What it's like to live in Manassas
Manassas is a small city in Virginia with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Manassas deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Cold winters
How Manassas compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Manassas
Based on Manassas's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,700
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,000 a year
- 49% of Manassas renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$89,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,990
- Homes cost 4.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 31% above US
$1,850/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,850 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $449,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $449,900 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 33% below US
2.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.9%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
307 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1340/100k · Manassas Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 23% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.1 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Manassas National Battlefield Park (6 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Manassas's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,850/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Manassas
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