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In any workplace, the presence of unproductive colleagues can be frustrating. You know the type: they manage to shift their workload onto others while still garnering praise for the team’s achievements.
If you reside in one of these Virginia towns, you might find yourself reflecting on your own work habits. We’re not being harsh; it’s simply that a culture of lethargy can seep into the workplace, making collaboration difficult.
To shed light on this phenomenon, we dedicated time and resources to identify the Virginia locations where residents may be less engaged in work. By analyzing the most recent American Community Survey data, we pinpointed specific indicators of inactivity for each city.
After analyzing the data, we present to you the ten “Least Active Places in Virginia,” based on our findings:
- Emporia
- Martinsville
- South Boston
- Danville
- Wytheville
- Hopewell
- Marion
- Petersburg
- Bristol
- Big Stone Gap
Continue reading to discover where the most unengaged residents call home, or skip to the end to see how your town compares.
As a notable mention, Purcellville stands out as the most industrious place in Virginia.
How We Identified the Least Active Places in the Old Dominion
At Zippia, we utilize data to tackle complex questions. Some might say we are the most diligent data analysts in the region.
For this analysis, we turned to the latest American Community Survey data. Fortunately, recent updates provided valuable insights for our study.
After reviewing numerous criteria, we selected the following indicators to determine the least active places in Virginia:
- Lowest average hours worked
- Shortest commute times
- Fewest workers per household (Labor force divided by the number of households)
- Highest unemployment rates
- Fewest adults with a college degree
Our rationale was straightforward: if a town has a low college attainment rate, minimal work hours, and limited individuals contributing to household income, it likely indicates lower activity levels.
We ranked 62 places in Virginia with populations exceeding 5,000 based on these criteria, with 1 representing the “least active.”
Ultimately, Emporia topped the list as the “Least Active Place in Virginia.”
Refer to the detailed chart below for insights on why each location ranked as it did.
1. Emporia
Population: 5,682 College Educated: 15.0%
Unemployment Rate: 17.2%
2. Martinsville
Population: 13,745 College Educated: 16.6%
Unemployment Rate: 14.2%
3. South Boston
Population: 8,069 College Educated: 19.5%
Unemployment Rate: 12.4%
4. Danville
Population: 42,704 College Educated: 17.2%
Unemployment Rate: 14.7%
5. Wytheville
Population: 8,193 College Educated: 20.6%
Unemployment Rate: 11.3%
6. Hopewell
Population: 22,375 College Educated: 10.9%
Unemployment Rate: 13.7%
7. Marion
Population: 5,931 College Educated: 19.0%
Unemployment Rate: 8.2%
8. Petersburg
Population: 32,439 College Educated: 14.9%
Unemployment Rate: 15.1%
9. Bristol
Population: 17,595 College Educated: 20.4%
Unemployment Rate: 11.0%
10. Big Stone Gap
Population: 5,559 College Educated: 14.9%
Unemployment Rate: 8.8%
Understanding the Landscape of Activity Levels
Determining the least active places in Virginia is often subjective. However, by analyzing factors such as workforce participation, education levels, and work ethic, we can present a clearer picture of community engagement in these areas.
Detailed List of the Least Active Places in Virginia
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Emporia | 1 |
| Martinsville | 2 |
| South Boston | 3 |
| Danville | 4 |
| Wytheville | 5 |
| Hopewell | 6 |
| Marion | 7 |
| Petersburg | 8 |
| Bristol | 9 |
| Big Stone Gap | 10 |
Author
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.
