The Town FilesBrookneal, Virginia
Town in Campbell County · population 1,090 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,600
- Household income
- $44,850
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 47.1
Brookneal is a town of 1,090 people in Campbell County, Virginia. The median home is worth $135,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Virginia towns, quieter than 92% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 81% of Virginia towns.
How Brookneal 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 Brookneal is worth $135,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $44,850, which is more affordable than 81% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brookneal | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $843 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $44,850 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Brookneal
| People | Brookneal | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.9% | 91.8% |
Weather in Brookneal
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 24.2°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookneal since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 27, 2011 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 21, 1970.
Severe weather in Campbell County since 1996
Campbell County has been included in 24 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 |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Campbell County
Campbell County had 18,480 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,594 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Brookneal itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Brookneal
2 public schools with 831 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookneal Elementary | PK-5 | 426 | 14.7 |
| William Campbell High | 6-12 | 405 | 11.3 |
Towns near Brookneal
- Charlotte Court House, VA17.4 mi · 505 people · home $167,200
- Rustburg, VA17.5 mi · 1,281 people · home $263,900
- Altavista, VA18.9 mi · 3,378 people · home $142,900
- Hurt, VA19.6 mi · 1,267 people · home $150,600
- Drakes Branch, VA19.8 mi · 533 people · home $111,000
- Halifax, VA19.9 mi · 1,118 people · home $219,300
- Mountain Road, VA20.6 mi · 1,009 people · home $119,700
- Concord, VA20.6 mi · 1,557 people · home $227,600
Brookneal questions
Is Brookneal, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brookneal scores better for retirees than 81% of Virginia towns and quieter than 92%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Brookneal?
The median owner-occupied home in Brookneal is valued at $135,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,850, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Brookneal?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 24.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.4 inches of snow.
Does Brookneal get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookneal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 27, 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)