The Town FilesColonial Heights, Virginia
City in Colonial Heights city · population 18,170 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,600
- Household income
- $76,505
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 38.2
Colonial Heights is a city of 18,170 people in Colonial Heights city, Virginia. The median home is worth $246,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 88% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 84% of Virginia towns.
How Colonial Heights 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 Colonial Heights is worth $246,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $76,505, which is more affordable than 75% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,234 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colonial Heights | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,234 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $76,505 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Colonial Heights
| People | Colonial Heights | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 13.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Colonial Heights
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colonial Heights since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 6, 1993 about 1.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 304 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 22, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 27, 2017.
Severe weather in Colonial Heights city since 1996
Colonial Heights city has been included in 15 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 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Colonial Heights city
Colonial Heights city had 9,693 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,347 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Colonial Heights itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Colonial Heights
7 public schools with 3,521 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Heights High | 9-12 | 857 | 11.4 |
| Tussing Elementary | PK-5 | 649 | 14.4 |
| Colonial Heights Middle | 6-8 | 648 | 15.8 |
| Marguerite F. Christian Elementary | PK-5 | 590 | 13.4 |
| Lakeview Elementary | PK-5 | 439 | 13.7 |
| North Elementary | PK-5 | 338 | 13.5 |
| Colonial Heights Technical Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Colonial Heights
- Ettrick, VA2.1 mi · 7,241 people · home $211,200
- Petersburg, VA3.9 mi · 33,458 people · home $189,000
- Matoaca, VA4.4 mi · 2,655 people · home $251,000
- Hopewell, VA5.7 mi · 23,033 people · home $181,600
- Enon, VA6.1 mi · 4,075 people · home $253,600
- Chester, VA6.6 mi · 23,414 people · home $327,200
- Bellwood, VA10.2 mi · 7,678 people · home $225,300
- Meadowbrook, VA12.4 mi · 20,898 people · home $298,500
Colonial Heights questions
Is Colonial Heights, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colonial Heights scores better for retirees than 17% of Virginia towns and quieter than 26%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Colonial Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Colonial Heights is valued at $246,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,505, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,234 a month.
What is the weather like in Colonial Heights?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Colonial Heights get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colonial Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 6, 1993. 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)