Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in Virginia

Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Highland County had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 133 counties in 2021, at 16.1%. Buena Vista city had the lowest, at 1.3%. The median was 4.6% and the figure for Virginia was 4.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest16.1Highland County
Lowest1.3Buena Vista city
Median4.6133 counties
Virginia4.6History

Map of counties, 2021

Accomack County: 3.9 %Albemarle County: 3.3 %Alleghany County: 3.3 %Amelia County: 4.3 %Amherst County: 5.1 %Appomattox County: 3.7 %Arlington County: 2.9 %Augusta County: 3.1 %Bath County: 1.7 %Bedford County: 3.1 %Bland County: 4 %Botetourt County: 3.1 %Brunswick County: 6.9 %Buchanan County: 5.8 %Buckingham County: 7 %Campbell County: 4.4 %Caroline County: 4.1 %Carroll County: 5.1 %Charles City County: 3.4 %Charlotte County: 4.1 %Chesterfield County: 4.7 %Clarke County: 3.7 %Craig County: 1.4 %Culpeper County: 4.2 %Cumberland County: 2.7 %Dickenson County: 4.6 %Dinwiddie County: 6.2 %Essex County: 8.6 %Fairfax County: 4.2 %Fauquier County: 2.9 %Floyd County: 3.4 %Fluvanna County: 2.8 %Franklin County: 2.9 %Frederick County: 3.7 %Giles County: 2.1 %Gloucester County: 3.4 %Goochland County: 3.2 %Grayson County: 4.6 %Greene County: 4 %Greensville County: 8.9 %Halifax County: 5 %Hanover County: 3.2 %Henrico County: 4.1 %Henry County: 5.9 %Highland County: 16.1 %Isle of Wight County: 5.7 %James City County: 4.4 %King and Queen County: 3.2 %King George County: 2.9 %King William County: 3 %Lancaster County: 11.7 %Lee County: 9.4 %Loudoun County: 3.4 %Louisa County: 6.2 %Lunenburg County: 4.8 %Madison County: 5 %Mathews County: 7 %Mecklenburg County: 3.4 %Middlesex County: 6.2 %Montgomery County: 3.6 %Nelson County: 4.7 %New Kent County: 3.1 %Northampton County: 5.3 %Northumberland County: 7.3 %Nottoway County: 5.8 %Orange County: 5 %Page County: 4.3 %Patrick County: 2.9 %Pittsylvania County: 5.4 %Powhatan County: 1.9 %Prince Edward County: 4.5 %Prince George County: 7.2 %Prince William County: 4.9 %Pulaski County: 3.7 %Rappahannock County: 3.7 %Richmond County: 2.7 %Roanoke County: 2.9 %Rockbridge County: 5.3 %Rockingham County: 3.1 %Russell County: 6.9 %Scott County: 4 %Shenandoah County: 3.9 %Smyth County: 3.9 %Southampton County: 6.3 %Spotsylvania County: 6 %Stafford County: 4.1 %Surry County: 6.4 %Sussex County: 5.8 %Tazewell County: 6.4 %Warren County: 6 %Washington County: 4.8 %Westmoreland County: 11.5 %Wise County: 10.6 %Wythe County: 5.1 %York County: 4.7 %Alexandria city: 3.2 %Bristol city: 3.7 %Buena Vista city: 1.3 %Charlottesville city: 4.3 %Chesapeake city: 5.1 %Colonial Heights city: 6.5 %Covington city: 3.4 %Danville city: 6 %Emporia city: 15.9 %Fairfax city: 3.6 %Falls Church city: 5.1 %Franklin city: 8.5 %Fredericksburg city: 5 %Galax city: 5.1 %Hampton city: 6 %Harrisonburg city: 5.3 %Hopewell city: 8.6 %Lexington city: 3.4 %Lynchburg city: 6.1 %Manassas city: 5 %Manassas Park city: 3 %Martinsville city: 5.5 %Newport News city: 5.7 %Norfolk city: 7.1 %Norton city: 8.2 %Petersburg city: 12.2 %Poquoson city: 1.6 %Portsmouth city: 6.3 %Radford city: 7.3 %Richmond city: 6 %Roanoke city: 6.4 %Salem city: 3.6 %Staunton city: 5.2 %Suffolk city: 6.5 %Virginia Beach city: 4.3 %Waynesboro city: 4.6 %Williamsburg city: 6.2 %Winchester city: 4 %
