Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety88#1,887/15,637
Economy89#1,662/15,631
Housing79#3,218/14,977
Health96#620/15,609
Healthcare75#3,965/15,650
Environment72#4,257/15,453
Education90#1,514/15,649
Infrastructure93#1,049/15,650
Community85#2,413/15,651
Leisure & amenities60#6,183/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Herndon, Virginia ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Fairfax County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Injury deaths · low37 /100k
100/100Virginia 78 /100kUnited States 87 /100k2019-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteFairfax County value
Life expectancy · high85.0 yrs
100/100Virginia 77.8 yrsUnited States 77.6 yrs2021-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteFairfax County value
Premature death · low3,682 /100k
100/100Virginia 7,587 /100kUnited States 8,123 /100k2021-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteFairfax County value
Access to exercise opportunities · high99.7%
99/100Virginia 83.8%United States 84.5%2022 & 2024University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteFairfax County value
Average weekly wage · high$2,212
99/100Virginia $1,540United States $1,5142025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsFairfax County value
Food environment index · high9.6
98/100Virginia 8.9United States 7.62019 & 2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteFairfax County value

Weaknesses

Public libraries · low0.2 /10k
5/100Virginia 0.4 /10kUnited States 0.5 /10k2024Institute of Museum and Library ServicesFairfax County value
Uninsured residents (under 65) · high18.6%
9/100Virginia 8.1%United States 9.8%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B27010
Drought exposure · high80%
11/100Virginia 70%United States 43%Oct 2025–Sep 2026National Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), USDA and NOAAFairfax County value
Job growth · low-1.9%
14/100Virginia -0.2%United States 0.1%2026 Q1U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsProvisional dataFairfax County value
Mammography screening · low40.0%
19/100Virginia 47.0%United States 46.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteFairfax County value
Average commute time · high27.5 min
25/100Virginia 27.3 minUnited States 26.4 min2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B08013

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

Rent-burdened householdsImproving
44.0% (2015-2019) → 30.4% (2020-2024)
−14 pts5 yearsCensus table B25070US 49.6% → 51.1%
New homes permittedWorsening
0.1 /1k (2021) → 0.0 /1k (Sep 2025–Aug 2026)
−50%5 yearsUS 5.2 /1k → 4.2 /1k
Median household incomeImproving
$111,371 (2015-2019) → $148,000 (2020-2024)
+33%5 yearsCensus table B19013US $65,712 → $81,604
Public transit commutersWorsening
9.7% (2015-2019) → 3.6% (2020-2024)
−6.1 pts5 yearsCensus table B08301US 5.0% → 3.2%
Rent as share of incomeImproving
27.9% (2015-2019) → 23.3% (2020-2024)
−4.6 pts5 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.6%
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
49.0% (2015-2019) → 53.2% (2020-2024)
+4.2 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Herndon, Virginia improved on 4 of 15 measures with a comparison and declined on 1. 10 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved4

Rent burden−14 points44.0% → 30.4%
Rent / income−4.6 points27.9% → 23.3%
Household income+33%$111,371 → $148,000
Broadband+3.5 points92.4% → 96.0%

Declined1

Transit use−6.1 points9.7% → 3.6%

All 15 measures

Change of every measure of Herndon, Virginia between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	26.9 min2015-2019	27.5 min2020-2024	+0.6 min	Within the margin of error	40%
Bachelor's degree or higher	49.0%2015-2019	53.2%2020-2024	+4.2 points	Within the margin of error	61%
Broadband subscriptions	92.4%2015-2019	96.0%2020-2024	+3.5 points	Improved	23%
Child poverty rate	8.4%2015-2019	11.0%2020-2024	+2.7 points	Within the margin of error	28%
Effective property tax rate	1.06%2015-2019	1.02%2020-2024	−0 points	Within the margin of error	23%
High school diploma or higher	83.0%2015-2019	85.3%2020-2024	+2.3 points	Within the margin of error	62%
Home price to income ratio	4.0×2015-2019	4.0×2020-2024	+0.1×	Within the margin of error	75%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.3892015-2019	0.3792020-2024	−0.010	Within the margin of error	60%
Median household income	$111,3712015-2019	$148,0002020-2024	+33%	Improved	61%
Poverty rate	5.9%2015-2019	8.1%2020-2024	+2.2 points	Within the margin of error	25%
Public transit commuters	9.7%2015-2019	3.6%2020-2024	−6.1 points	Declined	5%
Rent as share of income	27.9%2015-2019	23.3%2020-2024	−4.6 points	Improved	81%
Rent-burdened households	44.0%2015-2019	30.4%2020-2024	−14 points	Improved	88%
Unemployment rate	4.1%2015-2019	4.1%2020-2024	+0 points	Within the margin of error	48%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	17.2%2015-2019	18.6%2020-2024	+1.3 points	Within the margin of error	31%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Herndon, Virginia five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Herndon, Virginia in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Herndon, Virginia itself moved +5.9 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

24,672 residents (±39)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69
50–59
40–49
30–39
20–29
10–19
Under 10

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: 30–39 men (+2.0 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

