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Living in
South Riding.
South Riding is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in South Riding
South Riding is fundamentally a bedroom community for the Northern Virginia tech corridor, and that's both its strength and its reality. Most people here work in Dulles, Reston, or points toward D.C., with an average 34-minute commute—manageable but not trivial. The median household income of $196,403 and 66.5% college degree rate tell you this is an affluent, educated community, though that prosperity comes with a median home price of $746,200 and median rent around $2,910 a month.
South Riding at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Foreign-Born
35.3%
Broadband Internet
99.5%
of households
Population Growth
+8.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics35.3% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in South Riding: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Riding, the largest foreign-born group is from India (33.7%), and 10.8% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
27.5%
of residents
65 and Older
6.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
53.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
9.4%
of households
Married Couples
74.3%
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 84% above VA average
Rent, home values, and income in South Riding
In South Riding, rent runs 84% above the VA average, and home values are 94% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,164
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
83.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2006
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in South Riding and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Loudoun County, which includes South Riding, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
South Riding: Loudoun County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Loudoun County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What South Riding 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
Commute33 min avg
How South Riding residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Riding, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 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 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, which covers South Riding, runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
72.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
545.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Loudoun County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 31 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Loudoun County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Loudoun County, which includes South Riding, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 31 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $208,000 |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $931,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $210,000 |
| 2022 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $279,500 |
| 2020 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.0M |
| 2019 | 46 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 39 | Flood | None reported |
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
Loudoun County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Loudoun County, which includes South Riding, is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
70
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Loudoun County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Riding has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.2"
Annual Snowfall
21.0"
Hot Days/Year
33
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
102
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 25°F | 2.94" |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 3.50" |
| Apr | 67°F | 43°F | 3.47" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 4.72" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 4.30" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.15" |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 3.53" |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 3.94" |
| Oct | 68°F | 45°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 57°F | 36°F | 3.13" |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 3.30" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Riding
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside South Riding's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Stonesprings Hospital Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Dulles
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.4 mi away · Fairfax
Reston Hospital Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Reston
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.
Education13.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Riding
South Riding's student/teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 68.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
68.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Manassas National Battlefield Park, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Riding
South Riding has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Manassas National Battlefield Park (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Manassas National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
7 mi awayWolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
National Park Site
13 mi awayChesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayGreat Falls Park
Park
15 mi awayPotomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
16 mi awayClara Barton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
Memorial Parkway
20 mi awayGlen Echo Park
Park
20 mi awayCities Near South Riding
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Riding?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Riding FAQ
Is South Riding, Virginia affordable?⌄
South Riding's median rent is $2,905/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $196,403/year. Median home value is $746,200.
Is South Riding, Virginia safe?⌄
South Riding is policed by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 72 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 545 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Riding, Virginia?⌄
Loudoun County, which includes South Riding, has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Riding, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in South Riding is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,905/month and median household income is $196,403/year. The median home value is $746,200. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Riding, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in South Riding is 33 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