According to a 2019 Apartment List survey, the typical rent in Virginia is higher for all types of apartments. Studio apartments cost $172 more than the national median, while two-bedroom apartments cost $68 more. Rent also tends to be higher in larger cities like Richmond and Virginia Beach. In addition to being one of the most expensive states in which to live, Virginia has the highest percentage of its population living below the poverty line. 14.5 percent of Virginia residents lived in poverty in 2016, compared with 12.8 percent nationwide. There are several factors that can lead to high rents. Many large companies with offices in the state of Virginia hire hundreds if not thousands of employees at a time. This often leads to a shortage of available housing and increases the cost of renting an apartment. In addition, many young professionals in the state of Virginia may prefer to live in urban areas with lots of entertainment options rather than in small towns where they have no choice but to go to work each day and come home again at night. Finally, many people move to the state of Virginia because it has good public schools or because they can find employment with one of the many government agencies or private companies that operate within the state. Because of this, there is generally a demand for affordable as well as luxury apartments in Virginia.