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Which counties in Virginia are people leaving?

31 of the 133 counties in Virginia had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Charlottesville (city) had the largest net outflow for its size: 18.5 per 1,000 residents (−819 people). In people, Fairfax County had the largest net outflow (−9,816).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 17 of these 31 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 31 Virginia counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Virginia
RankCountyPer 1,000 residents, 2025Net movers 2025ResidentsPopulation change 2020–25
1Charlottesville (city)−18.5−81944,388−4.4%
2Harrisonburg (city)−17.0−86250,839−1.7%
3Manassas (city)−16.5−73044,332+3.8%
4Alexandria (city)−13.6−2,187160,662+1.0%
5Petersburg (city)−12.0−40633,734+1.0%
6Williamsburg (city)−9.2−14615,861+2.6%
7Fairfax County−8.4−9,8161,167,873+1.7%
8Norfolk (city)−7.9−1,814231,013−2.9%
9Newport News (city)−7.1−1,306183,230−1.5%
10Montgomery County−6.2−61498,434−1.2%
11Prince William County−6.1−3,093502,966+4.2%
12Fairfax (city)−5.9−15726,772+10.7%
13Northampton County−5.6−6711,879−2.8%
14Norton (city)−5.5−193,477−5.5%
15Buchanan County−5.3−9818,492−8.7%
16Virginia Beach (city)−4.7−2,110453,737−1.3%
17Amelia County−3.0−4113,632+2.7%
18Danville (city)−2.7−11441,647−2.2%
19Hampton (city)−2.5−343137,315+0.0%
20Dickenson County−2.2−2913,236−6.0%
21Fredericksburg (city)−1.7−5330,393+8.6%
22Portsmouth (city)−1.6−15596,777−1.2%
23Middlesex County−1.6−1710,841+2.2%
24Chesapeake (city)−1.3−335255,332+2.3%
25Manassas Park (city)−1.3−2116,560−3.5%
26Radford (city)−1.2−2017,243+7.0%
27Covington (city)−0.7−45,680−1.2%
28Highland County−0.4−12,318+3.4%
29York County−0.4−3071,374+1.6%
30Loudoun County−0.3−142449,749+6.4%
31Roanoke County−0.2−2197,150+0.2%

How this is ranked

Counties where more residents moved away to other U.S. counties than moved in (negative net domestic migration in the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025), per 1,000 residents, largest net outflow first. Moves from and to other countries, births and deaths are not counted. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Virginia are the most people leaving?

For its size, Charlottesville (city): net domestic migration of −18.5 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−819 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Harrisonburg (city) (−17.0) and Manassas (city) (−16.5).

How many counties in Virginia have more people moving out than in?

31 of the 133 counties in Virginia had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025.

Does net out-migration mean a county is losing population?

Not always. Net domestic migration counts moves between U.S. counties only; births, deaths and international migration also change the total. 17 of these 31 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Virginia

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.