Fredericksburg's schools rank behind 98% of the state's. Overall it grades C−, ranked 219th of 249 in Virginia. It is more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns and natural-hazard risk is low. Its weakest subject is safety: its crime rate is higher than 90% of U.S. towns, with 124 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Fredericksburg’s trail density is 2.3 miles per square mile, above both the Virginia town median (0.7) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Its National Register listings include Rising Sun Tavern and Monroe Law Office.

StrongestAWalkability AHistory A⁻Hazard riskWeakestD⁻Schools DSafety

What makes Fredericksburg stand out

Where Fredericksburg beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Rising Sun Tavern

HistoryA

Settled in 1728

30 places on the National Register

A history going back 298 years.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here22,117

Residents who work11,302

Work

2 jobs for every working resident

A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 93% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2023.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools

School	Grades	Students
Hugh Mercer Elementary	K–5	859
Lafayette Elementary	K–5	812
Brompton Community School	K–8	83

Worth knowing · SchoolsD⁻

On state tests and graduation

NCES · EDFacts.

Rising Sun Tavern · National Register of Historic Places

Fredericksburg’s story

298 years in pictures

Rising Sun Tavern is one of 4 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1728, comes before those of 95% of the Virginia towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,485 in 1790, 27,982 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1770 and 7 maps from 1926 on.

30 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1728Fredericksburg is settled

Explore the history →

How Fredericksburg grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far Fredericksburg is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A for walkability (better than 90% of comparable towns) to D− for schools (better than 2%), so the C− overall blends very different results.

SchoolsD⁻Open →SafetyDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.5 of 20; 9.6% of households have no car; 6.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 23% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA⁻Open →HealthMary Washington Hospital 0.8 miles awayBOpen →Cost of livingB⁻Open →Jobs & income$86K median household income; 22,117 jobs based hereB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors9% conserved landA⁻Open →History48 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life5.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market38 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 32.1; 46% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Fredericksburg: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Fredericksburg, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerDominion Energy15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Fredericksburg water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown pickup · day by addressTown site

SchoolsFredericksburg City Public SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Virginia you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 11 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereFredericksburg General RegistrarThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023

ZIP code2240122401 99%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg draws workers from Spotsylvania Courthouse and beyond, has seen reported crime fall by a fifth or more and is mostly renters.

OutdoorsA⁻

9.1% of Fredericksburg is conserved land

That puts Fredericksburg above both Virginia’s towns (4.6%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). 24 miles of trail in 12 parks and preserves. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, at 171 acres with 2.4 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#20for trails in VA

9.1%

conserved · 607 of 6,697 acres

24 mi

of trails · 2.3 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Rappahannock River Conservation Area	4.3 mi	124
2. Sunshine Ballpark	2.9 mi	49
3. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park	2.4 mi	171

Full pageFredericksburg’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map24 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk4.3 miles of trail · Rappahannock River Conservation Area Conserved land9.1% conserved · 607 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Fredericksburg?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsD⁻

Fredericksburg’s grade for schools is a D−

Its public schools are run by the Fredericksburg City Public Schools. Two of its 8 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is James Monroe High, with 1,013 students.

2%of VA districts it outscoresD⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Hugh Mercer ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5	Grades K–5	859	–
James Monroe HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,013	C⁻

Full pageFredericksburg’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsFredericksburg City Public Schools Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor Every school8 schools · James Monroe High Questions“Are Fredericksburg’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B⁻

About one in five working residents works right in Fredericksburg

22,117 jobs are based in Fredericksburg, 2 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.

About one in 5 of Fredericksburg’s working residents works in town. The average trip to work in Fredericksburg is 32 minutes. The top destinations are Washington (3%), Arlington (2%) and Chantilly (1%).

21%work in town

	Fredericksburg	Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	21%	4.8%	8%
Average trip to work	32 minutes	27 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	13%	7.7%	9.6%
Work from home	17%	18%	11%

Where working residents work

In Fredericksburg21%

Washington3%

Arlington2%

Chantilly1%

Reston1%

19 mi

median commute distance

22,117

jobs based in Fredericksburg

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns

Full pageFredericksburg’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here22,117 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work21% work in Fredericksburg Commute times32 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 19 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyD

Fredericksburg’s grade for safety is a D

Reported crimes fell from 1,145 to 887 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

Fredericksburg’s property crime rate is 24.9 per 1,000 residents. Fredericksburg reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 90% report less. Fredericksburg’s violent crime rate is 4.1 per 1,000 residents.

