The story of this market
The typical home in Stafford, Virginia sells for about $650,000, or $235 per square foot.
Prices are roughly flat from a year ago (+0.3%), a market in balance. Homes take about 33 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $2,800 a month.
Monthly price momentum
Home values since 2015
+2.6%
VA · past 12 months
Freddie Mac House Price Index, single-family homes, monthly through 2026-08. Each line starts at 100 in January 2015, so a reading of 180 means prices are up 80% since then.
Stafford, Virginia
Stafford's housing market remains resilient, supported by steady demand from D.C.-area commuters and a strong local employment base. While inventory levels have seen modest increases, the market maintains a competitive pace with stable pricing, reflecting a balanced environment for both buyers and sellers.
No ARED county foreclosure postings attributed to Stafford yet — the verified ledger covers every county the foreclosure ingest has read, attributed by published city area. Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.
Deterministic aggregate of 3 researched ZIP reports — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.
Median prices moved up 0.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 28 days on market with 1.3 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
22% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 62.26% of asking — demand is cooling.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.2% · poverty 4.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this city — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
A historic waterfront park on the Potomac River offering beach access, fishing, and picnic areas, serving as a key recreational hub.
A major regional retail center providing a wide array of dining, shopping, and service options for the local community.
A critical transportation artery that significantly improves commute times for residents traveling toward Northern Virginia and D.C.
Stafford is ideal for families and commuters seeking a balance between suburban space and access to the D.C. employment core. It attracts professionals working at Quantico or in Northern Virginia who prioritize school quality and a quieter residential environment over urban density.
Stafford County Public Schools are generally well-regarded, with several high-performing campuses that draw families to the area. The district focuses on STEM integration and college readiness, consistently ranking competitively within the state.
The city is heavily reliant on the I-95 corridor for regional connectivity, with VRE commuter rail service providing an alternative for D.C.-bound workers. Infrastructure planning focuses on highway expansion and transit-oriented development near rail stations.
Stafford offers extensive outdoor amenities including Aquia Landing Park for waterfront access and numerous regional trails. The area is well-served by local shopping centers like Stafford Marketplace and proximity to historic sites and golf courses.
The rental market is characterized by high demand driven by military and federal commuters, leading to low vacancy rates. Rent growth has remained steady, with a mix of single-family home rentals and modern apartment complexes catering to transient professionals.
The economy is anchored by the presence of Marine Corps Base Quantico and a robust federal contracting sector. The area benefits from a steady influx of professional workers and a growing retail and service industry base.
Stafford serves as a major bedroom community for the D.C. metro area, benefiting from significant infrastructure investment like the I-95 Express Lanes. Economic momentum is driven by proximity to Quantico and a growing base of professional services and retail development.
Development is focused on mixed-use projects and residential expansion in the northern and central parts of the county to accommodate population growth. Infrastructure upgrades remain a priority to support the increasing density.
Parcels in Stafford may be subject to various special service districts, including community development authorities and utility districts that fund infrastructure and public services.
Stafford generally reports lower crime rates compared to the broader Northern Virginia region, with property crime being the primary concern. Local law enforcement maintains a proactive community policing strategy to address suburban safety trends.
The area faces moderate risks from severe thunderstorms and occasional flooding in low-lying areas near the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. Insurance premiums are stable but reflect the regional necessity for comprehensive wind and flood coverage.
Property insurance markets are stable, though homeowners in flood-prone zones near the riverfront face higher premiums and mandatory flood insurance requirements.
Stafford County levies a real estate tax rate determined annually by the Board of Supervisors, which is applied to the assessed value of all taxable property. The jurisdiction does not impose a separate city-level tax as it is a county-administered locality, and it offers specific tax relief programs for elderly and disabled residents.
Researched annual trajectory for this city, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this city's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.7%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau and local market reports.
No public schools report a street address in this area. Source: NCES EDGE public school locations 2023-24.