RANKING · 2025 ACS · 63 SHOWN OF 63

Most sparsely populated, Virginia cities

Virginia cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 63 cities in Virginia that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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VirginiaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most densely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Suffolk, VAVA104,699262+64%

02Wytheville, VAVA8,128561+4%

03South Boston, VAVA7,795597−8%

04Chesapeake, VAVA255,332754+28%

05Emporia, VAVA5,447789−4%

06Galax, VAVA6,670810−2%

07Poquoson, VAVA13,292866+15%

08Richlands, VAVA5,051894+22%

09Bedford, VAVA7,911907+26%

10Smithfield, VAVA9,112937+44%

11Danville, VAVA41,647973−14%

12Farmville, VAVA7,593989+11%

13Franklin, VAVA8,4781,024+2%

14Abingdon, VAVA8,2841,030+6%

15Buena Vista, VAVA6,6721,036+5%

16Covington, VAVA5,6801,039−10%

17Big Stone Gap, VAVA5,1021,063+5%

18Pulaski, VAVA8,8071,091−7%

19Ashland, VAVA7,9821,109+21%

20Marion, VAVA5,5551,159−13%

21Martinsville, VAVA13,8491,264−10%

22Bristol, VAVA16,4181,276−5%

23Staunton, VAVA26,8011,345+12%

24Petersburg, VAVA33,7341,485−0%

25Christiansburg, VAVA22,4421,524+32%

26Front Royal, VAVA15,7221,530+16%

27Woodstock, VAVA6,0021,575+52%

28Orange, VAVA5,3651,596+30%

29Waynesboro, VAVA23,9511,600+23%

30Lynchburg, VAVA81,3471,661+25%

31Williamsburg, VAVA15,8611,775+32%

32Salem, VAVA25,8161,779+4%

33Radford, VAVA17,2431,782+9%

34Strasburg, VAVA7,3801,813+84%

35Virginia Beach, VAVA453,7371,854+7%

36Hopewell, VAVA23,2612,247+4%

37Blacksburg, VAVA45,1042,278+14%

38Roanoke, VAVA99,1112,331+4%

39Warrenton, VAVA10,2132,332+53%

40Colonial Heights, VAVA18,7382,492+11%

41Vinton, VAVA7,9672,562+2%

42Purcellville, VAVA8,8902,626+148%

43Newport News, VAVA183,2302,656+2%

44Hampton, VAVA137,3152,668−6%

45Bridgewater, VAVA6,9242,747+33%

46Portsmouth, VAVA96,7772,906−4%

47Fredericksburg, VAVA30,3932,908+58%

48Culpeper, VAVA22,0742,926+128%

49Harrisonburg, VAVA50,8392,933+26%

50Winchester, VAVA28,2723,075+20%

51Lexington, VAVA7,7693,109+13%

52Vienna, VAVA16,6913,791+15%

53Richmond, VAVA237,2573,959+20%

54Leesburg, VAVA49,9173,966+76%

55Dumfries, VAVA6,4054,173+30%

56Fairfax, VAVA26,7724,290+25%

57Charlottesville, VAVA44,3884,333−1%

58Norfolk, VAVA231,0134,336−1%

59Manassas, VAVA44,3324,504+26%

60Manassas Park, VAVA16,5605,458+61%

61Herndon, VAVA25,5065,951+18%

62Falls Church, VAVA15,1597,409+46%

63Alexandria, VAVA160,66210,757+25%

SHOWING 1–63 OF 63

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES