The Town FilesBasye, Virginia
Community in Shenandoah County · population 1,374 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $297,300
- Household income
- $74,393
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 47.7
Basye is a community of 1,374 people in Shenandoah County, Virginia. The median home is worth $297,300, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 100% of Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 93% of Virginia towns.
How Basye 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 Basye is worth $297,300, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $74,393, which is more affordable than 42% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,033 a month. 87.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Basye | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $297,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,033 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $74,393 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 59.9% | — |
Who lives in Basye
| People | Basye | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 16.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Basye
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.3 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Basye since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Shenandoah County since 1996
Shenandoah County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Shenandoah County
Shenandoah County had 13,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,986 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Basye itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Basye
- Mount Jackson, VA8.0 mi · 1,961 people · home $193,000
- Edinburg, VA11.2 mi · 1,178 people · home $231,500
- Timberville, VA12.2 mi · 2,963 people · home $231,000
- New Market, VA12.5 mi · 2,155 people · home $272,900
- Broadway, VA14.0 mi · 4,170 people · home $284,300
- Woodstock, VA14.3 mi · 5,807 people · home $268,700
- Maurertown, VA18.5 mi · 973 people · home $264,500
- Luray, VA19.7 mi · 4,831 people · home $253,900
Basye questions
Is Basye, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Basye scores better for retirees than 75% of Virginia towns and quieter than 100%. 34.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.7).
How much does a house cost in Basye?
The median owner-occupied home in Basye is valued at $297,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,393, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,033 a month.
What is the weather like in Basye?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 21.3 inches of snow.
Does Basye get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Basye since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 2011. 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)