HOBOKEN, N.J.
The town of Windsor was recently named number 24 on a list of the top 100 small towns in Virginia in which to start a small business. The list, published by the Hoboken, New Jersey-based student loan marketplace LendEDU on June 6, ranked each from one to 100 based on a variety of factors that contribute to the success or failure of startup businesses after evaluating over 700 towns and cities in the Commonwealth.

LendEDU’s research team used licensed data from Onboard Informatics and a variety of weighted parameters to create the list, including daytime population, projected population growth over the next five years, disposable income of residents, projected income growth over the next five years, property tax rates, sales tax rates, utility rates, rate of burglaries compared to the national average and the rate of property crimes compared to the national average.

Daytime population, defined as the population that is present during standard working day hours, accounted for 10 percent of each town or city’s total score.

Population growth accounted for another 10 percent. Disposable income accounted for 20 percent. Income growth accounted for another 20 percent. Property taxes, sales taxes and utility rates, burglary rates and property crime rates each accounted for 8 percent.

Also on the list were the nearby communities of Smithfield (no. 19) and Suffolk (no. 80.) The city of Franklin was not listed, nor were any towns in Southampton County. The complete list and additional details on its data gathering methodology can be found at: https://lendedu.com/blog/best-100-towns-virginia-starting-small-business/.