Largest Cities in Virginia

Top 100 cities ranked by largest cities

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All Countries · United States · Virginia

Largest Cities — Virginia

1 Virginia Beach 457,066

2 Chesapeake 251,153

3 Arlington 235,463

4 Norfolk 235,037

5 Richmond 227,595

6 Newport News 184,774

7 Alexandria 156,788

8 Hampton 137,334

9 Roanoke 98,677

10 Portsmouth 97,299

11 Suffolk 96,638

12 Lynchburg 79,255

13 Dale City 72,793

14 Centreville 71,885

15 Reston 63,542

16 Harrisonburg 51,492

17 McLean 50,232

18 Leesburg 48,788

19 Tuckahoe 48,610

20 Charlottesville 45,863

21 Ashburn 45,551

22 Blacksburg 45,288

23 Lake Ridge 45,007

24 Woodbridge 43,443

25 Burke 43,336

26 Manassas 42,674

27 Danville 42,239

28 Linton Hall 42,077

29 Annandale 41,982

30 Mechanicsville 38,437

31 Oakton 36,776

32 Fair Oaks 35,472

33 South Riding 34,200

34 Petersburg 33,365

35 Sterling 31,251

36 Springfield 30,894

37 West Falls Church 30,660

38 Fredericksburg 28,383

39 Short Pump 28,177

40 Tysons 28,022

41 Winchester 27,981

42 Cave Spring 26,014

43 Staunton 25,765

44 Salem 25,477

45 Bailey's Crossroads 25,458

46 Herndon 24,529

47 Fairfax 24,478

48 Brambleton 23,999

49 Chantilly 23,744

50 Chester 23,519

51 Cherry Hill 23,443

52 Hopewell 22,944

53 West Springfield 22,905

54 Leesylvania 22,848

55 Christiansburg 22,820

56 Waynesboro 22,574

57 McNair 22,451

58 Montclair 22,295

59 Lorton 21,961

60 Woodlawn CDP (Fairfax County) 21,828

61 Rose Hill CDP (Fairfax County) 21,484

62 Merrifield 20,549

63 Buckhall 20,447

64 Culpeper 20,437

65 Meadowbrook 20,383

66 Lincolnia 19,913

67 Midlothian 18,702

68 Franklin Farm 18,509

69 Sudley 18,420

70 Colonial Heights 18,210

71 Laurel 18,180

72 Franconia 18,141

73 Gainesville 18,036

74 Hybla Valley 17,877

75 Idylwood 17,469

76 Burke Centre 17,447

77 Kingstowne 17,436

78 Bon Air 17,302

79 Bristol 17,024

80 Hollins 17,005

81 Manassas Park 16,923

82 Bull Run CDP (Prince William County) 16,688

83 Glen Allen 16,630

84 Fort Hunt 16,519

85 Radford 16,505

86 Vienna 16,369

87 Stone Ridge 16,340

88 East Highland Park 16,071

89 Wolf Trap 16,020

90 Williamsburg 15,564

91 Front Royal 15,152

92 Highland Springs 15,091

93 Great Falls 14,854

94 Broadlands 14,673

95 Falls Church 14,593

96 Brandermill 13,938

97 Newington 13,824

98 Martinsville 13,584

99 Groveton 13,563

100 Kings Park West 13,281

The largest cities in Virginia represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Virginia Beach leads with a population of 457,066, followed by Chesapeake and Arlington. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. VA dominates the top 10 with 10 cities on the list, reflecting the state's strong economic pull and quality of life.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

1. Virginia Beach's population is larger than that of many small nations.
2. VA has 10 cities in the top 10, more than any other state.
3. The 50th largest city still has a population of 23,519 — larger than most cities worldwide.
4. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 1,406,314.

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