The Town FilesCana, Virginia
Community in Carroll County · population 1,243 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $129,700
- Household income
- $61,607
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.6
Cana is a community of 1,243 people in Carroll County, Virginia. The median home is worth $129,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Virginia towns, better for families than 76% of Virginia towns, quieter than 74% of Virginia towns.
How Cana 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 Cana is worth $129,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $61,607, which is more affordable than 95% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,083 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cana | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,083 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $61,607 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Cana
| People | Cana | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 4.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 91.8% |
Weather in Cana
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.2 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cana since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 23, 2022 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 23, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 5, 1985.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Carroll County
Carroll County had 5,796 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,868 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Cana itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Cana
1 public school with 305 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul | PK-7 | 305 | 12.2 |
Towns near Cana
- Mount Airy, NC5.8 mi · 10,676 people · home $181,900
- Toast, NC6.1 mi · 1,423 people · home $104,800
- Flat Rock, NC6.9 mi · 1,326 people · home $95,400
- White Plains, NC9.5 mi · 1,025 people · home $231,700
- Hillsville, VA13.1 mi · 2,884 people · home $159,000
- Dobson, NC13.4 mi · 1,462 people · home $173,900
- Woodlawn, VA13.5 mi · 2,045 people · home $146,700
- Galax, VA14.9 mi · 6,720 people · home $141,300
Cana questions
Is Cana, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cana scores better for retirees than 49% of Virginia towns and quieter than 74%. 27.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.6).
How much does a house cost in Cana?
The median owner-occupied home in Cana is valued at $129,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,607, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,083 a month.
What is the weather like in Cana?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 8.2 inches of snow.
Does Cana get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cana since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 23, 2022. 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)