The Town FilesChilhowie, Virginia
Town in Smyth County · population 1,654 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,600
- Household income
- $51,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 42.5
Chilhowie is a town of 1,654 people in Smyth County, Virginia. The median home is worth $153,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 90% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Virginia towns.
How Chilhowie 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 Chilhowie is worth $153,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $51,429, which is more affordable than 81% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $802 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chilhowie | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $802 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $51,429 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Chilhowie
| People | Chilhowie | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Chilhowie
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 23.2°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chilhowie since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 28, 2011 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Smyth County since 1996
Smyth 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 Smyth County
Smyth County had 11,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,271 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Chilhowie itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Chilhowie
3 public schools with 1,239 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilhowie Elementary | PK-5 | 544 | 13.9 |
| Chilhowie High | 9-12 | 400 | 14.3 |
| Chilhowie Middle | 6-8 | 295 | 12.3 |
Towns near Chilhowie
- Seven Mile Ford, VA3.0 mi · 664 people · home $173,300
- Adwolf, VA4.9 mi · 1,658 people · home $143,500
- Glade Spring, VA5.0 mi · 1,367 people · home $174,300
- Saltville, VA6.9 mi · 1,824 people · home $96,600
- Emory, VA8.1 mi · 1,237 people · home $231,400
- Allison Gap, VA9.0 mi · 610 people · home $69,900
- Marion, VA9.6 mi · 5,751 people · home $172,500
- Meadowview, VA11.4 mi · 861 people · home $171,300
Chilhowie questions
Is Chilhowie, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chilhowie scores better for retirees than 90% of Virginia towns and quieter than 80%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Chilhowie?
The median owner-occupied home in Chilhowie is valued at $153,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,429, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $802 a month.
What is the weather like in Chilhowie?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 23.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Chilhowie get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chilhowie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 28, 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)