10%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

	Fredericksburg	Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	24.9 per 1,000 residents	14.5	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	4.1 per 1,000 residents	2.3	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Fredericksburg4.1

Virginia2.1

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Fredericksburg24.9

Virginia13.9

U.S.15.5

10th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

17th

percentile among VA towns

124

violent crimes reported in 2025

763

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageFredericksburg’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type4.1 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighbors2 bordering towns Questions“Is Fredericksburg, VA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A⁻

Low risk in Fredericksburg, with inland flooding at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 30 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Fredericksburg.

23risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingEarthquakesStrong wind

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageFredericksburg’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims30 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters8 federal disasters · Paid out in Fredericksburg Get ready0.7 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Who lives here

More young adults than Virginia overall

Only 39.7% of households own their home, against 67.3% across Virginia.

Adults 18 to 34 are 33% of residents (23% statewide); people 65 and older are 11% of residents (17% statewide). Fredericksburg has grown 8.6% since 2020, to 30,393 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.

32.1median age · VA 39

	Fredericksburg	Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Median age	32.1 years	38.5 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	11%	16%	18%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	46%	44%	29%
Under 18	21%	23%	22%

FredericksburgVirginiaUnited States

VAU.S.

Ages · share of residents

18%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma8%

High school20%

Some college20%

Associate’s6%

Bachelor’s26%

Graduate20%

Women and men · all residents

52.3% women, 47.7% men

About 91 men for every 100 women. Across Virginia, 50.6% of residents are women. Median age: women 33.1, men 30.8.

Ages and education in Fredericksburg
	Fredericksburg	VA	U.S.
Under 10	11.2%	11.6%	11.6%
10 to 17	10%	10.1%	10.3%
18 to 24	18.3%	9.3%	9.1%
25 to 34	15.1%	13.5%	13.7%
35 to 44	11.8%	13.6%	13.2%
45 to 54	11.8%	12.5%	12.2%
55 to 64	10.4%	12.8%	12.7%
65 to 74	6.9%	9.9%	10.2%
75 and older	4.5%	6.8%	7%
No diploma	7.8%	8.4%	10.4%
High school	20.1%	23.9%	26%
Some college	20.4%	17.7%	19.1%
Associate’s	5.5%	7.8%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	25.8%	23.7%	21.6%
Graduate	20.3%	18.5%	14.1%

Full pageFredericksburg by the numbersOpen the page

Ages32.1 median age · 11% are 65 or older Schooling46% have a four-year degree Homes40% own their home · Homeowners Income$86K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

Climate

In Fredericksburg, expect four seasons and hot summers

Fredericksburg has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 25° and about 11 inches of snow falls in a winter.

11″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter27–48°

Spring44–68°

Summer65–87°

Fall47–69°

Nov 1

typical first frost

Apr 6

typical last frost

+1.7°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageFredericksburg’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 89°, January lows 25°Rain & snow11″ of snow a winter · 43 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.7° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HealthB

Fredericksburg ranks healthier than 63% of the country’s towns

Fredericksburg beats the Virginia average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 39% of adults have obesity in Fredericksburg.

63%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade

	Fredericksburg	Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	39%	34%	35%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	18%	16%	17%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	25%	22%	23%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	39%	36%	36%

32 measures vs. Virginia

8 better20 too close to call4 worse

What stands out	Fredericksburg	VA
Fewer adults with heart disease	4.9%	6.1%
Fewer adults who have had cancer	6.2%	7.7%
More adults without reliable transportation	8.7%	7.4%

Mary Washington Hospital

0.8 mi away · emergency room

2 of 3

care shortages: dental, mental health

45th

percentile among VA towns

Full pageFredericksburg’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore binge drinkers Hospitals & doctors nearby0.8 miles to an ER · Mary Washington Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than VA on 8 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

HousingCost of living grade B⁻

Homes in Fredericksburg are worth about $479K, by Zillow’s estimate

The typical Fredericksburg home is worth about $479,000, up 1% in a year, 16% above the Virginia typical home. 40% of Fredericksburg households own their home.

$479KZillow home value

	Fredericksburg	Virginia towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	40%	68%	73%
Median rent	$1,619 a month	$1,764 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Fredericksburg$479K

Virginia$412K

Market temperature

days on market

99.3%

sale-to-list price

+1%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageFredericksburg’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 1% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 5.6 years of income Rents$1,619 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Nearby attractions

George Washington Birthplace National Monument and 23 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Fredericksburg. Close and well known come first.

