The Town FilesDrakes Branch, Virginia
Town in Charlotte County · population 533 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,000
- Household income
- $25,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 52.2
Drakes Branch is a town of 533 people in Charlotte County, Virginia. The median home is worth $111,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 79% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 78% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 77% of Virginia towns.
How Drakes Branch 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 Drakes Branch is worth $111,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $25,938, which is more affordable than 30% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $569 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Drakes Branch | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $569 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $25,938 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.2% | — |
Who lives in Drakes Branch
| People | Drakes Branch | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 53.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Drakes Branch
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 26.9°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 27 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 Drakes Branch since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 13, 1983 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 2, 1964.
Severe weather in Charlotte County since 1996
Charlotte County has been included in 22 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 |
| March 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Charlotte County
Charlotte County had 2,737 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,079 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Drakes Branch itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Drakes Branch
- Charlotte Court House, VA4.8 mi · 505 people · home $167,200
- Keysville, VA7.4 mi · 807 people · home $161,100
- Chase City, VA15.4 mi · 2,053 people · home $112,900
- Hampden-Sydney, VA18.6 mi · 1,191 people · home —
- Brookneal, VA19.8 mi · 1,090 people · home $135,600
- Victoria, VA20.8 mi · 1,734 people · home $131,800
- Farmville, VA23.7 mi · 7,473 people · home $238,900
- Halifax, VA24.1 mi · 1,118 people · home $219,300
Drakes Branch questions
Is Drakes Branch, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Drakes Branch scores better for retirees than 78% of Virginia towns and quieter than 75%. 30.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Drakes Branch?
The median owner-occupied home in Drakes Branch is valued at $111,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,938, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $569 a month.
What is the weather like in Drakes Branch?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 26.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.7 inches of snow.
Does Drakes Branch get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Drakes Branch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 13, 1983. 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)