CountyScore

Prince William County

Virginia · VA

#131 in Virginia
56.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Prince William County, Virginia

Prince William moderately above national norm

Prince William's composite score of 54.1 tops the national median of 50.0 by 8%, barely edging into the upper half of U.S. counties. High incomes mask affordability pressures that hold back the overall livability ranking.

Notably below Virginia's state average

Prince William scores 54.1 versus Virginia's state average of 70.3, placing it in the Commonwealth's lower quartile. A 16.2-point gap reflects significant housing cost challenges despite strong local incomes.

High incomes support affluent lifestyle

Prince William boasts the highest income score (67.5) and median household income ($128,873) among these eight counties, reflecting strong employment corridors. Tax score of 74.7 provides reasonable fiscal relief.

Housing costs eat into paychecks

The cost score of 35.2 signals severe affordability stress, with median rent at $2,002/month and median home value at $500,600—highest in the group. Housing consumes an outsized share of even above-average incomes.

Demands high earners willing to pay

Prince William suits affluent professionals and executives with household incomes well above $100,000 willing to pay Northern Virginia premiums. It's less suitable for families building wealth or seeking cost-effective living.

Score breakdown

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

Tax74.7Cost35.2SafetyComing SoonHealth75.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome67.5Risk16.8WaterComing Soon
🏛74.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠35.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼67.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤75.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡16.8
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 Prince William County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Riverside County
California
56.3
Median income: $89,672
Allegany County
New York
56.3
Median income: $61,233
Guadalupe County
Texas
56.3
Median income: $93,776
Sonoma County
California
56.2
Median income: $102,840
Cheshire County
New Hampshire
56.2
Median income: $81,001

Deep Dives

Prince William County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Prince William County

via TaxByCounty

Prince William leads Virginia in tax burden

Prince William County's effective rate of 0.981% significantly exceeds the national median of 0.85%, placing it among America's higher-taxing jurisdictions. The median property tax bill of $4,910 is 83% higher than the national median of $2,690, driven by the county's elevated median home value of $500,600.

Virginia's highest effective property tax rate

Prince William's 0.981% rate is the highest among all Virginia counties, 46% above the state average of 0.671%. At $4,910 annually, the median tax bill is two and a half times the state median of $1,960, reflecting the county's desirable Northern Virginia location.

Prince William far outpaces regional peers

Prince William's 0.981% rate is significantly higher than Powhatan (0.634%), Prince George (0.782%), and all other surrounding counties. Only Portsmouth (1.069%) approaches this burden, making Prince William the de facto highest-tax zone in central Virginia.

Prince William's substantial annual tax bill

On the county's median home value of $500,600, residents pay approximately $4,910 per year in property taxes. That translates to roughly $409 monthly, making Prince William notably expensive on a tax basis for homeowners in the region.

High-value homes especially deserve reassessment reviews

With median home values exceeding $500,000, Prince William homeowners are particularly vulnerable to overassessment. A free reassessment appeal could identify valuation errors and recover thousands in annual tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Prince William County

via CostByCounty

Prince William: High income, high costs

Prince William County achieves a rent-to-income ratio of exactly 18.6%—matching Virginia's state average—despite the highest median rent of all eight counties at $2,002 monthly. This affordability is possible only because median household income here is $128,873, the highest of any county profiled and $54,118 above the national median.

Meets Virginia's affordability standard

Prince William's rent-to-income ratio of 18.6% equals Virginia's state average, but achieves this through high incomes rather than low rents. At $2,002 monthly, Prince William's median rent is 75% higher than the state average of $1,140, reflecting its position as Northern Virginia's economic engine.

Most expensive overall in the region

Prince William's median rent of $2,002 and median home value of $500,600 dwarf those in Pulaski ($815 rent, $182,500 home value) and Prince Edward ($898 rent, $203,700 home value). Only Rappahannock's home values approach Prince William's, yet even there, renters pay $418 less monthly.

Wealth absorbs premium housing costs

Renters in Prince William pay $2,002 monthly while homeowners face $2,374—the highest owner costs of any county profiled—on a median home value of $500,600. With median household income at $128,873 annually ($10,739 monthly), these costs consume 18.6–22% of income, leaving substantial room for other expenses.