All 278 attractions →

2 mi National MonumentGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument72K visitors a year

32 mi Theme parkKings Dominion

19 mi MuseumNational Museum of the Marine Corps

in town National Military ParkFredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park766K visitors a year

17 mi Ancient siteMallows Bay

35 mi National park siteManassas National Battlefield Park473K visitors a year

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

George Washington Birthplace National Monument: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Public domain · Kings Dominion: Erechtheus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · National Museum of the Marine Corps: RadioFan (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park: RebelAt at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mallows Bay: Amazur, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Manassas National Battlefield Park: Billy Hathorn, CC BY 3.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Fredericksburg

20pages on Fredericksburg

The big questions

SchoolsD⁻Behind 98% of VA districts · 8 schools SafetyD4.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than VA on 8 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingB⁻$479K typical home · up 1% in a year Work & commuteB⁻$86K median household income · 22,117 jobs here Natural hazardsA⁻FEMA risk higher than 23% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁻24 mi of trails · 9% conserved land PlacesAttractions278 nearby · Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park under 1 mi LibraryB⁻Fredericksburg Branch CollegesUniversity of Mary Washington, in town

The story

HistoryASettled 1728 · 30 on the National Register Famous people48 born in Fredericksburg Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 29 residents Climate89° summer highs · 11″ of snow

Day to day

News6 recent stories about Fredericksburg WeatherHandbookZIP code 22401, 22402, 22403 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Fredericksburg

University of Mary WashingtonUniversity or college · Public · FredericksburgIn town$14,640 in-state tuition

About 14 of every 100 Fredericksburg residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

14% of Fredericksburg is in college

University of Mary Washington3,605 students on campus

Admission: 80%
Net price: $20,667
Graduate: 66%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

30 places in Fredericksburg on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Rising Sun TavernNational Historic Landmark

Monroe Law OfficeNational Historic Landmark

KenmoreBuilt 1770 · National Historic Landmark

Fredericksburg Historic District

Famous people from Fredericksburg

48 notable people were born in Fredericksburg.

See all 48 →

John ForsythAmerican politician · 1780–1841

Jeff RouseAmerican swimmer · born 1970

Monty WilliamsAmerican basketball coach · born 1971

Fred KingsburyAmerican rower · 1927–2011

Hugh ScottAmerican politician · 1900–1994

Erik HurtadoAmerican soccer player · born 1990

About Fredericksburg

Independent city in Virginia, United States

Official town website ↗

Fredericksburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States. The population was 27,982 at the 2020 census. It is 42 miles (67 km) south of Washington, D.C., and 53 miles (85 km) north of Richmond. Fredericksburg is part of the Washington metropolitan area. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city with neighboring Spotsylvania County for statistical purposes. Located near where the Rappahannock River crosses the Atlantic Seaboard fall line, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during the colonial era. It was halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces during the American Civil War, and was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg and Second Battle of Frederic…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1728
Area: 11 sq mi
Elevation: 59 ft
ZIP code: 22401, 22402, 22403
Area code: 540

Fredericksburg’s neighbors

2 towns share a border with Fredericksburg.

Explore the map →

FalmouthChatham HeightsFredericksburg

Falmouth

Visit

Chatham Heights

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	VA rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Fredericksburg	#219	C⁻	B⁻	D	D⁻	B
Falmouth	#71	A	B	—	B	A⁻
Chatham Heights	—	—	—	—	—	—

Falmouth reports no FBI crime data of its own. Chatham Heights isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Fredericksburg with a neighbor →

Questions about Fredericksburg

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Fredericksburg, VA a good place to live?

Fredericksburg grades C− overall, better than 19% of U.S. towns and #219 of 249 in Virginia. It grades B for health, D for safety and D− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Fredericksburg, VA expensive?

That is 3.8 years of the area's median household income ($126,684 across the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.

What is Fredericksburg, VA known for?

48 notable people were born here, including John Forsyth and Jeff Rouse.

Post to Fredericksburg

Check your email

FredericksburgVA

Is Fredericksburg a good place to live?

What makes Fredericksburg stand out

Jobs vs. working residents

298 years in pictures

How Fredericksburg grades

Moving to Fredericksburg: who provides what

The data

9.1% of Fredericksburg is conserved land

Fredericksburg’s grade for schools is a D−

About one in five working residents works right in Fredericksburg

Where working residents work

Fredericksburg’s grade for safety is a D

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Low risk in Fredericksburg, with inland flooding at the top

More young adults than Virginia overall

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

Women and men · all residents

In Fredericksburg, expect four seasons and hot summers

Typical low → high °F

Fredericksburg ranks healthier than 63% of the country’s towns

Homes in Fredericksburg are worth about $479K, by Zillow’s estimate

Typical home value

George Washington Birthplace National Monument and 23 more within 40 miles

Everything we know about Fredericksburg

Colleges nearby

14% of Fredericksburg is in college

Landmarks

Famous people from Fredericksburg

About Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg’s neighbors

Questions about Fredericksburg