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Living in
Dale City.
Dale City is an unincorporated community in Prince William County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Dale City
If you're considering Dale City, know that you're looking at a solidly middle-to-upper-middle-class suburban community with real diversity—nearly 28% Latino, 28% Black, 35% White, and 8% Asian as of the last detailed breakdown, with a significant foreign-born population. The median household income of $111,994 is well above national averages, and unemployment sits at just 3.2%, which speaks to solid job access in the Northern Virginia corridor. Your commute to D.C. will run about 38 minutes on average, which is reasonable for the region but definitely a daily reality you'll want to factor in.
Dale City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Foreign-Born
32.7%
Broadband Internet
97.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics32.7% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Dale City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dale City, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (25.9%), and 29.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.6%
of residents
65 and Older
11.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.9%
of households
Married Couples
58.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.31
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% above VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Dale City
In Dale City, rent runs 19% above the VA average, and home values are 11% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,219
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.5%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Dale City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Prince William County, which includes Dale City, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Dale City: Prince William County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Prince William County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Dale City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute37.4 min avg
How Dale City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dale City, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 34% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Prince William County Police Department, which covers Dale City, runs 35% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
213.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,281.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Prince William County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Prince William County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Prince William County, which includes Dale City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Winter Weather | $143,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | Winter Weather | $31,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.5M |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $104,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Flood | $121,000 |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 24 | Flood | $200,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Prince William County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Prince William County, which includes Dale City, is typically good — 349 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
349
per year
Moderate Days
16
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Prince William County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dale City has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.1"
Annual Snowfall
12.4"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
76
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 28°F | 2.66" |
| Feb | 48°F | 30°F | 2.36" |
| Mar | 56°F | 37°F | 3.58" |
| Apr | 68°F | 47°F | 3.16" |
| May | 76°F | 57°F | 3.63" |
| Jun | 84°F | 66°F | 3.53" |
| Jul | 88°F | 71°F | 4.64" |
| Aug | 86°F | 69°F | 4.24" |
| Sep | 80°F | 62°F | 3.43" |
| Oct | 69°F | 50°F | 3.33" |
| Nov | 58°F | 39°F | 3.14" |
| Dec | 49°F | 32°F | 3.33" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dale City
Uninsured
10.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Dale City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Woodbridge
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 11.2 mi away · Fort Belvoir
Uva Health Prince William Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.6 mi away · Manassas
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dale City
Dale City's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Dale City (within 15 miles)
Northern Virginia Community College
14 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 33,048 students · in-state tuition $6,062 · 30% graduate · median earnings $56,892 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Prince William Forest Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dale City
Dale City has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Prince William Forest Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Prince William Forest Park
Park
5 mi awayPiscataway Park
Park
15 mi awayManassas National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
16 mi awayFort Washington Park
Park
17 mi awayThomas Stone National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayFort Foote Park
Park
19 mi awayHarmony Hall
National Park Site
19 mi awayOxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm
National Park Site
21 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dale City
Dale City Library
4249 Dale Blvd, Dale City
Cities Near Dale City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dale City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dale City FAQ
Is Dale City, Virginia affordable?⌄
Dale City's median rent is $1,876/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $111,994/year. Median home value is $425,500.
Is Dale City, Virginia safe?⌄
Dale City is policed by the Prince William County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 214 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1282 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dale City, Virginia?⌄
Prince William County, which includes Dale City, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dale City, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Dale City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,876/month and median household income is $111,994/year. The median home value is $425,500. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dale City, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Dale City is 37 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from