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These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In Virginia

By Chris Kolmar
May. 18, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 2, 2026

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Discover the 10 Hardest Working Places in Virginia for 2026

Virginia is renowned for its rich history and vibrant culture, but it’s also a state where hard work is deeply ingrained in its identity. In 2026, as the labor market continues to evolve, the drive to succeed remains strong. Many residents of the Old Dominion embody this spirit, dedicating themselves to their careers and communities.

Among these dedicated individuals, certain areas in Virginia stand out as the hardest working places in the state. These communities not only exemplify the work ethic but also contribute significantly to the local economy. Let’s explore which towns are leading the charge in diligence and commitment.

The title of the hardest working place in Virginia goes to Purcellville. Its residents are known for their relentless dedication, often turning commuting into an additional job!

If you’re aiming for a promotion, make sure to arrive early and stay late—these towns are your competition:

  1. Purcellville
  2. Vienna
  3. Herndon
  4. Falls Church
  5. Leesburg
  6. Manassas Park
  7. Alexandria
  8. Fairfax
  9. Bridgewater
  10. Christiansburg

Emporia, take note! There’s much to learn from these hardworking communities across Virginia.

For more insights on Virginia’s job market, check out:

How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in the Old Dominion

At Zippia, we rely on data to tackle tough questions. Our analysis focuses on the most recent data available from the American Community Survey, providing a comprehensive view of work habits across Virginia.

To create our ranking, we examined a variety of criteria, including:

  • Average hours worked
  • Average commute time
  • Workers per household (Employed labor force divided by the number of households)
  • Labor force participation rate
  • Percentage of adults with a college degree

We believe that if you’ve invested years in education, are actively job-seeking, put in long hours, and endure lengthy commutes, you deserve recognition. Each of the 62 places in Virginia was ranked based on these factors, and we averaged the rankings to create a hardworking index.

Ultimately, Purcellville emerged as the “Hardest Working Place in Virginia.” Below, you’ll find a detailed chart that explains why each town earned its ranking.

1. Purcellville

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 8,350 College Graduates: 53.8%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.7
Workers Per Household: 1.7

2. Vienna

Population: 16,173 College Graduates: 65.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.6
Workers Per Household: 1.6

3. Herndon

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 24,141 College Graduates: 48.7%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.3
Workers Per Household: 2.0

4. Falls Church

Population: 13,074 College Graduates: 75.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.5
Workers Per Household: 1.6

5. Leesburg

Population: 46,211 College Graduates: 49.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.7
Workers Per Household: 1.8

6. Manassas Park

Population: 14,992 College Graduates: 26.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.6
Workers Per Household: 1.8

7. Alexandria

Population: 146,422 College Graduates: 61.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 41.1
Workers Per Household: 1.5

8. Fairfax

Population: 23,507 College Graduates: 53.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.9
Workers Per Household: 1.6

9. Bridgewater

Population: 5,812 College Graduates: 34.8%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 33.1
Workers Per Household: 1.5

10. Christiansburg

Population: 21,427 College Graduates: 40.9%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.1
Workers Per Household: 1.3

Detailed List of Hardest Working Places in Virginia

City Rank Population College Graduates Average Hours Worked Per Week Workers Per Household
Purcellville 1 8,350 53.8% 39.7 1.7
Vienna 2 16,173 65.5% 39.6 1.6
Herndon 3 24,141 48.7% 39.3 2.0
Falls Church 4 13,074 75.1% 40.5 1.6
Leesburg 5 46,211 49.4% 39.7 1.8
Manassas Park 6 14,992 26.3% 39.6 1.8
Alexandria 7 146,422 61.5% 41.1 1.5
Fairfax 8 23,507 53.5% 38.9 1.6
Bridgewater 9 5,812 34.8% 33.1 1.5
Christiansburg 10 21,427 40.9% 39.1 1.3
Manassas 11 40,436 29.1% 38.1 1.9
Poquoson 12 12,103 35.8% 39.3 1.4
Virginia Beach 13 445,623 33.5% 40.1 1.5
Charlottesville 14 44,505 49.3% 36.4 1.4
Williamsburg 15 14,401 48.6% 32.0 1.5
Blacksburg 16 43,204 69.3% 31.3 1.5
Harrisonburg 17 50,821 35.6% 33.5 1.6
Warrenton 18 9,774 34.9% 38.3 1.3
Lexington 19 7,114 44.8% 30.5 1.3
Chesapeake 20 228,168 29.4% 39.1 1.5
Suffolk 21 85,477 26.1% 39.8 1.5
Salem 22 25,120 30.7% 36.2 1.3
Culpeper 23 16,968 23.9% 39.5 1.4
Norfolk 24 244,745 25.6% 39.2 1.6
Smithfield 25 8,159 30.9% 40.6 1.4
Fredericksburg 26 26,632 37.7% 36.0 1.4
Radford 27 16,993 34.9% 31.5 1.4
Ashland 28 7,264 23.4% 34.2 1.4
Strasburg 29 6,486 15.9% 39.4 1.2
Winchester 30 27,031 28.1% 37.4 1.3
Staunton 31 24,132 31.5% 37.3 1.2
Newport News 32 181,362 24.1% 38.8 1.4
Woodstock 33 5,164 20.2% 38.4 1.1
Richmond 34 211,063 35.4% 37.0 1.3
Dumfries 35 5,122 12.9% 38.2 1.7
Lynchburg 36 77,626 32.3% 34.3 1.3
Vinton 37 8,129 19.8% 37.7 1.3
Abingdon 38 8,176 32.6% 38.8 1.0
Colonial Heights 39 17,542 19.6% 38.6 1.2
Hampton 40 136,904 23.3% 38.5 1.4
Roanoke 41 97,949 24.1% 38.0 1.2
Covington 42 5,853 9.0% 39.5 1.0
Front Royal 43 14,709 16.6% 38.3 1.3
Portsmouth 44 96,007 19.5% 39.0 1.3
Farmville 45 8,350 31.3% 30.9 1.2
Waynesboro 46 21,177 19.0% 37.1 1.1
Bluefield 47 5,375 20.6% 39.1 1.2
Buena Vista 48 6,683 14.0% 36.6 1.2
Galax 49 6,981 12.4% 38.8 1.1
Pulaski 50 8,993 12.3% 39.0 1.0
Bristol 51 17,595 20.4% 38.7 1.1
Marion 52 5,931 19.0% 37.8 1.0
Big Stone Gap 53 5,559 14.9% 39.6 1.1
Richlands 54 5,698 12.2% 40.3 0.9
Franklin 55 8,534 19.8% 38.2 1.1
Wytheville 56 8,193 20.6% 37.6 0.9
Petersburg 57 32,439 14.9% 38.3 1.2
South Boston 58 8,069 19.5% 37.3 1.0
Hopewell 59 22,375 10.9% 37.8 1.2
Danville 60 42,704 17.2% 37.9 1.0
Martinsville 61 13,745 16.6% 38.5 1.0
Emporia 62 5,682 15.0% 37.2 1.0
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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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