countyscore

Prince William County, Virginia — County Report Card

VA

#109 in Virginia

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Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers MarketsView on Map
39.7
County Score
Income & Jobs 99.2Health 72.8Water Quality 70.6

County Report Card

About Prince William County, Virginia

A High-Income Hub with Trade-offs

Prince William County holds a composite score of 39.6, falling below the national median of 50.0. While its economic power is vast, other factors weigh down its overall national standing.

Trailing the Commonwealth Median

Despite its wealth, the county's score of 39.6 is lower than the Virginia average of 50.9. Its ranking is impacted heavily by the extreme costs associated with the Northern Virginia market.

Elite Incomes and Health Outcomes

The county scores an incredible 99.2 in income, with a median household earning $128,873. A health score of 72.8 further highlights the benefits of its affluent resident base.

Extreme Costs and Environmental Risks

Affordability is nearly bottomed out with a cost score of 1.2, reflecting a median home value of $500,600. The risk score of 16.8 also indicates higher vulnerability to environmental hazards.

The Professional’s High-Stakes Choice

This county is designed for high-earning professionals who can afford the steep entry price for access to top-tier health and income opportunities. It is less ideal for those seeking a low-stress or low-cost environment.

20406080100401.330.572.846.899.216.870.655Tax40Cost1.3Safety30.5Health72.8Schools46.8Income99.2Risk16.8Water70.6Weather5539.7/100
This county
National avg
3 above average4 below average

Prince William County DNA

Foverall

How Prince William County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Prince William County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Income (99.2/100) but notably weak in Cost of Living (1.3/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
40-12
Cost
1.3-46.7
Safety
30.5-24.5
Health
72.8+22.799999999999997
Schools
46.8
Income
99.2+48.2
Risk
16.8-30.2
Water
70.6+12.599999999999994
Weather
55
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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$530,100

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$2,067/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$530,100/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$82,680/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum4.0x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $131,402/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

16.9

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

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Deep Dives

Prince William County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 8 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

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

Safety in Prince William County

via CrimeByCounty

Prince William is safer than national averages

Prince William County reports a total crime rate of 1,650.6 per 100,000, staying well below the national average of 2,385.5. This contributes to a respectable safety score of 97.4. Despite its large population, the county maintains a lower crime profile than many national peers.

Matching the Virginia safety standard

The county's safety score of 97.4 is nearly identical to the Virginia average of 97.3. While its total crime rate of 1,650.6 is slightly lower than the state average of 1,728.8, it faces more challenges than smaller rural counties. Six different reporting agencies monitor this high-activity area.

Comparison with surrounding Virginia counties

Prince William's crime rate of 1,650.6 is higher than Prince George's 1,412.0. However, it is significantly safer than Richmond City, where the crime rate surges to 3,820.0. The county serves as a relatively safe suburban hub between more rural areas and major cities.

Property crime vs. violent crime trends

The violent crime rate is 282.9 per 100,000, which is slightly above the state average of 229.7. Property crime is the primary concern, with a rate of 1,367.7 per 100,000 residents. Most interactions with the justice system involve theft or property damage rather than violence.

Securing your Prince William home

Because property crime accounts for 1,367.7 incidents per 100,000, home security should be a priority. Installing smart locks and window sensors can provide an extra layer of protection for suburban households. Vigilance and community watch programs are highly effective in neighborhoods of this size.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Soil Quality in Prince William County

via SoilByCounty

Northern Virginia’s Acidic Soil Foundation

Prince William County shows a pH of 5.13, which is typical for the Northern Virginia region. This level is more acidic than the national median of 6.5 but provides a familiar base for local native flora.

Balanced Silt and Sand Texture

The soil contains 45.1% sand and 38.2% silt, creating a sturdy and versatile silty-sand profile. This provides an excellent structure for both suburban landscaping and smaller agricultural operations.

Superior Water Capacity for the State

Organic matter levels of 2.13% are higher than many central Virginia counties. The water capacity of 0.155 in/in is superior to the state average of 0.143, helping gardens stay resilient during hot spells.

Reliable Moisture Retention for Lawns

While specific hydrologic data is missing, the above-average water capacity suggests excellent moisture retention. This helps suburban lawns and gardens stay green longer during the humid Virginia summers.

Diverse Planting Options in Zone 7a

In Zone 7a, gardeners can thrive with everything from garlic and root vegetables to colorful zinnias. The strong water retention makes this an excellent environment for establishing fruit trees and berry bushes.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Prince William County

via LawnByCounty

Severe Maintenance Challenges in Prince William

Prince William County has a difficult lawn score of 23.3, making it one of the most challenging places in Virginia to maintain a yard. This hardiness zone 7a area requires significant effort and resources compared to the state average of 55.4.

Coping with Persistent Summer Swelter

The county faces 41 days of extreme heat annually, far exceeding the state norm of 28 days. While precipitation data is limited for this area, the high number of heat days places extreme stress on cool-season grasses.

Amending Acidic and Clay-Heavy Soil

Local soil averages a pH of 5.13 and contains 16.7% clay, which can lead to compaction issues if not managed. Homeowners should focus on core aeration and adding lime to counteract the natural acidity and improve root penetration.

Extreme Drought Pressure on Prince William

With 39 weeks spent in drought over the past year, water management is the biggest hurdle for local lawns. 100% of the county is currently abnormally dry, making smart irrigation and the use of drought-hardy cultivars essential.

Focusing on Hardier Grass Selections

In zone 7a, heat-tolerant tall fescue blends offer the best chance of survival against the county's 41 heat days. Without specific frost dates, residents should aim for late summer seeding to allow roots to establish before the next drought cycle.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Prince William County's county score?
Prince William County, Virginia has a composite county score of 39.7 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Prince William County rank among counties in Virginia?
Prince William County ranks #109 among all counties in Virginia on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Prince William County, Virginia?
The median annual property tax in Prince William County is $4,999, with an effective tax rate of 0.94%. This earns Prince William County a tax score of 40/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Prince William County?
The median household income in Prince William County, Virginia is $131,402 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Prince William County earns an income score of 99.2/100 on CountyScore.
Is Prince William County, Virginia a good place to live?
Prince William County scores 39.7/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #109 in Virginia. The best way to evaluate Prince William County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Prince William County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

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