Virginia Ranks Best in Business, Lifestyle, and More

National publications, studies, and ranking lists agree: Virginia is for lovers—and winners. Here’s a look into several ways Virginia topped the charts in 2024:

Our creative capital city

CNN Travel crowned Richmond as America’s best town to visit in 2024 for its rich arts, culture, and history, plus a great food and beverage scene. 

Courtesy of Richmond Regional Tourism
Our bustling business environment

For the sixth year in a row, Virginia was number one on CNBC’s list of top states for business in the U.S. for infrastructure and education. 

Our health factor

Falls Church is home to America’s number one healthiest community, cited specifically for its walkability and educational opportunities, as designated by U.S. News & World Report

Courtesy of City of Falls Church
Our beach life burg

Virginia Beach is the eighth best place to live in the U.S. right now, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Photo courtesy of the city of Virginia Beach
Our romantic odds

In your search for love, look no further than the Commonwealth: it’s the country’s ninth best state for singles, says WalletHub.

Our commitment to the arts

SMU DataArts ranks Virginia as the number 10 most arts-vibrant state in the country.


This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue.

Hope Cartwright
Hope Cartwright is associate editor of Virginia Living. A native of Traverse City, Michigan, she is a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
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