  • Under 3.1
  • 3.1 to 3.9
  • 3.9 to 4.6
  • 4.6 to 5.4
  • 5.4 to 6.4
  • 6.4 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Highland County: 16.1 %Highland County16.1Emporia city: 15.9 %Emporia city15.9Petersburg city: 12.2 %Petersburg city12.2Lancaster County: 11.7 %Lancaster County11.7Westmoreland County: 11.5 %Westmoreland County11.5Wise County: 10.6 %Wise County10.6Lee County: 9.4 %Lee County9.4Greensville County: 8.9 %Greensville County8.9Hopewell city: 8.6 %Hopewell city8.6Essex County: 8.6 %Essex County8.6Franklin city: 8.5 %Franklin city8.5Norton city: 8.2 %Norton city8.2Northumberland County: 7.3 %Northumberland County7.3Radford city: 7.3 %Radford city7.3Prince George County: 7.2 %Prince George County7.2Norfolk city: 7.1 %Norfolk city7.1Buckingham County: 7 %Buckingham County7Mathews County: 7 %Mathews County7Brunswick County: 6.9 %Brunswick County6.9Russell County: 6.9 %Russell County6.9Suffolk city: 6.5 %Suffolk city6.5Colonial Heights city: 6.5 %Colonial Heights city6.5Surry County: 6.4 %Surry County6.4Tazewell County: 6.4 %Tazewell County6.4Roanoke city: 6.4 %Roanoke city6.4Portsmouth city: 6.3 %Portsmouth city6.3Southampton County: 6.3 %Southampton County6.3Dinwiddie County: 6.2 %Dinwiddie County6.2Williamsburg city: 6.2 %Williamsburg city6.2Louisa County: 6.2 %Louisa County6.2Middlesex County: 6.2 %Middlesex County6.2Lynchburg city: 6.1 %Lynchburg city6.1Danville city: 6 %Danville city6Spotsylvania County: 6 %Spotsylvania County6Richmond city: 6 %Richmond city6Warren County: 6 %Warren County6Hampton city: 6 %Hampton city6Henry County: 5.9 %Henry County5.9Buchanan County: 5.8 %Buchanan County5.8Nottoway County: 5.8 %Nottoway County5.8Highland County: 16.1 %Highland County16.1Emporia city: 15.9 %Emporia city15.9Petersburg city: 12.2 %Petersburg city12.2Lancaster County: 11.7 %Lancaster County11.7Westmoreland County: 11.5 %Westmoreland County11.5Wise County: 10.6 %Wise County10.6Lee County: 9.4 %Lee County9.4Greensville County: 8.9 %Greensville County8.9Hopewell city: 8.6 %Hopewell city8.6Essex County: 8.6 %Essex County8.6Franklin city: 8.5 %Franklin city8.5Norton city: 8.2 %Norton city8.2Northumberland County: 7.3 %Northumberland County7.3Radford city: 7.3 %Radford city7.3Prince George County: 7.2 %Prince George County7.2Norfolk city: 7.1 %Norfolk city7.1Buckingham County: 7 %Buckingham County7Mathews County: 7 %Mathews County7Brunswick County: 6.9 %Brunswick County6.9Russell County: 6.9 %Russell County6.9Suffolk city: 6.5 %Suffolk city6.5Colonial Heights city: 6.5 %Colonial Heights city6.5Surry County: 6.4 %Surry County6.4Tazewell County: 6.4 %Tazewell County6.4Roanoke city: 6.4 %Roanoke city6.4Portsmouth city: 6.3 %Portsmouth city6.3Southampton County: 6.3 %Southampton County6.3Dinwiddie County: 6.2 %Dinwiddie County6.2Williamsburg city: 6.2 %Williamsburg city6.2Louisa County: 6.2 %Louisa County6.2Middlesex County: 6.2 %Middlesex County6.2Lynchburg city: 6.1 %Lynchburg city6.1Danville city: 6 %Danville city6Spotsylvania County: 6 %Spotsylvania County6Richmond city: 6 %Richmond city6Warren County: 6 %Warren County6Hampton city: 6 %Hampton city6Henry County: 5.9 %Henry County5.9Buchanan County: 5.8 %Buchanan County5.8Nottoway County: 5.8 %Nottoway County5.8