24,672 residents (±39)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

White36%8,878
Black8.1%†2,007
Hispanic or Latino35%8,548
Asian16%3,961
American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%†23
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander0.0%0
Other or two or more races5.1%†1,255

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B03002View table on data.census.gov

Education

16,563 residents (±552)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

No high school diploma15%2,428
High school or GED14%2,353
Some college13%2,115
Associate degree5.2%859
Bachelor's degree30%5,038
Graduate degree23%3,770

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B15003View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

7,796 households (±360)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

Under $25k4.3%†337
$25k–50k6.6%517
$50k–75k9.0%698
$75k–100k12%974
$100k–150k18%1,396
$150k–200k14%1,109
$200k or more35%2,765

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: $200k or more (+19.0 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

7,796 households (±360)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

Own62%4,841
Rent38%2,955

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

2,865 households (±287)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

Under $7501.5%†43
$750–1,0001.4%†39
$1,000–1,5005.7%†163

Home values

4,841 homes (±415)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

Under $150k1.2%†57
$150k–250k4.5%†216
$250k–400k11%545

Age of homes

8,076 homes (±363)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

2010 or later6.0%†481
2000–200910%835
1980–199941%3,308

Size of homes

8,076 homes (±363)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

Studio0.9%†73
1 bedroom8.8%709
2 bedrooms22%1,747

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

14,167 workers (±632)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

Drive alone56%7,900
Carpool14%2,004
Public transit3.6%†507
Walk1.9%†263
Bike0.2%†33
Work from home21%2,998
Other3.3%†462

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Work from home (+15.2 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

11,169 workers (±742)

Herndon, Virginia
Virginia share

Under 15 min22%2,415
15–29 min36%4,061
30–44 min22%2,452

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Fairfax County, the county holding most of Herndon's residents.

Fairfax County has 31,931 employer establishments, 279 for every 10,000 residents (1.12× the US rate of 248; 1.16× Virginia's), with 696,002 paid employees at an average annual pay of $100,312. The Census Bureau also counts 130,037 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 31,931; 130,037 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 279; US 248 · Virginia 241
Paid employees: 696,002
Average annual pay: $100,312; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Fairfax County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Computer systems design and related services	3,683	32.2	7.44×More than typical	117,517	$121,878	3,011
Ambulatory health care services	3,051	26.7	1.28×More than typical	38,495	$75,312	6,211
Restaurants and other eating places	2,207	19.3	1.05×About typical	38,288	$27,027	674
Management, scientific and technical consulting	2,016	17.6	2.63×More than typical	46,554	$118,434	9,057
Lessors of real estate	1,696	14.8	1.20×About typical	9,931	$88,564	11,883
Specialty trade contractors	1,404	12.3	0.79×Fewer than typical	16,724	$81,199	6,665
Limited-service restaurants	1,026	9	1.12×About typical	16,219	$23,525	211
Construction of buildings	990	8.7	1.15×About typical	10,638	$109,712	3,635
Offices of physicians	926	8.1	1.25×More than typical	10,959	$106,612	1,087
Full-service restaurants	908	7.9	1.03×About typical	18,718	$30,849	337
Offices of dentists	812	7.1	1.76×More than typical	5,693	$67,036	472
Personal care services	761	6.7	1.39×More than typical	3,840	$36,818	4,655

Rank places for an industry Open Fairfax County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 1,143,456 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $654.4M of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Herndon, Virginia: $26,523 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $654.4M; −22% vs FY2025
Per resident: $26,523; US $1,994
Sole-source: 11%; US 30%
Single offer: 20%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services$129.2M20%
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration$70.6M11%
Department of the Army$60.5M9.2%
National Aeronautics and Space Administration$56.6M8.6%
Department of the Navy$54.4M8.3%
Internal Revenue Service$41M6.3%
Department of the Air Force$37.4M5.7%
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation$19.9M3.0%

Top recipients

PERATON INC.$294M45%
SERCO INC$166.7M25%
PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC$39.5M6.0%
GAP SOLUTIONS, INC.$18.8M2.9%
EVERFOX LLC$15.6M2.4%
LIQUID ROBOTICS, INC.

Spending by fiscal year

297.4MFY2017
366.3MFY2018
363.7MFY2019
812.4MFY2020
568.4MFY2021
612.4MFY2022
760.8MFY2023
744.9M

Top industries (NAICS)

Computer systems design and related services · 5415$287.6M44%
Information (NAICS 5178) · 5178$70.6M11%
Architectural, engineering, and related services · 5413$59M9.0%
Other telecommunications · 5179$56.6M8.7%
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services · 5416$39.9M6.1%

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Herndon, Virginia, so they do not add up across cities.

Herndon, Virginia's figures are part of those of Fairfax County, VA and Loudoun County, VA ($38.4B in FY2026), never added to them: 1.7% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Herndon is mostly in Fairfax County.

See federal money in Fairfax County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Herndon, Virginia is split between congressional districts: each representative is shown with the share of its residents in their district (current boundaries).

House

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Fairfax County96100% of residents

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV86

Other cities and towns in Fairfax County

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

JSON · /api/v1/places/5136648

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends