Stafford County
VA · Pop. 160,520 · Urban County
Stafford County sits in Virginia across 269 square miles, home to 160,520 people at 596.7 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, soybeans, corn. The median home price is $459,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.72%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 199-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.3°F and average winter lows of 25.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.4 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Stafford Hospital is 2.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 199-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.72% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Stafford Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 2.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.3% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A median home price of $459,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
- At 596.7 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Stafford County, VA is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 48/100
- Median home price
- $459k
- Property tax
- 0.72%
- Growing season
- 199 days (zone 7b)
- Annual rainfall
- 43.4"
- Broadband
- 98.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Stafford Hospital, 2.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Stafford County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Stafford County?
- Stafford County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 199-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.3°F, and average winter lows of 25.9°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $459,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.72%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Stafford Hospital is 2.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Virginia Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Virginia
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The closest counties to Stafford County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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