These Are VA's Best Counties To Live In: See The List

VIRGINIA — Virginia has 95 counties, and a recent ranking by Niche has revealed which ones are the best to live in.

Niche, which provides information and rankings on schools and places to live, determined the best counties in each state by analyzing public schools, cost of living, job opportunities and local amenities.

Rankings were compiled using county data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other sources.

York County is considered the best county in Virginia, according to Niche.

York County is home to more than 70,000 people and is located in Virginia's Tidewater Region. One of the oldest counties in the United States, York County draws visitors from all over the world who often visit its historic attractions, including the Yorktown Battlefield and Visitor Center and American Revolution Museum.

York County received an overall A+ grade from Niche. It also received A+ marks for public schools and being good for families. The county's lowest grade was a B+ for jobs.

Coming in at No. 2 was Loudoun County. Home to more than 427,000 people is Virginia's third-most populous county. Located just 25 miles from Washington, D.C., Loudoun County is home to the world headquarters for several Internet-related and high-tech companies. It's also known for its wine country and equine industry.

Loudoun County received an overall A+ grade from Niche. It also received A+ marks for public schools and being good for families. The county's lowest grade was a B+ for diversity.

Finally, Fairfax County came in at No. 3 on Niche's list. Home to more than 1.1 million people, Fairfax County is the most populous county in both Virginia and the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area. The county is home to several federal agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in Springfield, the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly and the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean.

Fairfax County received an overall A+ grade from Niche. It also received A marks for public schools and diversity. The county's lowest grade was a C+ for jobs.

Here is how each Northern Virginia county was graded:

• No. 2: Loudoun County, A+
• No. 3: Fairfax County, A+
• No. 5: Prince William County, A+
• No. 10: Stafford County, A+
• No. 15: Spotsylvania County, A-
• Arlington County (not graded)

Here's a look at the top 10 best counties in Virginia to live in:

1. York County: A+
2. Loudoun County: A+
3. Fairfax County: A+
4. Albemarle County: A+
5. Prince William County: A+
6. Montgomery County: A+
7. James City County: A+
8. Chesterfield County: A+
9. Henrico County: A+
10. Stafford County: A+

See the full ranking on Niche's website.

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