Data / Rankings / Establishment exit rate / Counties in Virginia

Counties in Virginia by establishment exit rate

Highland County had the highest establishment exit rate of 132 counties in 2021, at 14.474%. Galax city had the lowest, at 4%. The median was 9.221% and the figure for Virginia was 9.714%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest14.474Highland County
Lowest4Galax city
Median9.221132 counties
Virginia9.714History

Map of counties, 2021

Accomack County: 12.749 %Albemarle County: 9.031 %Alleghany County: 8.351 %Amelia County: 13.389 %Amherst County: 7.685 %Appomattox County: 6.884 %Arlington County: 10.927 %Augusta County: 9.009 %Bath County: 11.429 %Bedford County: 9.158 %Bland County: 10.884 %Botetourt County: 6.861 %Brunswick County: 10.667 %Buchanan County: 8.631 %Buckingham County: 6.508 %Campbell County: 9.484 %Caroline County: 8.298 %Carroll County: 6.667 %Charles City County: 5.556 %Charlotte County: 9.214 %Chesterfield County: 9.785 %Clarke County: 13.076 %Culpeper County: 6.911 %Cumberland County: 4.545 %Dickenson County: 8.152 %Dinwiddie County: 9.145 %Essex County: 8.775 %Fairfax County: 10.872 %Fauquier County: 9.373 %Floyd County: 6.43 %Fluvanna County: 8.427 %Franklin County: 9.228 %Frederick County: 9.29 %Giles County: 7.836 %Gloucester County: 10.739 %Goochland County: 10.868 %Grayson County: 11.972 %Greene County: 11.515 %Greensville County: 7.595 %Halifax County: 9.434 %Hanover County: 10.099 %Henrico County: 10.917 %Henry County: 7.314 %Highland County: 14.474 %Isle of Wight County: 7.137 %James City County: 9.175 %King and Queen County: 5.854 %King George County: 9.756 %King William County: 12.214 %Lancaster County: 9.844 %Lee County: 8.137 %Loudoun County: 9.825 %Louisa County: 8.438 %Lunenburg County: 10.381 %Madison County: 10.081 %Mathews County: 10.588 %Mecklenburg County: 10.158 %Middlesex County: 11.429 %Montgomery County: 10.177 %Nelson County: 8.207 %New Kent County: 10.952 %Northampton County: 10.714 %Northumberland County: 8.044 %Nottoway County: 10.108 %Orange County: 7.673 %Page County: 10.747 %Patrick County: 10.421 %Pittsylvania County: 8.401 %Powhatan County: 8.889 %Prince Edward County: 10.494 %Prince George County: 13.426 %Prince William County: 10.017 %Pulaski County: 8.681 %Rappahannock County: 12.36 %Richmond County: 8.563 %Roanoke County: 8.109 %Rockbridge County: 9.379 %Rockingham County: 8.741 %Russell County: 6.053 %Scott County: 9.583 %Shenandoah County: 9.188 %Smyth County: 9.534 %Southampton County: 8.395 %Spotsylvania County: 8.995 %Stafford County: 8.908 %Surry County: 12 %Sussex County: 10.029 %Tazewell County: 10.478 %Warren County: 9.15 %Washington County: 9.453 %Westmoreland County: 7.042 %Wise County: 8.37 %Wythe County: 8.327 %York County: 9.074 %Alexandria city: 10.543 %Bristol city: 9.695 %Buena Vista city: 5.435 %Charlottesville city: 9.401 %Chesapeake city: 9.02 %Colonial Heights city: 10.964 %Covington city: 4.571 %Danville city: 7.482 %Emporia city: 11.086 %Fairfax city: 9.048 %Falls Church city: 9.385 %Franklin city: 12.551 %Fredericksburg city: 10.004 %Galax city: 4 %Hampton city: 10.1 %Harrisonburg city: 9.165 %Hopewell city: 8.621 %Lexington city: 7.547 %Lynchburg city: 8.712 %Manassas city: 9.566 %Manassas Park city: 9.89 %Martinsville city: 8.705 %Newport News city: 8.773 %Norfolk city: 9.747 %Norton city: 10.269 %Petersburg city: 9.992 %Poquoson city: 9.231 %Portsmouth city: 10.771 %Radford city: 10.395 %Richmond city: 10.451 %Roanoke city: 8.956 %Salem city: 6.489 %Staunton city: 8.595 %Suffolk city: 10.108 %Virginia Beach city: 8.823 %Waynesboro city: 8.945 %Williamsburg city: 5.813 %Winchester city: 8.796 %
  • Under 7.7
  • 7.7 to 8.7
  • 8.7 to 9.2
  • 9.2 to 10
  • 10 to 11
  • 11 and over
  • No data
