City Comparison

Gainesville vs Williamsburg: How they compare

Gainesville is a booming community in western Prince William County along the I-66 corridor. Williamsburg blends colonial history with modern living. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Gainesville's median sold price is $720K with homes averaging 27 days on market; Williamsburg is at $510K and 46 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Gainesville is pricier ($720K median vs $510K), a difference of about $210K. Gainesville moves faster, with homes averaging 27 days on market compared to 46 in Williamsburg. Williamsburg offers a lower entry point at $150K–$1.5M.

Gainesville

VA

Williamsburg

VA

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$720K

$510K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

27 days

46 days

Price Range

$350K–$1.2M

$150K–$1.5M

Notable Neighborhoods

Heritage Hunt, Virginia Oaks, Dominion Valley, Braemar

Colonial Williamsburg, Kingsmill, New Town, Ford's Colony

Schools

Gainesville has a 80% average SOL pass rate; Williamsburg has 84% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Gainesville include Gainesville High School and Battlefield High School; in Williamsburg, Lafayette High School and Warhill High School. See Gainesville schools | See Williamsburg schools

Gainesville

VA

Williamsburg

VA

Avg Pass Rate

80%

84%

Public schools

Gainesville High School, Battlefield High School, Ronald Wilson Reagan Middle School

Lafayette High School, Warhill High School, Berkeley Middle School

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Williamsburg is closer to downtown at ~25 minutes vs ~50 minutes. Neither city has direct Metro access. Major highway access: Gainesville (I-66, Rt 29, Rt 55), Williamsburg (I-64, Rt 60, Rt 199).

Gainesville

VA

Williamsburg

VA

Drive to Downtown

~50 min

~25 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

No Metro access

Metro Lines

N/A

N/A

Major Highways

I-66, Rt 29, Rt 55

I-64, Rt 60, Rt 199

Commuter Rail

VRE (Manassas line)

None

Walkability

Williamsburg is more walkable with a Walk Score of 35 (Car-Dependent), compared to 18 in Gainesville. Transit scores: Gainesville (8) vs Williamsburg (10). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Heritage Hunt and Colonial Williamsburg score much higher than suburban areas.

Gainesville

VA

Williamsburg

VA

Walk Score

18Almost All Errands Require a Car
35Car-Dependent

Transit Score

8

10

Bike Score

15

42

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Gainesville and Williamsburg. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Gainesville

VA

Williamsburg

VA

Reported Violent Crime

0.7/1K

1.2/1K

Reported Property Crime

8.5/1K

15.2/1K

VA

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Related Comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gainesville or Williamsburg more affordable?

Williamsburg is more affordable with a median sold price of $510K, compared to $720K in Gainesville (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Gainesville prices range from $350K–$1.2M. Williamsburg prices range from $150K–$1.5M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Gainesville and Williamsburg?

Gainesville public schools have a 80% average SOL pass rate; Williamsburg has 84% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Gainesville include Gainesville High School and Battlefield High School; in Williamsburg, Lafayette High School and Warhill High School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Gainesville or Williamsburg?

Williamsburg has the shorter commute to downtown at ~25 minutes vs ~50 minutes. Gainesville has no direct Metro access. Williamsburg has no direct Metro access.

How do Gainesville and Williamsburg compare?

Gainesville is a booming community in western Prince William County along the I-66 corridor. Williamsburg blends colonial history with modern living. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated September 2026.

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