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Augusta County, VA

RANK #199 / 996  ·  POP 77,433  ·  VA

PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.1%

Augusta County ranks among the top U.S. counties across nearly every economic indicator.

[01] Why Augusta County?

Augusta County, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, offers access to natural landmarks like Natural Chimneys, known for its towering limestone formations and as a music festival venue. The county is situated between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, providing scenic views and extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. Major interstates I-81 and I-64 run through the county, with the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro located within its borders. Commuting is facilitated by these interstates and local transit options like the BRITE bus service, which connects Staunton, Waynesboro, and Fishersville, and the Afton Express for travel to Charlottesville.

Life in Augusta County is characterized by a blend of rural and small-town living, with many residents owning their homes. The public school system, serving over 10,000 students across 19 schools, is fully accredited. The local economy is supported by sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics. Recent economic developments include investments in industrial and commercial construction, with major employers contributing to the job market. The county's economic development efforts also focus on attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
11.6x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth

No data

Home Prices
+3.8%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-0.1

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
16x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 11.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Augusta County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
77,433
+0.63% YoY
Median Household Income
$76,124
Median Home Value
$267,100
+3.78% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,019
Average Annual Pay
$59,516
+3.8% YoY
Employment
29,861
+0.4% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.285
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
5.2%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$331,000
Days on Market
53
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
2.8
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.3%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
23.9%
Listings w/ Price Drops
13.7%
Building Permits (2024)
357
Single-Family Permits
300

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$554M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Valley 230 kV Battery Storage
Undisclosed
$210M Planned
Community Solar Portfolio (Augusta CSG & Waynesboro Bridge Solar)
Dimension Renewable Energy
$105M Operating
Amazon Fulfillment Center
Amazon
$100M Operating
Shamrock Farms Expansion
Shamrock Farms
$59M Under Construction
Augusta County Courthouse Construction
Augusta County
$50M Under Construction
CAVA Processing & Packaging Plant
CAVA
$30M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

Population Growth +0.6% 58 percentile
Income Growth +10.2% 82 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 74 percentile
Home Price Change +3.8% 80 percentile
Rent Growth +3.3% 56 percentile
Price/Rent 16x 28 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Augusta County, VA a good place to move to?

Augusta County has a Boom Town Index score of 80/100, ranking #199 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.4% and a median household income of $76,124, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Augusta County affordable?

The median home value in Augusta County is $267,100 with median rent at $1,019/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.285, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Augusta County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.4%. Home values changed +3.8% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Augusta County?

Yes — 5.2% of Augusta County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Bergen County, NJ 90 Passaic County, NJ 90 Ashtabula County, OH 90 Lapeer County, MI 90 Cheshire County, NH 90 Buffalo County, NE 90 Nassau County, NY 90 Schenectady County, NY 90