State rank#12 of 133
Smallest county163,466 residentsFairfax County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 51179
Stafford County, Virginia
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population163,466
Household income$137,807
Unemployment2.7%
Life expectancy79.3 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Stafford County has 163,466 residents and ranks #12 by population among Virginia county equivalents. Median household income is $137,807. The annual-average unemployment rate is 2.7%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Virginia
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Stafford County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Stafford County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $485,100 median home value and $2,020/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $137,807, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Stafford County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, life expectancy, and uninsured. College attainment is 43.8% and life expectancy is 79.3 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $137,807, rank #5 of 133 available Virginia counties.
- Life expectancy: 79.3 years, rank #12 of 133 available Virginia counties.
- Uninsured: 6%, rank #15 of 133 available Virginia counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $2,020/mo, rank #125 of 133; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $485,100, rank #120 of 133; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 3,830 residents, rank #95 of 125; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Virginia
Rank and range use only counties in Virginia with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$137,807
$137,807; above the state county median of $68,724.
State rank #5 of 133 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$485,100
$485,100; above the state county median of $258,600.
State rank #120 of 133 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$2,020/mo
$2,020/mo; above the state county median of $1,059/mo.
State rank #125 of 133 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
2.7%
2.7%; below the state county median of 3%.
State rank #31 of 133 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
43.8%
43.8%; above the state county median of 27%.
State rank #19 of 133 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.3 years
79.3 years; above the state county median of 75.2 years.
State rank #12 of 133 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
14.6%
14.6%; below the state county median of 18.4%.
State rank #21 of 133 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
6%
6%; below the state county median of 7.8%.
State rank #15 of 133 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 3,830 residents
1 per 3,830 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,231 residents.
State rank #95 of 125 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 780 residents
1 per 780 residents; at the state county median of 1 per 780 residents.
State rank #65 of 129 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Stafford County FAQ
Is Stafford County a good place to live?
Stafford County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, life expectancy, and uninsured. College attainment is 43.8% and life expectancy is 79.3 years.
What should I know before moving to Stafford County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $485,100 median home value and $2,020/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $137,807, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Stafford County?
Stafford County has 163,466 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Stafford County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 51179; the parent state FIPS is 51.
What is the median household income in Stafford County?
The ACS median household income is $137,807.
How much does housing cost in Stafford County?
Housing benchmarks are $485,100 median home value and $2,020/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $137,807, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Stafford County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 2.7%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
Continue exploring