%, 2021. Hatched areas have no value for this period. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Highland County: 14.474 %Highland County14.474Prince George County: 13.426 %Prince George County13.426Amelia County: 13.389 %Amelia County13.389Clarke County: 13.076 %Clarke County13.076Accomack County: 12.749 %Accomack County12.749Franklin city: 12.551 %Franklin city12.551Rappahannock County: 12.36 %Rappahannock County12.36King William County: 12.214 %King William County12.214Surry County: 12 %Surry County12Grayson County: 11.972 %Grayson County11.972Greene County: 11.515 %Greene County11.515Bath County: 11.429 %Bath County11.429Middlesex County: 11.429 %Middlesex County11.429Emporia city: 11.086 %Emporia city11.086Colonial Heights city: 10.964 %Colonial Heights city10.964New Kent County: 10.952 %New Kent County10.952Arlington County: 10.927 %Arlington County10.927Henrico County: 10.917 %Henrico County10.917Bland County: 10.884 %Bland County10.884Fairfax County: 10.872 %Fairfax County10.872Goochland County: 10.868 %Goochland County10.868Portsmouth city: 10.771 %Portsmouth city10.771Page County: 10.747 %Page County10.747Gloucester County: 10.739 %Gloucester County10.739Northampton County: 10.714 %Northampton County10.714Brunswick County: 10.667 %Brunswick County10.667Mathews County: 10.588 %Mathews County10.588Alexandria city: 10.543 %Alexandria city10.543Prince Edward County: 10.494 %Prince Edward County10.494Tazewell County: 10.478 %Tazewell County10.478Richmond city: 10.451 %Richmond city10.451Patrick County: 10.421 %Patrick County10.421Radford city: 10.395 %Radford city10.395Lunenburg County: 10.381 %Lunenburg County10.381Norton city: 10.269 %Norton city10.269Montgomery County: 10.177 %Montgomery County10.177Mecklenburg County: 10.158 %Mecklenburg County10.158Nottoway County: 10.108 %Nottoway County10.108Suffolk city: 10.108 %Suffolk city10.108Hampton city: 10.1 %Hampton city10.1Highland County: 14.474 %Highland County14.474Prince George County: 13.426 %Prince George County13.426Amelia County: 13.389 %Amelia County13.389Clarke County: 13.076 %Clarke County13.076Accomack County: 12.749 %Accomack County12.749Franklin city: 12.551 %Franklin city12.551Rappahannock County: 12.36 %Rappahannock County12.36King William County: 12.214 %King William County12.214Surry County: 12 %Surry County12Grayson County: 11.972 %Grayson County11.972Greene County: 11.515 %Greene County11.515Bath County: 11.429 %Bath County11.429Middlesex County: 11.429 %Middlesex County11.429Emporia city: 11.086 %Emporia city11.086Colonial Heights city: 10.964 %Colonial Heights city10.964New Kent County: 10.952 %New Kent County10.952Arlington County: 10.927 %Arlington County10.927Henrico County: 10.917 %Henrico County10.917Bland County: 10.884 %Bland County10.884Fairfax County: 10.872 %Fairfax County10.872Goochland County: 10.868 %Goochland County10.868Portsmouth city: 10.771 %Portsmouth city10.771Page County: 10.747 %Page County10.747Gloucester County: 10.739 %Gloucester County10.739Northampton County: 10.714 %Northampton County10.714Brunswick County: 10.667 %Brunswick County10.667Mathews County: 10.588 %Mathews County10.588Alexandria city: 10.543 %Alexandria city10.543Prince Edward County: 10.494 %Prince Edward County10.494Tazewell County: 10.478 %Tazewell County10.478Richmond city: 10.451 %Richmond city10.451Patrick County: 10.421 %Patrick County10.421Radford city: 10.395 %Radford city10.395Lunenburg County: 10.381 %Lunenburg County10.381Norton city: 10.269 %Norton city10.269Montgomery County: 10.177 %Montgomery County10.177Mecklenburg County: 10.158 %Mecklenburg County10.158Nottoway County: 10.108 %Nottoway County10.108Suffolk city: 10.108 %Suffolk city10.108Hampton city: 10.1 %Hampton city10.1
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Highland County14.474+8.06 pts
2Prince George County13.426+4.1 pts
3Amelia County13.389+3.13 pts
4Clarke County13.076+4.88 pts
5Accomack County12.749+3.29 pts
6Franklin city12.551+7.42 pts
7Rappahannock County12.36-0.14 pts
8King William County12.214+2.88 pts
9Surry County12+5.33 pts
10Grayson County11.972+2.97 pts
11Greene County11.515+5.61 pts
12Bath County11.429+4.89 pts
12Middlesex County11.429-1 pts
14Emporia city11.086+2.97 pts
15Colonial Heights city10.964+3.31 pts
16New Kent County10.952+4.68 pts
17Arlington County10.927+1.63 pts
18Henrico County10.917+2.38 pts
19Bland County10.884+5.62 pts
20Fairfax County10.872+1.24 pts
21Goochland County10.868+1.76 pts
22Portsmouth city10.771+2.12 pts
23Page County10.747+1.27 pts
24Gloucester County10.739+2.43 pts
25Northampton County10.714+3.04 pts
26Brunswick County10.667+1.78 pts
27Mathews County10.588+3.2 pts
28Alexandria city10.543+1.84 pts
29Prince Edward County10.494+4.05 pts
30Tazewell County10.478+1.23 pts
31Richmond city10.451+1.58 pts
32Patrick County10.421-1.74 pts
33Radford city10.395-0.09 pts
34Lunenburg County10.381+4.99 pts
35Norton city10.269-0.11 pts
36Montgomery County10.177+2.44 pts
37Mecklenburg County10.158+1.74 pts
38Nottoway County10.108+2.75 pts
38Suffolk city10.108+0.53 pts
40Hampton city10.1+1.2 pts
