The Commonwealth is rich in history, as it was one of the original 13 colonies and the first permanent settlement in the Americas.
It’s a geographically diverse state stretching from Washington, D.C., to the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains. As Virginia cities are growing in popularity, these 10 communities are experiencing a significant rent increase.
10. Portsmouth
- Average rent price increase: 7.47 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,103
Portsmouth is a small coastal city with 90 miles of shoreline along the Elizabeth River. Home to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and the Fifth District of the U.S. Coast Guard Command, the historic Olde Towne is a walkable corridor with an assortment of quirky shops, locally-owned restaurants and a spectacular waterfront.
Rent is increasing in Portsmouth as the town is conveniently located near Norfolk and the Virginia Beach resort areas.
9. Triangle
Photo courtesy of Shenandoah Station in the Park
- Average rent price increase: 8.27 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,019
Triangle is best known for its close proximity to the Marine Corps Base Quantico and is home to many military families. It’s the perfect spot for nature lovers to live as it’s bounded to the west by Prince William Forest Park and to the east by the Potomac River.
Triangle residents enjoy hiking and boating opportunities. The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a popular attraction that honors and highlights the history of the Marine Corps.
8. Lorton
- Average rent price increase: 8.53 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,943
Lorton is the northern terminal of the Amtrak Auto Train to and from Florida. Located in southern Fairfax County, the community offers residents an urban-suburban mix — convenient access to D.C. via the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and lots of parks and open space.
As many families and young professionals are moving further out from the city, rental prices in Lorton are increasing.
7. Chester
- Average rent price increase: 9.5 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,106
Located near I-95, Chester is a bedroom community 17 miles south of Richmond, VA. Nearby, Pocahontas State Park offers hiking, biking and horse trails, plus two fishing lakes and an aquatic center.
Recent commercial development in Chester has made it a convenient place to live, work and play.
6. Ashburn
- Average rent price increase: 9.93 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $2,029
Located within the Dulles Technology Corridor, Ashburn is home to many high-tech businesses and one of Northern Virginia’s fastest-growing communities. The Silver Line Metro is slated for extension into Loudoun County, offering three stops — two of which will be in Ashburn in late 2020, giving commuters easy access to Washington, D.C. Residents enjoy shopping and dining at the mixed-use community, One Loudoun.
5. Herndon
- Average rent price increase: 10.09 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $2,003
The Town of Herndon, located in western Fairfax County, is just 22 miles from downtown Washington, D.C., and minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport. Residents enjoy the small-town charm, public parks and a variety of community events.
Nearby attractions include the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum, Frying Pan Farm Park, Sully Plantation, Reston Town Center, Mount Vernon, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Colvin Run Mill, Manassas National Battlefield Park and the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park.
Rents are increasing as Herndon continues to appeal to the growing Northern Virginia population.
4. Stafford
Photo courtesy of Lakewood
- Average rent price increase: 11.50 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,580
Nestled in the rolling countryside between the D.C. metro area and Fredericksburg, Stafford offers the best of both worlds. Just minutes off I-95, the county seat of Stafford County, VA, is within a commutable distance of the city and offers plenty of outdoor activities, a professional theater, wineries, breweries and locally-owned restaurants.
As the region is rapidly developing, rent in Stafford is still affordable, but increasing.
3. Alexandria
- Average rent price increase: 11.71 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $2,283
With its small-town charm and big-city amenities, Alexandria is one of the most popular and priciest places to live in Northern Virginia. Located just six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C., the historic center, known as Old Town, is the third oldest historic district in the United States and very walkable with a large concentration of boutiques, restaurants, theaters, museums and art galleries.
Rent prices continue to climb here as Alexandria is one of the region’s hottest neighborhoods for its urban lifestyle and easy access to employment centers.
2. Chesapeake
- Average rent price increase: 11.95 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,388
Chesapeake is an independent city in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia that includes Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Newport News. It’s a diverse city, which also has many square miles of protected farmland, forests and wetlands.
Rental prices are low in Chesapeake compared to neighboring areas, but increasing as the area is growing in population.
1. Manassas Park
Photo courtesy of Parq 170 at City Center
- Average rent price increase: 13.74 percent
- Average 1-BR rental price: $1,767
The city of Manassas Park, an independent jurisdiction in Northern Virginia, approximately 30 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., is primarily residential and has a strong sense of community pride.
Nearby attractions include Bull Run Regional Park, Splashdown Waterpark and the Winery at Bull Run. Many families and professionals are drawn to Manassas Park because of its urban-suburban mix of amenities.
Methodology
We looked at all cities in Virginia with sufficient available inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent. and compared the average rolling weighted rent price from March 2020 to March 2019 to find the communities with the highest percentage increase in one-bedroom rent prices.
The current rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
