The Town FilesFerrum, Virginia
Community in Franklin County · population 1,827 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,900
- Household income
- $40,435
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 21.8
Ferrum is a community of 1,827 people in Franklin County, Virginia. The median home is worth $188,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Virginia towns, more of a college town than 86% of Virginia towns, hipper than 77% of Virginia towns.
How Ferrum 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 Ferrum is worth $188,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $40,435, which is more affordable than 21% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $638 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ferrum | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,900 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $638 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $40,435 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ferrum
| People | Ferrum | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.8 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 23.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Ferrum
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 26.4°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.6 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ferrum since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 19, 2019 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 22, 1956.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin 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 |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 15,666 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,740 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Ferrum itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Ferrum
2 public schools with 396 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrum Elementary | PK-5 | 216 | 12.0 |
| Callaway Elementary | PK-5 | 180 | 11.3 |
Towns near Ferrum
- Henry Fork, VA7.2 mi · 1,120 people · home —
- Rocky Mount, VA7.6 mi · 4,903 people · home $207,000
- Oak Level, VA10.4 mi · 803 people · home $104,600
- Bassett, VA12.2 mi · 1,028 people · home $242,500
- Stanleytown, VA13.1 mi · 1,385 people · home $143,900
- Collinsville, VA15.7 mi · 7,380 people · home $146,700
- Fieldale, VA16.7 mi · 852 people · home $93,300
- Villa Heights, VA17.2 mi · 638 people · home $121,900
Ferrum questions
Is Ferrum, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ferrum scores better for retirees than 62% of Virginia towns and quieter than 50%. 7.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.8).
How much does a house cost in Ferrum?
The median owner-occupied home in Ferrum is valued at $188,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,435, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $638 a month.
What is the weather like in Ferrum?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 26.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 12.6 inches of snow.
Does Ferrum get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ferrum since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 19, 2019. 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)