What are the fastest-growing counties and independent cities in Virginia?
New Kent County is the fastest-growing county in Virginia: its population grew 3.92% a year from 2020 to 2025, to 28,022 residents (Census PEP Vintage 2025). Goochland County (3.26%) and Louisa County (2.58%) follow. Virginia as a whole grew 0.56% a year to 8,880,107 residents.
Data as of 2026-09-23. Population, growth and migration: PEP Vintage 2025 · 2020–2025. Income migration: IRS SOI 2022–2023 (2-yr lag).
Top 10 counties and independent cities in Virginia by population growth, 2020 to 2025
| Rank | County or city | Population | Growth (% per year) | Net domestic migration | Net international migration | IRS net AGI migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Kent County | 28,022 | 3.92% | +4,668 | +10 | +$95.4M |
| 2 | Goochland County | 29,187 | 3.26% | +4,567 | +164 | +$120.6M |
| 3 | Louisa County | 42,924 | 2.58% | +4,997 | +256 | +$33.6M |
| 4 | Caroline County | 34,413 | 2.16% | +3,111 | +259 | +$27.2M |
| 5 | Fairfax City | 26,772 | 2.06% | -876 | +1,907 | +$25.6M |
| 6 | King George County | 29,646 | 2.02% | +2,374 | +138 | -$2.6M |
| 7 | Spotsylvania County | 155,388 | 2.02% | +10,769 | +2,065 | +$67.1M |
| 8 | Suffolk City | 104,699 | 2.00% | +8,149 | +695 | +$45.1M |
| 9 | Orange County | 40,083 | 1.95% | +3,566 | +199 | +$25.7M |
| 10 | King William County | 19,617 | 1.83% | +1,388 | +60 | +$12.4M |
Where are people moving in Virginia?
Chesterfield County gained the most people from elsewhere in the United States: net domestic migration of +19,059 from 2020 to 2025 (Census PEP Vintage 2025). The table ranks every Virginia place with 10,000 or more residents by that figure; the IRS column shows net adjusted gross income migration for 2022 to 2023.
| Rank | County or city | Population | Growth (% per year) | Net domestic migration | Net international migration | IRS net AGI migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesterfield County | 397,148 | 1.68% | +19,059 | +8,079 | +$105.1M |
| 2 | Spotsylvania County | 155,388 | 2.02% | +10,769 | +2,065 | +$67.1M |
| 3 | Suffolk City | 104,699 | 2.00% | +8,149 | +695 | +$45.1M |
| 4 | Frederick County | 99,955 | 1.70% | +7,175 | +833 | +$74.1M |
| 5 | Stafford County | 170,803 | 1.60% | +6,308 | +2,863 | -$18.6M |
| 6 | Hanover County | 116,423 | 1.10% | +6,265 | +599 | +$57.3M |
| 7 | Louisa County | 42,924 | 2.58% | +4,997 | +256 | +$33.6M |
| 8 | James City County | 83,326 | 1.20% | +4,947 | +749 | +$27.8M |
| 9 | New Kent County | 28,022 | 3.92% | +4,668 | +10 | +$95.4M |
| 10 | Goochland County | 29,187 | 3.26% | +4,567 | +164 | +$120.6M |
Go past the headline numbers
The interactive Demographics map layer and the full report for a single place are part of paid plans.
Get the Demographics Report for New Kent CountyFrequently asked questions
- What are the fastest-growing counties and independent cities in Virginia?
- By population growth from 2020 to 2025, the fastest are New Kent County (3.92% a year), Goochland County (3.26% a year), Louisa County (2.58% a year), Caroline County (2.16% a year) and Fairfax City (2.06% a year) (Census PEP Vintage 2025). Only places with 10,000 or more residents are ranked.
- Where are people moving in Virginia?
- By net domestic migration from 2020 to 2025, the largest gains are Chesterfield County (+19,059), Spotsylvania County (+10,769) and Suffolk City (+8,149) (Census PEP Vintage 2025).
- How fast is Virginia growing overall?
- Virginia grew 0.56% a year from 2020 to 2025, to 8,880,107 residents, with net migration of +177,786 people (Census PEP Vintage 2025).
- Where does this Virginia data come from, and how current is it?
- Population, growth and migration come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP Vintage 2025 · 2020–2025). Income migration comes from IRS Statistics of Income (IRS SOI 2022–2023 (2-yr lag)). Counties and independent cities with fewer than 10,000 residents are not ranked (17 of 133 in Virginia). Data last loaded 2026-09-23.
Data as of 2026-09-23: sources and periods
- Population, growth and migration
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program: PEP Vintage 2025 · 2020–2025. census.gov/programs-surveys/popest
- Income migration (net AGI)
- Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income migration data: IRS SOI 2022–2023 (2-yr lag). irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-migration-data
How to read the table
- Population is the Census July 1 estimate of the latest vintage.
- Growth is the compound annual rate over 2020 to 2025.
- Net domestic and international migration are cumulative people over 2020 to 2025.
- IRS net AGI migration is adjusted gross income that moved in, less what moved out, for 2022 to 2023. A plus sign means a net inflow.
- Places with fewer than 10,000 residents are left out of the rankings.