RANK #460 / 996 · POP 78,818 · VA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.9%
James City County, Virginia, is perhaps best known as home to Historic Jamestowne, the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. The county is situated on the Virginia Peninsula, adjacent to the independent city of Williamsburg, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News metropolitan area. Interstate 64 bisects the county, providing access to nearby cities like Richmond and Norfolk. The community offers a blend of historical attractions and natural scenery, with 152 miles of shoreline along the James, York, and Chickahominy Rivers. Residents have access to numerous parks, including Freedom Park with its mountain biking trails and Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, and Chickahominy Riverfront Park, which offers camping, fishing, and kayaking. The Virginia Capital Trail also provides miles of dedicated biking paths.
Life in James City County appeals to a range of residents, including families and retirees, drawn by its schools and amenities. The Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools system is a combined division serving both the county and Williamsburg, with its high schools considered above average. The local economy benefits from a strong tourism sector, driven by historical sites and attractions like Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Beyond tourism, the county has seen growth in small businesses and start-up companies. There is also a focus on attracting and retaining talent in knowledge, technology, and professional fields, with efforts to support manufacturing industries.
Overvalued relative to economy
No data
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 19.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
James City County Government Center
James City County
|
$179M | Under Construction |
|
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace Missile Manufacturing Facility
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Rochambeau Solar
Rochambeau Solar (previously)
|
$26M | Operating |
|
CEL Critical Power Manufacturing Facility
CEL Critical Power
|
$5M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
James City County has a Boom Town Index score of 54/100, ranking #460 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.9% and a median household income of $100,711, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in James City County is $396,800 with median rent at $1,435/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2538, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.9%. Home values changed +0.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.95% of James City County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.