The Town FilesAtkins, Virginia
Community in Smyth County · population 1,121 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,200
- Household income
- $48,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 48.9
Atkins is a community of 1,121 people in Smyth County, Virginia. The median home is worth $86,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 90% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 72% of Virginia towns.
How Atkins ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Atkins is worth $86,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $48,500, which is more affordable than 98% of Virginia towns. 77.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atkins | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,200 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $48,500 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.7% | — |
Who lives in Atkins
| People | Atkins | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 0.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Atkins
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.9 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atkins since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 20, 2005 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 26, 2024.
Severe weather in Smyth County since 1996
Smyth County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Smyth County
Smyth County had 11,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,271 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Atkins itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Atkins
1 public school with 171 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atkins Elementary | PK-5 | 171 | 11.4 |
Towns near Atkins
- Marion, VA6.8 mi · 5,751 people · home $172,500
- Rural Retreat, VA7.2 mi · 1,546 people · home $185,800
- Sugar Grove, VA7.3 mi · 610 people · home $56,400
- Adwolf, VA11.8 mi · 1,658 people · home $143,500
- Seven Mile Ford, VA13.4 mi · 664 people · home $173,300
- Chilhowie, VA16.4 mi · 1,654 people · home $153,600
- Wytheville, VA18.1 mi · 8,265 people · home $196,800
- Gratton, VA18.6 mi · 865 people · home $113,500
Atkins questions
Is Atkins, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atkins scores better for retirees than 68% of Virginia towns and quieter than 90%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in Atkins?
The median owner-occupied home in Atkins is valued at $86,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,500, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Atkins?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 21.9 inches of snow.
Does Atkins get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atkins since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 20, 2005. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)