RANK #777 / 1001 NAT · #26 / 37 VA · POP 488,880
1YR FORECAST: -0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Historic Occoquan, a riverside mill town with a charming shopping district, offers a glimpse into Prince William County's past and present. Located in Northern Virginia, about 25 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., the county balances suburban and rural areas. Commuting to Washington, D.C., or other Northern Virginia employment centers is possible via the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and OmniRide bus services, which utilize I-66 and I-95 express lanes. The county features over 4,000 acres of parkland and more than 100 miles of trails, including Prince William Forest Park, the largest protected natural area in the D.C. region.
Life in Prince William County often involves families and professionals, many of whom commute to nearby cities. The public school system is the second largest in Virginia and is recognized for its programs and staff. The local economy is diversifying, with growth in sectors like information communication technology, life sciences, and specialized logistics. There is ongoing investment in commercial and residential redevelopment, particularly along established corridors, and infrastructure improvements are underway to support this growth.
Prince William 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 +0.5% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 26.9x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Digital Gateway Data Center Complex (37 data centers, 14 electrical substations)
QTS and Compass Datacenters
|
$2,000M | Proposed |
|
County Capital Projects (Judicial Center, Crisis Receiving Center, Homeless Navigation Center, etc.)
Prince William County
|
$1,300M | Planned |
|
Hoadly Square and Maple Valley Grove Residential Developments (550 units combined)
J.R. Real Estate Group
|
$150M | Planned |
|
Manassas Battery Energy Storage System (24.2 MVA / 105.315 MWh)
Lightshift Energy (for NOVEC)
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Gainesville Battery Energy Storage System (20 MW / 90.3 MWh)
Lightshift Energy (for NOVEC)
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Prince William County Landfill Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Facility
OPAL Fuels
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 22/100, Prince William County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $131,402 combined with job growth of +2.0% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Prince William County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $530,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.25 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $2,067/month on average.
Prince William County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.0% clip. Home values shifted +0.5% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.07% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Prince William County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.