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Highland County16.1
2Emporia city15.9
3Petersburg city12.2
4Lancaster County11.7
5Westmoreland County11.5
6Wise County10.6
7Lee County9.4
8Greensville County8.9
9Hopewell city8.6
10Essex County8.6
11Franklin city8.5
12Norton city8.2
13Northumberland County7.3
14Radford city7.3
15Prince George County7.2
16Norfolk city7.1
17Buckingham County7
18Mathews County7
19Brunswick County6.9
20Russell County6.9
21Suffolk city6.5
22Colonial Heights city6.5
23Surry County6.4
24Tazewell County6.4
25Roanoke city6.4
26Portsmouth city6.3
27Southampton County6.3
28Dinwiddie County6.2
29Williamsburg city6.2
30Louisa County6.2
30Middlesex County6.2
32Lynchburg city6.1
33Danville city6
34Spotsylvania County6
35Richmond city6
36Warren County6
37Hampton city6
38Henry County5.9
39Buchanan County5.8
40Nottoway County5.8
41Sussex County5.8
42Newport News city5.7
43Isle of Wight County5.7
44Martinsville city5.5
45Pittsylvania County5.4
46Harrisonburg city5.3
47Northampton County5.3
48Rockbridge County5.3
49Staunton city5.2
50Galax city5.1
51Falls Church city5.1
51Wythe County5.1
53Chesapeake city5.1
54Carroll County5.1
55Amherst County5.1
56Madison County5
57Orange County5
58Fredericksburg city5
59Halifax County5
60Manassas city5
61Prince William County4.9
62Washington County4.8
63Lunenburg County4.8
64Chesterfield County4.7
65Nelson County4.7
66York County4.7
67Grayson County4.6
68Waynesboro city4.6
69Dickenson County4.6
70Prince Edward County4.5
71James City County4.4
72Campbell County4.4
73Amelia County4.3
74Page County4.3
75Charlottesville city4.3
76Virginia Beach city4.3
77Fairfax County4.2
78Culpeper County4.2
79Caroline County4.1
80Charlotte County4.1
81Stafford County4.1
82Henrico County4.1
83Scott County4
84Greene County4
84Winchester city4
86Bland County4
87Shenandoah County3.9
88Accomack County3.9
89Smyth County3.9
90Frederick County3.7
90Pulaski County3.7
92Clarke County3.7
93Appomattox County3.7
94Bristol city3.7
94Rappahannock County3.7
96Salem city3.6
97Fairfax city3.6
98Montgomery County3.6
99Lexington city3.4
100Covington city3.4
101Mecklenburg County3.4
102Floyd County3.4
102Loudoun County3.4
104Charles City County3.4
104Gloucester County3.4
106Albemarle County3.3
107Alleghany County3.3
108Alexandria city3.2
108King and Queen County3.2
110Goochland County3.2
110Hanover County3.2
112Bedford County3.1
112Rockingham County3.1
114New Kent County3.1
115Augusta County3.1
115Botetourt County3.1
117Manassas Park city3
118King William County3
119Roanoke County2.9
120Arlington County2.9
120King George County2.9
122Fauquier County2.9
123Franklin County2.9
123Patrick County2.9
125Fluvanna County2.8
126Cumberland County2.7
127Richmond County2.7
128Giles County2.1
129Powhatan County1.9
130Bath County1.7
131Poquoson city1.6
132Craig County1.4
133Buena Vista city1.3

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. 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. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Virginia by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Highland County, with 16.1% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Buena Vista city, with 1.3% 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, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings