RANK #650 / 1001 NAT · #19 / 37 VA · POP 377,869
1YR FORECAST: +0.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Pocahontas State Park, an 8,000-acre outdoor haven, anchors Chesterfield County, Virginia, offering extensive trails, boating, and fishing opportunities. Located just south of Richmond, the county provides a suburban and rural feel with convenient access to the city via major interstates and public transit options like GRTC bus service and park-and-ride lots. The community is characterized by its blend of historical significance, including sites like Henricus Historical Park, and natural beauty, bordered by the James and Appomattox Rivers. Notable towns like Midlothian, Chester, and Moseley offer distinct charm, with Midlothian recognized for its small-town appeal.
Chesterfield County attracts families and individuals seeking a balanced lifestyle, with public schools generally performing above average. The county's economy is diversifying beyond its historical agricultural roots, with recent investments in advanced manufacturing, data centers, and renewable energy sectors. This economic growth contributes to a landscape where residents find a mix of established neighborhoods and new developments. The county has seen an increase in population and income growth, indicating its appeal as a place to live and work.
Chesterfield County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.9% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 14.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Google Data Center Campus (Project Peanut)
Google
|
$9,000M | Under Construction |
|
Chester Solar Technology Park (Data Center & Solar Farm)
Torch Clean Energy
|
$2,000M | Planned |
|
Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) Natural Gas Plant
Dominion Energy
|
$1,470M | Approved |
|
LEGO Manufacturing Facility
LEGO
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Topsoe Manufacturing Plant
Topsoe
|
$400M | Under Construction |
|
Proctors Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
Chesterfield County Utilities
|
$168M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 34/100, Chesterfield County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $101,931 combined with job growth of +1.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Chesterfield County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $366,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,629/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Chesterfield County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.7% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.9% clip. Home values shifted +1.9% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.15% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Chesterfield County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.