The Town FilesCape Charles, Virginia
Town in Northampton County · population 1,178 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $640,600
- Household income
- $73,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 60.5
Cape Charles is a town of 1,178 people in Northampton County, Virginia. The median home is worth $640,600, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Virginia towns, more seaside character than 100% of Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Virginia towns.
How Cape Charles 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 Cape Charles is worth $640,600, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 8.7 times the median household income of $73,750, which is more affordable than 0% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 66.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cape Charles | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $640,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $800 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $73,750 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.6% | — |
Who lives in Cape Charles
| People | Cape Charles | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 8.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Cape Charles
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 32.1°F. About 44.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape Charles since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 21, 1969 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 24, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 24, 2014.
Severe weather in Northampton County since 1996
Northampton County has been included in 22 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 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Northampton County
Northampton County had 4,561 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,255 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cape Charles itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Cape Charles
1 public school with 325 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiptopeke Elementary | PK-6 | 325 | 10.8 |
Towns near Cape Charles
- Nassawadox, VA17.8 mi · 533 people · home $152,500
- Poquoson, VA18.0 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
- Hampton, VA20.9 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Mathews, VA21.8 mi · 525 people · home $193,400
- Exmore, VA21.9 mi · 1,473 people · home $152,400
- Gwynn, VA22.6 mi · 578 people · home $421,400
- Belle Haven, VA23.5 mi · 543 people · home $183,000
- Bethel Manor, VA24.9 mi · 4,540 people · home —
Cape Charles questions
Is Cape Charles, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cape Charles scores better for retirees than 100% of Virginia towns and quieter than 77%. 37.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.5).
How much does a house cost in Cape Charles?
The median owner-occupied home in Cape Charles is valued at $640,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,750, so homes cost about 8.7 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Cape Charles?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 32.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.5 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Cape Charles get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cape Charles since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 21, 1969. 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)