Prince William for high earners only

Relocating to Prince William County requires household income of $120,000+ to afford median housing costs comfortably. The payoff: proximity to Northern Virginia job centers, excellent schools, and a affluent community—but expect to pay a premium for every advantage.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Prince William County

via IncomeByCounty

Prince William ranks among America's wealthiest

Prince William County's median household income of $128,873 towers 72% above the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it in the nation's top income tier. This exceptional wealth reflects a highly educated, professional workforce drawn by federal agencies, defense contractors, and Northern Virginia's tech economy.

Virginia's top income county by far

Prince William's $128,873 median household income ranks as the highest among Virginia's counties, exceeding the state average of $74,957 by nearly $54,000. The county dominates regional income rankings, reflecting its role as a major federal employment hub.

Prince William far outearns regional peers

Prince William ($128,873) dramatically exceeds Rappahannock ($98,125), Powhatan ($110,667), and all other surrounding counties in this analysis. The income gap reflects Prince William's unmatched concentration of federal jobs, defense contractors, and technology sector employment.

High incomes offset steep housing costs

Prince William residents spend 18.6% of income on rent despite the nation's highest median home values at $500,600, thanks to exceptional incomes. This ratio demonstrates that even expensive housing markets become manageable with sufficient earning power.

Exceptional opportunity to build generational wealth

Prince William households earning $128,873 can direct $15,000–$32,000 annually (12–25% of income) to investments while maintaining comfortable lifestyles. This income level enables aggressive wealth-building through diversified portfolios, real estate, and entrepreneurship.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Prince William County

via HealthByCounty

Prince William leads on life expectancy

At 80.6 years, Prince William's life expectancy ranks among the nation's best, exceeding the U.S. average of 76.1 years by 4.5 years. Just 15.7% of residents report poor or fair health, well below the national average of 17.3%, signaling consistently strong health across the county.

Virginia's longest-living county

Prince William leads all Virginia counties with a life expectancy of 80.6 years, 5.5 years above the state average. Its 15.7% poor/fair health rate beats the state median, reflecting exceptional population wellness.

Outpaces every comparable county

Prince William's 80.6-year life expectancy substantially outpaces Prince George (78.9 years) and all rural neighbors, creating a clear health advantage zone. The county's 15.7% poor/fair health rate represents the lowest in the region, indicating concentrated health security.

Insurance access lags despite excellent outcomes

Prince William has 44 primary care providers and 176 mental health providers per 100,000—moderate capacity for a large county. However, 9.9% of residents lack insurance, the highest rate in this analysis and above Virginia's 7.9% average, creating risk for vulnerable populations in an otherwise healthy county.

Don't fall through cracks in success

Nearly 1 in 10 Prince William residents lacks insurance despite the county's strong health profile. Visit healthcare.gov to find affordable plans and ensure everyone in the county can maintain their exceptional health trajectory.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Prince William County

via RiskByCounty

Prince William faces significantly elevated risk

With a composite risk score of 83.2, Prince William ranks as relatively moderate—and substantially above the national average. The county's flood risk of 88.0 and earthquake risk of 80.9 create compounded vulnerability across multiple hazard types.

Virginia's highest-risk county

Prince William's score of 83.2 far exceeds Virginia's state average of 33.3, making it the commonwealth's most hazard-exposed jurisdiction. The county's flood infrastructure challenges and proximity to major faults drive this exceptional risk profile.

Dramatically riskier than all surrounding counties

Prince William (83.2) vastly exceeds Prince Edward County (32.4), Powhatan County (21.1), Prince George County (13.9), and even Portsmouth (54.0). The county's unique geographic and infrastructure vulnerabilities create a distinct risk profile in northern Virginia.

Flooding emerges as critical concern

Prince William's flood risk of 88.0 is exceptionally high, driven by rapidly urbanizing floodplains and aging stormwater infrastructure. Tornado (76.5) and hurricane (83.0) risks also rank significantly above Virginia averages, creating overlapping hazard exposure.

Comprehensive coverage is essential

Prince William homeowners must prioritize flood insurance immediately—standard policies exclude water damage, and federally-backed coverage remains available through the National Flood Insurance Program. Also verify windstorm coverage, as tornado and hurricane risks demand robust protection.

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.