Hanover County, Virginia
A shallow water table limits basements on 43% of Hanover County's mapped land, a higher share than 61% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 3%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 11 flood losses here since 2016. 32% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1991.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Hanover County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 3.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 42.7% |
| Septic fields very limited | 71.1% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.5% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 3.6% |
| Mapped soil | 303,100 acres |
How we count · survey areas VA085 (2025-09-05)
What the numbers mean here
On 43% of Hanover County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 37.72 in, 8.12 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 45.84 in.
USDA rates 71% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 43 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 15 weeks, most recently on the July 14, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
11 flood losses since 2016, $138,753 paid. The worst year was 2018, with 8.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 45.84 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 37.72 in (-8.12) |
| 2025 | 45.06 in (-0.78) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2003: 65.50 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1930: 24.04 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ASHLAND (0 mi away) | 11.6 |
Homes
| Housing units | 44,589 |
| Median year built | 1991 |
| Built before 1980 | 32% |
| Built 2000 or later | 31% |
| Owner-occupied | 82% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $400,400 |
| Single-family detached | 85% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond city, VA | 16 mi | 0% | 21% |
| Caroline County, VA | 20 mi | 1% | 37% |
| King William County, VA | 22 mi | 2% | 63% |
| Goochland County, VA | 23 mi | 11% | 23% |
| Henrico County, VA | 25 mi | 7% | 54% |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 27 mi | 11% | 42% |
| Powhatan County, VA | 27 mi | 12% | 23% |
| Louisa County, VA | 29 mi | 3% | 17% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 5, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status