Danville, VA
Census place 5121344 · pop 42,214
Known as the "Last Capital of the Confederacy," the seat of Jefferson Davis's government for a week after Richmond fell in 1865.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
78.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$44,423 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
19.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
36.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
24.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
41.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
47.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
19.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
12.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+2.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.65% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
60/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,224/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$119,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Danville: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Danville, VA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Danville scores 41/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is broadband access. Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Danville, VA expensive to live in?
- Danville has a median home value of $119,100 and typical rent around $1,224/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Danville, VA?
- Its weakest measured area is broadband access (78.7%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Danville, VA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($119,100) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Known as the "Last Capital of the Confederacy," the seat of Jefferson Davis's government for a week after Richmond fell in 1865.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.