The Town FilesElliston, Virginia
Community in Montgomery County · population 855 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $255,300
- Household income
- $47,045
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.1
Elliston is a community of 855 people in Montgomery County, Virginia. The median home is worth $255,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Virginia towns, quieter than 72% of Virginia towns.
How Elliston 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 Elliston is worth $255,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $47,045, which is more affordable than 10% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $920 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elliston | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $920 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $47,045 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elliston
| People | Elliston | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Elliston
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elliston since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 26, 2024 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 23, 1988.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 24 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 Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 43,202 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,810 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Elliston itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Elliston
2 public schools with 633 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Montgomery Elementary | PK-5 | 373 | 11.7 |
| Eastern Montgomery High | 9-12 | 260 | 10.4 |
Towns near Elliston
- Shawsville, VA4.2 mi · 1,241 people · home $101,600
- Glenvar, VA6.1 mi · 892 people · home $264,100
- Salem, VA9.8 mi · 25,346 people · home $258,600
- Cave Spring, VA11.5 mi · 26,755 people · home $325,800
- Merrimac, VA11.5 mi · 2,858 people · home —
- Blacksburg, VA11.6 mi · 44,826 people · home $446,300
- Christiansburg, VA11.8 mi · 23,348 people · home $252,600
- Roanoke, VA14.7 mi · 100,011 people · home $190,500
Elliston questions
Is Elliston, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elliston scores better for retirees than 29% of Virginia towns and quieter than 72%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Elliston?
The median owner-occupied home in Elliston is valued at $255,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,045, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $920 a month.
What is the weather like in Elliston?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does Elliston get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elliston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 26, 2024. 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)