RANK #354 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 37 VA · POP 99,101
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
Montgomery County, Virginia, stands out for its blend of academic influence and natural beauty, particularly with Blacksburg being home to Virginia Tech, a major university and employer. The county, situated in Southwest Virginia within the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers a community feel with access to outdoor recreation. Residents and visitors can explore the Huckleberry Trail, a 14-mile paved path connecting Blacksburg and Christiansburg, or venture into the Jefferson National Forest for hiking and mountain biking. Commute options include local bus services in Blacksburg and Christiansburg, and a Smart Way Bus connecting to Roanoke.
Life in Montgomery County is shaped by its university presence, attracting young professionals and contributing to a dynamic atmosphere. The public school system is highly rated, with numerous elementary, middle, and high schools serving the area. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture, has evolved to become a hub for technology, research, and advanced manufacturing, driven by institutions like Virginia Tech and its Corporate Research Center. Recent economic developments show continued investment in various sectors, including data centers, reflecting a broader shift towards technology-driven industries.
Montgomery County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.8% YoY, population -0.1%, wages +2.1%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.1x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Montgomery County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta Montgomery Data Center Expansion
Meta
|
$1,500M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Data Center Campus
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Boost - Swann Compressor Station
Mountain Valley Pipeline
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
ESS Technologies, Inc. Expansion
ESS Technologies, Inc.
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Montgomery County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.6%, and median household income stands at $72,715 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in VA.
Montgomery County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $304,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,240/month on average.
Employers in Montgomery County are hiring — job growth of +1.6% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved +2.8% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
In significant numbers — 7.67% of Montgomery County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.