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Culpeper County, VA

RANK #144 / 996  ·  POP 52,822  ·  VA

PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.5%

Culpeper County is surging. People are flooding in and the economy is keeping pace.

[01] Why Culpeper County?

Culpeper County, Virginia, is distinguished by its historic town of Culpeper, where colonial charm meets modern amenities. George Washington himself surveyed the town in 1749. Located in the north-central Piedmont region, the county is about 60 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., and 45 miles southwest of Charlottesville, offering a balance of small-town atmosphere with access to larger cities. The community values its rural setting and small-town feel, with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Outdoor recreation is available at places like Mountain Run Lake Park, which offers fishing, boating, and trails.

Life in Culpeper County appeals to families and those seeking a quieter lifestyle, though many employed residents commute outside the county for work. Culpeper County Public Schools operates eleven schools, serving approximately 8,400 students. The local economy is diversifying beyond its agricultural roots, with growth in sectors such as technology, including data centers, and energy. The county's strategic location and infrastructure are attracting new investment, contributing to its economic evolution.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
9.1x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+4.7%

Well above national median

Home Prices
+2.8%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-1.1

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
22x

Prices detached from rents

Housing looks overvalued at 9.1x — 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

Culpeper County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
52,822
+1.54% YoY
Median Household Income
$92,359
Median Home Value
$369,600
+2.77% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,383
Average Annual Pay
$56,499
+6.8% YoY
Employment
16,369
-0.7% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2499
Near national average
Migration Inflow
5.4%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$590,000
Days on Market
63
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.0
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.8%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
34.9%
Listings w/ Price Drops
11.6%
Building Permits (2024)
425
Single-Family Permits
365

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

[05] Capital Investment

$2,215M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
EdgeCore Culpeper Campus
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure
$500M Under Construction
DataBank Culpeper Campus (IAD5 and IAD6)
DataBank
$500M Under Construction
Peterson Cos. Data Center Campus
Peterson Cos.
$500M Planned
CloudHQ CLP Campus
CloudHQ
$500M Planned
Greenwood Solar
N/A
$150M Planned
Strata Solar Project
Strata Clean Energy
$65M Proposed

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

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +4.7% 82 percentile
Population Growth +1.5% 83 percentile
Income Growth +8.3% 43 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.0% 52 percentile
Home Price Change +2.8% 69 percentile
Price/Rent 22x 4 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Culpeper County has a Boom Town Index score of 86/100, ranking #144 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.7% and a median household income of $92,359, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Culpeper County affordable?

The median home value in Culpeper County is $369,600 with median rent at $1,383/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2499, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Culpeper County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.5% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.7%. Home values changed +2.8% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Culpeper County?

Yes — 5.4% of Culpeper County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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