41Hanover County10.099+2.31 pts
42Madison County10.081-0.34 pts
43Sussex County10.029+0.42 pts
44Prince William County10.017+0.22 pts
45Fredericksburg city10.004+0.48 pts
46Petersburg city9.992+0.81 pts
47Manassas Park city9.89-3.47 pts
48Lancaster County9.844+3.78 pts
49Loudoun County9.825-0.35 pts
50Chesterfield County9.785-0.19 pts
51King George County9.756+1.23 pts
52Norfolk city9.747+1.37 pts
53Bristol city9.695+1.72 pts
54Scott County9.583+3.51 pts
55Manassas city9.566-2.04 pts
56Smyth County9.534+3.7 pts
57Campbell County9.484+1.59 pts
58Washington County9.453+0.49 pts
59Halifax County9.434+3.1 pts
60Charlottesville city9.401+1.11 pts
61Falls Church city9.385+0.35 pts
62Rockbridge County9.379+0.81 pts
63Fauquier County9.373-0.04 pts
64Frederick County9.29+1.13 pts
65Poquoson city9.231+0.09 pts
66Franklin County9.228+2.06 pts
67Charlotte County9.214+0.12 pts
68Shenandoah County9.188+0.6 pts
69James City County9.175+0.41 pts
70Harrisonburg city9.165+2.5 pts
71Bedford County9.158-0.34 pts
72Warren County9.15+1.31 pts
73Dinwiddie County9.145+2.31 pts
74York County9.074+1.3 pts
75Fairfax city9.048+1.21 pts
76Albemarle County9.031+0.74 pts
77Chesapeake city9.02+0.84 pts
78Augusta County9.009+2.93 pts
79Spotsylvania County8.995+0.36 pts
80Roanoke city8.956+1.12 pts
81Waynesboro city8.945+2 pts
82Stafford County8.908-0.45 pts
83Powhatan County8.889+3.32 pts
84Virginia Beach city8.823-0.33 pts
85Winchester city8.796+1.95 pts
86Essex County8.775+0.4 pts
87Newport News city8.773-0.13 pts
88Rockingham County8.741+0.63 pts
89Lynchburg city8.712+1.94 pts
90Martinsville city8.705+1.02 pts
91Pulaski County8.681+0.2 pts
92Buchanan County8.631-0.51 pts
93Hopewell city8.621+0.28 pts
94Staunton city8.595+1.09 pts
95Richmond County8.563+2.33 pts
96Louisa County8.438-2.87 pts
97Fluvanna County8.427+0.23 pts
98Pittsylvania County8.401+1.02 pts
99Southampton County8.395+2.45 pts
100Wise County8.37-0.21 pts
101Alleghany County8.351+2.96 pts
102Wythe County8.327+1.99 pts
103Caroline County8.298-2.54 pts
104Nelson County8.207-0.36 pts
105Dickenson County8.152+1.18 pts
106Lee County8.137-1.05 pts
107Roanoke County8.109+0.06 pts
108Northumberland County8.0440 pts
109Giles County7.836+0.71 pts
110Amherst County7.685-2 pts
111Orange County7.673-0.28 pts
112Greensville County7.595+1.31 pts
113Lexington city7.5470 pts
114Danville city7.482+0.13 pts
115Henry County7.314+0.32 pts
116Isle of Wight County7.137-0.12 pts
117Westmoreland County7.042+1.73 pts
118Culpeper County6.911-2.28 pts
119Appomattox County6.884+0.18 pts
120Botetourt County6.861-3.03 pts
121Carroll County6.667-1.59 pts
122Buckingham County6.508-1.75 pts
123Salem city6.489-0.11 pts
124Floyd County6.43-2.37 pts
125Russell County6.053-4.06 pts
126King and Queen County5.854-6.83 pts
127Williamsburg city5.813-0.65 pts
128Charles City County5.556-1.69 pts
129Buena Vista city5.435-3.03 pts
130Covington city4.571-3.25 pts
131Cumberland County4.545-6.99 pts
132Galax city4-0.67 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Establishments that closed during the year (employees a year earlier and none in March of the year), as a percentage of the average number of establishments in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

Counts closed locations, including branches of firms that keep operating elsewhere, so it is not a firm failure rate. Not comparable with enterprise_death_rate, which counts enterprise deaths in Europe. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. 1 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2021 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/virginia-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/virginia-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/virginia-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2021}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/virginia-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2021
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/virginia-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/virginia-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest establishment exit rate?

Highland County, with 14.474% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest establishment exit rate?

Galax city, with 4% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 1 counties have no value for 2021 and are not ranked.

Establishment exit rate: other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings