The Town FilesAtlantic, Virginia
Community in Accomack County · population 808 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,000
- Household income
- $107,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 62.1
Atlantic is a community of 808 people in Accomack County, Virginia. The median home is worth $252,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 96% of Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Virginia towns, quieter than 87% of Virginia towns.
How Atlantic 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 Atlantic is worth $252,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $107,143, which is more affordable than 92% of Virginia towns. 95.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atlantic | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $107,143 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Atlantic
| People | Atlantic | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 4.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 19.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 38.9% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Atlantic
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlantic since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 13, 2002 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 5, 1960.
Severe weather in Accomack County since 1996
Accomack County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| November 26, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4092: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Accomack County
Accomack County had 13,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,649 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Atlantic itself the ACS puts it at 11.5%.
Towns near Atlantic
- Wattsville, VA1.9 mi · 1,341 people · home $184,700
- Horntown, VA5.1 mi · 912 people · home $144,500
- Captains Cove, VA7.8 mi · 1,544 people · home $267,700
- Chincoteague, VA9.0 mi · 3,344 people · home $349,500
- Pocomoke City, MD11.4 mi · 4,295 people · home $199,000
- Parksley, VA11.4 mi · 816 people · home $163,100
- Pastoria, VA13.0 mi · 627 people · home $116,200
- Accomac, VA15.5 mi · 519 people · home $251,500
Atlantic questions
Is Atlantic, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atlantic scores better for retirees than 44% of Virginia towns and quieter than 87%. 32.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.1).
How much does a house cost in Atlantic?
The median owner-occupied home in Atlantic is valued at $252,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,143, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Atlantic?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 8.4 inches of snow.
Does Atlantic get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlantic since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 13, 2002. 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)