Williamsburg and James City County homes and real estate
Adam Triplett has closed 44 sales with Williamsburg or Toano addresses since 2009, including a $1,001,115 sale, the second-highest in his record. Those addresses span three jurisdictions: the City of Williamsburg, James City County and upper York County.
Adam Triplett's Williamsburg-area record
Adam's closed-sales record, 2006 through July 2026, includes 44 closed sales in the Williamsburg area: 37 with Williamsburg mailing addresses and 7 with Toano addresses, starting in 2009. Their median price is $296,500, 14 closed in 2020 or later, and 3 closed at $500,000 or more. The highest was $1,001,115, the second-highest sale in Adam's entire record.
One address, three jurisdictions
A Williamsburg mailing address does not tell you which government a house is in. The two main Williamsburg ZIP codes, 23185 and 23188, cover parts of three jurisdictions, and each one sets its own tax rate:
- The City of Williamsburg, an independent city around the historic area and William & Mary.
- James City County, which borders the city and includes Kingsmill, Ford's Colony, Governor's Land, Colonial Heritage, New Town and Toano.
- Upper York County, the Bruton District north and east of the city, which includes Queens Lake and other York County neighborhoods with Williamsburg addresses.
The Census Bureau's address geocoder makes the split concrete: Merchants Square is in the City of Williamsburg, sample addresses at Kingsmill, Ford's Colony, Governor's Land, Colonial Heritage and New Town are in James City County, and Queens Lake Middle and Bruton High, both with Williamsburg addresses, are in York County. Toano (ZIP 23168) is in James City County.
| Jurisdiction | Type | 2026 real estate tax rate | Public schools | Housing (ACS 2020–2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Williamsburg | Independent city | $0.62 per $100 | Williamsburg-James City County | 5,799 units; median year built 1987; 42% detached, 41% multi-unit |
| James City County | County | $0.80 per $100 | Williamsburg-James City County | 34,726 units; median year built 1997; 66% detached; 77% owner-occupied |
| York County (upper county) | County | $0.78 per $100 | York County School Division | See the York County page |
Housing data: ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates (City; James City County). By ZIP, 23188 has a median year built of 2002 and 23185 a median of 1990; Toano's 23168 has a median of 2001 and is 81% single-family detached.
Williamsburg and James City County taxes in 2026
- City of Williamsburg: $0.62 per $100. The city's FY2027 budget, adopted May 27, 2026, kept the rate at $0.62 (City of Williamsburg FY2027 budget message).
- James City County: $0.80 per $100. The county's FY2027 budget, adopted in May 2026, lowered the rate from $0.83 to $0.80 and added a 2-cent credit in the first year of its two-year budget, for an effective 78 cents in year one, as reported by Williamsburg Watch. Confirm current bills with the county's Real Estate Taxes page.
- York County: $0.78 per $100 for calendar 2026, countywide (York County FAQ).
| Assessed value | City of Williamsburg ($0.62) | James City County ($0.80) | York County ($0.78) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $350,000 | $2,170 | $2,800 | $2,730 |
| $450,000 | $2,790 | $3,600 | $3,510 |
| $650,000 | $4,030 | $5,200 | $5,070 |
James City County figures use the $0.80 nominal rate; the year-one credit lowers them slightly. Many of the area's planned communities also carry HOA and, in some cases, club fees; the comparison of Kingsmill, Ford's Colony and Governor's Land fees lays those out side by side.
Schools: WJCC or York County
The City of Williamsburg and James City County share one school division, Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC). It has nine elementary schools, four middle schools (Berkeley, James Blair, Lois S. Hornsby and Toano) and three high schools (Jamestown, Lafayette and Warhill). WJCC publishes an address lookup and zone maps on its school zones page, and Adam's guide to WJCC school assignment walks through it.
Williamsburg-address homes in upper York County are not in WJCC. They attend York County schools; the county's GIS places the Queens Lake area in the Bruton High and Queens Lake Middle zone. Check the jurisdiction before assuming a school division. For test and accreditation data, use Virginia's School Quality Profiles.
Communities in the Williamsburg area
| Community | Jurisdiction | What it is | Colonial Williamsburg | Newport News Shipbuilding | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsmill | James City County | Gated community on the James River, home of Kingsmill Resort | 4 mi, about 15 min | 28 mi, about 40 min | 55 mi, about 70 min |
| Ford's Colony | James City County | Gated golf community | 7 mi, about 20 min | 39 mi, about 55 min | 52 mi, about 70 min |
| Governor's Land | James City County | Community with a staffed entrance where the Chickahominy meets the James, with Two Rivers Country Club | 8 mi, about 20 min | 39 mi, about 55 min | 46 mi, about 75 min |
| Colonial Heritage | James City County | Age-restricted (55+) golf community | 8 mi, about 20 min | 39 mi, about 55 min | 45 mi, about 60 min |
| New Town | James City County | Mixed-use town center off Monticello Avenue | 3 mi, about 10 min | 34 mi, about 50 min | 52 mi, about 65 min |
| Stonehouse area | James City County | Upper-county planned community near Toano and I-64 | 12 mi, about 20 min | 40 mi, about 55 min | 40 mi, about 50 min |
| Queens Lake | York County | Upper York County neighborhood, Bruton High zone | 3 mi, about 10 min | 31 mi, about 45 min | 52 mi, about 65 min |
Drive estimates are approximate off-peak figures from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), rounded up to the next five minutes, with distances to the nearest mile, as of October 2026. Base figures run to the same gates as the military relocation pages: the Fort Eustis Boulevard entrance and Gate 3 at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. Peak-hour traffic on I-64, Route 17 and the harbor crossings adds time. Richmond figures run to the State Capitol area.
