The Town FilesBuchanan, Virginia
Town in Botetourt County · population 1,196 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,500
- Household income
- $54,226
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.2
Buchanan is a town of 1,196 people in Botetourt County, Virginia. The median home is worth $187,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 97% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Virginia towns, better for families than 85% of Virginia towns.
How Buchanan 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 Buchanan is worth $187,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $54,226, which is more affordable than 67% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $958 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buchanan | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $958 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $54,226 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Buchanan
| People | Buchanan | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Buchanan
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 26.9°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Buchanan since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 19, 2019 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 28, 1959.
Severe weather in Botetourt County since 1996
Botetourt 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 |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Botetourt County
Botetourt County had 11,729 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,347 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Buchanan itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Buchanan
2 public schools with 761 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| James River High | 9-12 | 461 | 15.4 |
| Buchanan Elementary | PK-5 | 300 | 13.0 |
Towns near Buchanan
- Montvale, VA9.6 mi · 635 people · home $255,900
- Fincastle, VA10.2 mi · 755 people · home $257,500
- Blue Ridge, VA12.1 mi · 3,185 people · home $274,500
- Daleville, VA14.3 mi · 3,070 people · home $370,100
- Laymantown, VA14.3 mi · 1,867 people · home $285,200
- Glasgow, VA14.9 mi · 1,052 people · home $131,300
- Bedford, VA15.8 mi · 6,657 people · home $222,500
- Cloverdale, VA16.3 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
Buchanan questions
Is Buchanan, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buchanan scores better for retirees than 76% of Virginia towns and quieter than 97%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Buchanan?
The median owner-occupied home in Buchanan is valued at $187,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,226, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $958 a month.
What is the weather like in Buchanan?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 26.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 11.4 inches of snow.
Does Buchanan get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Buchanan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 19, 2019. 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)