The Town FilesDumfries, Virginia
Town in Prince William County · population 5,679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $331,800
- Household income
- $82,355
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 33.3
Dumfries is a town of 5,679 people in Prince William County, Virginia. The median home is worth $331,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Virginia towns, more of a college town than 90% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Virginia towns.
How Dumfries 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 Dumfries is worth $331,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $82,355, which is more affordable than 42% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,732 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dumfries | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $331,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,732 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $82,355 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dumfries
| People | Dumfries | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 31.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 36.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Dumfries
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dumfries since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 28, 2002 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 134 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 13, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 2, 2016.
Severe weather in Prince William County since 1996
Prince William County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| 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 |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Prince William County
Prince William County had 143,345 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,447 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Dumfries itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Dumfries
10 public schools with 9,440 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potomac High | 9-12 | 2,173 | 15.9 |
| Potomac Shores Middle | 6-8 | 1,226 | 15.5 |
| Potomac Middle | 6-8 | 984 | 13.7 |
| Covington-Harper Elementary | PK-5 | 948 | 18.2 |
| John F. Pattie Sr. Elementary | PK-5 | 895 | 20.8 |
| A. Henderson Elementary | K-5 | 819 | 17.8 |
| Mary Williams Elementary | PK-5 | 697 | 15.8 |
| Swans Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 629 | 15.3 |
| Montclair Elementary | K-5 | 602 | 19.4 |
| Dumfries Elementary | PK-5 | 467 | 17.3 |
Towns near Dumfries
- Triangle, VA1.4 mi · 9,589 people · home $505,300
- Cherry Hill, VA2.0 mi · 23,683 people · home $492,500
- Quantico Base, VA3.1 mi · 5,221 people · home —
- Montclair, VA3.4 mi · 22,279 people · home $577,800
- Leesylvania, VA3.5 mi · 21,193 people · home $531,500
- Dale City, VA5.8 mi · 72,088 people · home $425,500
- Woodbridge, VA6.2 mi · 44,668 people · home $422,400
- Potomac Mills, VA6.3 mi · 6,332 people · home $582,700
Dumfries questions
Is Dumfries, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dumfries scores better for retirees than 3% of Virginia towns and quieter than 3%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Dumfries?
The median owner-occupied home in Dumfries is valued at $331,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,355, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,732 a month.
What is the weather like in Dumfries?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 12.4 inches of snow.
Does Dumfries get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dumfries since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 28, 2002. 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)