax86.8Cost57.4SafetyComing SoonHealth71.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome46.1Risk53.8WaterComing Soon
🏛86.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠57.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼46.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤71.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡53.8
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Culpeper County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Plumas County
California
67
Median income: $64,946
Kootenai County
Idaho
67
Median income: $77,034
Schuyler County
Illinois
67
Median income: $66,059
Johnson County
Indiana
67
Median income: $87,227
Kearny County
Kansas
67
Median income: $74,135

Deep Dives

Culpeper County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Culpeper County

via TaxByCounty

Culpeper's moderate rate, premium valuations

Culpeper County's effective tax rate of 0.548% falls below the national median of 0.72%, offering favorable tax treatment on increasingly valuable properties. The median property tax of $2,119 sits below the national median of $2,690, despite Culpeper homes averaging $386,400—37% above the national median.

Virginia's third-lowest tax rate

Culpeper County's 0.548% effective rate ranks third-best statewide behind Clarke (0.512%) and Craig (0.455%), delivering substantial tax savings. The median tax bill of $2,119 is 8% above Virginia's state median of $1,960, thanks to rising residential values in this exurban region.

Best rates in the Piedmont region

Culpeper's 0.548% rate undercuts Chesterfield County (0.783%) and Chesapeake (0.818%), making it the tax leader among Northern Virginia's increasingly suburban counties. The median $2,119 tax reflects Culpeper's mix of rural and developing areas with climbing property values.

Tax breaks on premium properties

A Culpeper County homeowner with the median-valued property of $386,400 pays approximately $2,119 in annual property taxes. Those carrying mortgages typically pay $2,211, while owners without mortgages pay $1,834, suggesting local assessment practices favor mortgage holders.

Growing county, reassessments matter

Culpeper's rapid development and rising property values mean assessments can lag reality—or overshoot it during market volatility. Filing a reassessment appeal is especially worthwhile when property values fluctuate, potentially saving hundreds on your annual bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Culpeper County

via CostByCounty

Culpeper balances prosperity with reasonable housing costs

At 17.7%, Culpeper's rent-to-income ratio sits comfortably below the national affordability standard of 18.6%, leaving residents healthy income for savings and discretionary spending. The county's median household income of $96,098 is 29% above the national average, making the $1,417 monthly rent proportionally manageable.

Culpeper performs well above Virginia's affordability average

At 17.7%, Culpeper's rent-to-income ratio outperforms Virginia's state average of 18.6%, making it one of the state's more affordable prosperous counties. The county's $1,417 rent runs above Virginia's state median of $1,140, yet strong household incomes maintain overall affordability balance.

Culpeper offers middle ground between rural and affluent options

Culpeper's $1,417 rent falls between rural affordable areas (Craig at $728) and wealthy suburbs (Clarke at $1,360, Chesterfield at $1,542), positioning it as a prosperous yet accessible county. For families seeking rural-suburban balance with strong incomes and reasonable costs, Culpeper delivers both.

Renters and owners share similar monthly housing costs

Renters pay $1,417 monthly while homeowners carry $1,645 in mortgage costs, a modest $228 difference reflecting a balanced property market. At 17.7% of a typical $8,008 monthly household income, renters spend roughly $1,417 on housing, preserving approximately $6,600 for other living expenses and savings.

Culpeper suits families balancing rural charm and prosperity

If you're relocating with household income near $96K and seeking small-town Virginia character with genuine affordability, Culpeper delivers strong value without premium pricing. The county works especially well for families wanting rural-suburban hybrid living with good schools, historic charm, and reasonable housing costs.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Culpeper County

via IncomeByCounty

Culpeper surpasses U.S. income benchmark

Culpeper County's median household income of $96,098 runs 29% above the national median of $74,755, reflecting strong economic performance in Northern Virginia. This $21,343 advantage positions Culpeper among America's higher-earning counties.

Third-highest earners in Virginia

Culpeper County's $96,098 median household income ranks third statewide, trailing only Clarke ($114,185) and Chesterfield ($98,910), and exceeds the state average of $74,957 by $21,141. The county's growth corridor attracts affluent professionals.

Wealthiest of central Virginia counties

Culpeper's $96,098 median income exceeds Clarke ($114,185), Chesterfield ($98,910), and Chesapeake ($94,189), making it the income leader in its immediate peer group. Median home values of $386,400 reflect strong property demand.

Strong affordability in growing market

Culpeper's rent-to-income ratio of 17.7% remains well below the 30% affordability threshold, enabling households to manage even premium home values of $386,400. Income growth outpaces housing cost inflation.

Invest Culpeper's strong earnings strategically

With per capita income of $40,304 and moderate housing burden, Culpeper households have capacity for robust wealth-building. Explore tax-advantaged retirement accounts, real estate investment opportunities, and diversified portfolios to capitalize on your income advantage.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Culpeper County

via HealthByCounty

Culpeper's health near state average

At 77.0 years, Culpeper County residents live 1.9 years above Virginia's state average, placing the county in the healthier tier regionally. However, the county's 17.8% poor or fair health rate is slightly elevated, suggesting pockets of health vulnerability despite decent overall life expectancy.

Culpeper exceeds Virginia's life expectancy

Culpeper County's 77.0-year life expectancy surpasses Virginia's 75.1-year average, signaling relatively good health outcomes for the region. However, at 8.9% uninsured—the highest rate among these eight counties and above Virginia's 7.9% average—Culpeper has a notable coverage gap affecting about one in 11 residents.

Health edge tempered by coverage concerns

Culpeper's 77.0-year life expectancy approaches Clarke County (77.3 years) and exceeds Craig County (73.8 years), placing it among the region's healthier counties. Yet at 8.9% uninsured—the highest rate in this group—Culpeper trails peers in coverage, creating potential barriers to ongoing care.

Uninsured rate outpaces state average

At 8.9% uninsured, Culpeper County faces a notably higher coverage gap than Virginia's 7.9% average, affecting nearly 9% of residents who lack health protection. With just 34 primary care providers and 215 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, Culpeper residents in uninsured or underinsured households may struggle to access routine care.

Address Culpeper's coverage gap now

Nearly 9% of Culpeper residents lack health insurance—above the state average—putting families at financial and health risk. Visit healthcare.gov or Virginia's Medicaid program to explore coverage options, and ask about subsidies or marketplace plans that reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Culpeper County

via RiskByCounty

Culpeper moderately exceeds national average

With a composite risk score of 46.25, Culpeper is relatively low risk but sits above the national average. Earthquake risk of 65.11 and hurricane risk of 70.88 are the primary drivers of exposure.

Mid-range risk among Virginia counties

Culpeper's score of 46.25 exceeds Virginia's state average of 33.27, placing it in the moderate-risk range for the commonwealth. The county's piedmont location exposes it to multiple seismic and weather-related hazards.

Riskier than western peers, safer than coastal areas

Culpeper's 46.25 score exceeds Craig County (6.23) and Clarke County (6.93) to the west but lags well behind Chesterfield County (84.83) to the east. The county occupies a middle ground in Virginia's risk spectrum.

Earthquakes and hurricanes drive risk profile

Culpeper faces significant earthquake risk (65.11) and hurricane risk (70.88), with flood risk of 61.99 adding further concern. Tornado risk of 31.33 rounds out a moderately elevated hazard profile.

Consider flood insurance and seismic coverage

Culpeper residents should evaluate flood insurance options, particularly near waterways, and consider earthquake coverage given the county's 65.11 seismic score. Annual policy reviews help ensure adequate protection as risks evolve.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.