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Best Overall Cities in Virginia

9 cities ranked · Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Top Cities in Virginia

  1. #1
    B

    Arlington

    Best Overall Cities score 78 · MoveScore 78

  2. #2
    B

    Roanoke

    Best Overall Cities score 73 · MoveScore 73

  3. #3
    B

    Virginia Beach

    Best Overall Cities score 72 · MoveScore 72

  4. #4
    C

    Newport News

    Best Overall Cities score 63 · MoveScore 63

  5. #5
    C

    Hampton

    Best Overall Cities score 62 · MoveScore 62

  6. #6
    C

    Richmond

    Best Overall Cities score 62 · MoveScore 62

  7. #7
    D

    Norfolk

    Best Overall Cities score 58 · MoveScore 58

  8. #8
    D

    Alexandria

    Best Overall Cities score 57 · MoveScore 57

  9. #9
    D

    Chesapeake

    Best Overall Cities score 53 · MoveScore 53

Other Virginia Rankings

Best for Safety in Virginia

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Best for Water Quality in Virginia

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in Virginia

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in Virginia

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in Virginia

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in Virginia

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in Virginia ranks highest for best overall cities?

Arlington, VA ranks #1 in Virginia for best overall cities with a sub-score of 78/100 (MoveScore 78, grade B).

How many cities in Virginia are compared?

9 Virginia cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

Virginia-specific ranking using the composite MoveScore, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.