The Town FilesCastlewood, Virginia
Community in Russell County · population 1,704 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,300
- Household income
- $60,592
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 61.1
Castlewood is a community of 1,704 people in Russell County, Virginia. The median home is worth $157,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 78% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Virginia towns.
How Castlewood 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 Castlewood is worth $157,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $60,592, which is more affordable than 89% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $684 a month. 84.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Castlewood | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $684 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $60,592 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Castlewood
| People | Castlewood | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.3% | 91.8% |
Weather in Castlewood
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 24.4°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.2 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castlewood since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 24, 2011 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Russell County since 1996
Russell County has been included in 21 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 |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Russell County
Russell County had 6,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,286 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Castlewood itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Castlewood
3 public schools with 669 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlewood High | 8-12 | 295 | 14.8 |
| Castlewood Elementary | 2-7 | 229 | 9.5 |
| Copper Creek Elementary | PK-1 | 145 | 13.2 |
Towns near Castlewood
- St. Paul, VA2.2 mi · 866 people · home $176,100
- Dante, VA7.3 mi · 572 people · home $81,400
- Coeburn, VA10.7 mi · 1,598 people · home $112,600
- Riverview, VA11.0 mi · 616 people · home $38,500
- Lebanon, VA12.1 mi · 3,159 people · home $162,400
- Wise, VA17.1 mi · 2,971 people · home $144,700
- Norton, VA18.6 mi · 3,687 people · home $110,000
- Bristol, VA19.7 mi · 17,219 people · home $184,100
Castlewood questions
Is Castlewood, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Castlewood scores better for retirees than 53% of Virginia towns and quieter than 54%. 33.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.1).
How much does a house cost in Castlewood?
The median owner-occupied home in Castlewood is valued at $157,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,592, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $684 a month.
What is the weather like in Castlewood?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 24.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 34.2 inches of snow.
Does Castlewood get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castlewood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 24, 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)