Each community has its own page with more detail:
- Kingsmill and Governor's Land on the James River
- Ford's Colony and Colonial Heritage, both golf communities
- The Settlement at Powhatan Creek and the Villas at Five Forks
- Stonehouse near Toano and New Town off Monticello Avenue
- Queens Lake in York County
55+ communities and downsizing
The Williamsburg area has several age-restricted (55+) communities, which is a legal designation under fair housing law, along with low-maintenance villa and condominium communities that are not age-restricted. Colonial Heritage is one of the age-restricted communities. Senior transitions and downsizing are one of Adam's specialties, and his downsizing page covers that work in more detail.
Waterfront and higher-end homes
For James River frontage, including Kingsmill and Governor's Land, see the James River waterfront guide. The York River guide covers the York County side. Adam's $1,001,115 Williamsburg-area sale is one of two sales above $1 million in his record; higher-end homes across the Peninsula are covered on Luxury Homes.
Commutes from the Williamsburg area
| Destination | From Colonial Williamsburg | From Kingsmill | From New Town | From Toano |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NWS Yorktown (Gate 3) | 11 mi, about 20 min | 6 mi, about 10 min | 12 mi, about 20 min | 18 mi, about 25 min |
| Fort Eustis (Fort Eustis Blvd entrance) | 16 mi, about 25 min | 10 mi, about 20 min | 17 mi, about 25 min | 23 mi, about 30 min |
| Newport News Shipbuilding | 34 mi, about 45 min | 28 mi, about 40 min | 34 mi, about 50 min | 41 mi, about 55 min |
| Richmond | 52 mi, about 65 min | 55 mi, about 70 min | 52 mi, about 65 min | 41 mi, about 55 min |
Working with Adam in Williamsburg
Adam's 44 Williamsburg-area sales sit alongside 120 in York County and 198 in Newport News, and the Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS® has ranked him its #1 individual agent every year since 2018. His record is on Sold and his background on About Adam. The Areas page compares all six areas he serves.
Homes for sale with Williamsburg addresses
Current REIN listings with a Williamsburg mailing address, which spans the City, James City County and upper York County; Toano is searched separately.
Related
Kingsmill
Gated James City County community on the James River.
Colonial Heritage
Age-restricted (55+) golf community in James City County.
HOA and club fees compared
Kingsmill, Ford's Colony and Governor's Land fees side by side.
WJCC school assignment
How to confirm which WJCC schools serve a Williamsburg-area address.
Downsizing
Selling a long-held home and comparing 55+ and low-maintenance communities.
Adam's sales record
628 closed sales since 2006, summarized by city, year and price band.
Questions about Williamsburg and James City County
Is a Williamsburg address in the City of Williamsburg?
Not necessarily. Williamsburg ZIP codes 23185 and 23188 cover parts of the City of Williamsburg, James City County and upper York County. Kingsmill, Ford's Colony, Governor's Land, Colonial Heritage and New Town are in James City County, while Queens Lake is in York County. The jurisdiction sets the tax rate and the school division, so check the parcel record for any specific house.
What are the 2026 real estate tax rates in Williamsburg and James City County?
The City of Williamsburg's rate is $0.62 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027. James City County's FY2027 budget lowered its rate from $0.83 to $0.80, with a 2-cent credit in the first year of its two-year budget. Upper York County homes with Williamsburg addresses pay York County's $0.78 rate for calendar 2026.
Which schools serve Williamsburg and James City County?
The City of Williamsburg and James City County share Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, with nine elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools: Jamestown, Lafayette and Warhill. Williamsburg-address homes in upper York County attend York County schools instead, generally in the Bruton High zone. Use the WJCC address lookup or York County's school zone tools for a specific house.
How far is Kingsmill from Newport News Shipbuilding?
From Kingsmill, Newport News Shipbuilding is about 28 miles, roughly 40 minutes off-peak. Colonial Williamsburg is about 4 miles, roughly 15 minutes, the Fort Eustis Boulevard entrance to Fort Eustis about 10 miles, roughly 20 minutes and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown's Gate 3 about 6 miles, roughly 10 minutes. These are approximate estimates from OpenStreetMap routing as of October 2026; rush-hour I-64 traffic adds time.
Are there 55+ communities in Williamsburg, Virginia?
Yes. The Williamsburg area has several age-restricted 55+ communities, which is a legal designation, plus villa and condominium communities without an age restriction. Colonial Heritage, a golf community in James City County, is one of the age-restricted communities. Adam Triplett's downsizing page covers selling a long-held home and comparing communities, and senior transitions are one of his specialties.
Is Toano part of Williamsburg?
Toano has its own mailing address and ZIP code, 23168, and it is in James City County, so it shares James City County's tax rate and the Williamsburg-James City County school division. It is in the upper part of the county near I-64 and the Stonehouse area. REIN treats Toano as a separate city, so listings searches should include it separately from Williamsburg.
Who is a top real estate agent in Williamsburg, Virginia?
Rankings depend on the measure. Adam Triplett has closed 44 sales with Williamsburg or Toano addresses since 2009, including a $1,001,115 sale, the second-highest in his record. Most of his business is on the lower Peninsula, with 198 Newport News and 120 York County sales, and the Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS® has ranked him its #1 individual agent every year since 2018.
Selling in the Williamsburg area?
Adam Triplett has closed 44 Williamsburg and Toano sales since 2009. Ask him how he would price and market your home.
