Hunt & Live

Manassas Park County, VA

16,703 residents · 3 sq mi · 5,505.6/sq mi

Climate
56.2°F
42.1" rain/yr
Water
humid
Aridity index 1.57
Hardiness
Zone 8b
Winter low ~15.9°F

About Manassas Park County

Manassas Park is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,219. Manassas Park is bordered by the city of Manassas and Prince William County.

Manassas Park is a part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

42
Prepper Suitability
worsebetter
National rank: #2074 of 3,109
Locator map
Location within the continental US

Prepper Assessment

Living in this area is characterized by high population density, with 5,505.6 people per square mile, which limits the potential for self-sufficient living. The climate is humid, with an annual mean temperature of 56.2°F and 42.1 inches of rainfall per year, providing a relatively mild growing season in USDA zone 8b. However, the lack of rural land may restrict opportunities for traditional homesteading activities such as livestock raising or extensive gardening.

The county faces significant natural hazard risks, particularly from hurricanes (FEMA rank 55) and heat waves (FEMA rank 43). With a violence percentile of 56/100, safety may be a concern for some residents, although the disaster percentile is low at 5/100, indicating a relatively safe environment from other natural disasters. The cost of living is also notable, with a median home price of $370,700, which may be prohibitive for those looking to establish a homestead.

This area may be a better fit for individuals or families seeking urban convenience rather than traditional homesteading. Those who thrive here may value proximity to metropolitan amenities and a connected community. However, potential homesteaders looking for land to cultivate or a quieter, rural lifestyle may find the high density and limited space to be significant drawbacks.

AI-generated analysis based on county data (climate, hazards, density, housing, economy). For general orientation only.

Key Facts

Ranked #1,767 nationally
Out of 3,109 CONUS counties for composite prepper suitability.
#80 of 133 in VA
Ranked #80 of 133 counties statewide for prepper suitability.
Dominant hazard: hurricane
FEMA ranks hurricane risk at 55/100 here — the leading natural threat.
Urban: 5,506/sqmi
Densely populated at 5,506 people per square mile.
Climate profile
Classified as humid with a 56.2°F annual mean and 42.1" of annual precipitation. USDA hardiness zone 8b.
Housing & taxes
Median home value $370,700.

Score Breakdown

Violence
70
percentile (lower = safer)
Disasters
5
percentile (lower = safer)
Density
100
percentile (lower = emptier)
Overall FEMA Risk
4.9
NRI composite (0-100)

Natural Hazard Profile (FEMA NRI)

Cold Wave 9
Earthquake 33
Hail 10
Hurricane 55
Heat Wave 43
Riverine Flood 15
Ice Storm 9
Landslide 3
Lightning 33
Strong Wind 32
Tornado 17
Wildfire 0
Winter Weather 23

Monthly Climate (1991–2020 normals)

Average temperature
JFMAMJ JASOND
Monthly precipitation (inches)
JFMAMJ JASOND
Summer high
87.9°F
Winter low
25.9°F
Heating degree days
4,379
Cooling degree days
1,223

Housing & Economy

Median home value
$370,700
Median HH income
$91,673
Price to income
Property tax rate
1.2%
~$4,462/yr median

Community Profile

Median age
35.8
Homeownership
63.4%
Poverty rate
5.1%
Unemployment
3.2%

Connectivity

Broadband households
81.1%
No internet access
4.9%

Explore Manassas Park County Further

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Data sources. Prepper scores are national percentile ranks of firearm fatalities (County Health Rankings 2024 / CDC WONDER), FEMA National Risk Index 2023 composite disaster score, and population density (ACS 2022 + TIGER 2022 land area). Climate from NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 normals. Hardiness zone is estimated from climate data and may differ from the official USDA PHZM. Demographics and housing from Census ACS 5-year 2022. All scores are for comparison purposes only and do not constitute advice about where to live.