The Town FilesFincastle, Virginia
Town in Botetourt County · population 755 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,500
- Household income
- $72,609
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 36.4
Fincastle is a town of 755 people in Botetourt County, Virginia. The median home is worth $257,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 95% of Virginia towns, better for families than 89% of Virginia towns.
How Fincastle 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 Fincastle is worth $257,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $72,609, which is more affordable than 67% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $945 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fincastle | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $945 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $72,609 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Fincastle
| People | Fincastle | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.4% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Fincastle
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fincastle since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 17, 2004 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 2, 2002.
Severe weather in Botetourt County since 1996
Botetourt 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 |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Botetourt County
Botetourt County had 11,729 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,347 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Fincastle itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Fincastle
3 public schools with 563 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Academy Middle | 6-8 | 362 | 11.7 |
| Breckinridge Elementary | PK-5 | 201 | 11.8 |
| Botetourt Technical Education Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Fincastle
- Daleville, VA6.4 mi · 3,070 people · home $370,100
- Blue Ridge, VA8.9 mi · 3,185 people · home $274,500
- Laymantown, VA9.5 mi · 1,867 people · home $285,200
- Buchanan, VA10.2 mi · 1,196 people · home $187,500
- Cloverdale, VA10.2 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
- Montvale, VA11.5 mi · 635 people · home $255,900
- Hollins, VA11.7 mi · 15,574 people · home $244,300
- Vinton, VA15.7 mi · 8,059 people · home $190,900
Fincastle questions
Is Fincastle, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fincastle scores better for retirees than 98% of Virginia towns and quieter than 77%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Fincastle?
The median owner-occupied home in Fincastle is valued at $257,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,609, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $945 a month.
What is the weather like in Fincastle?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 12.0 inches of snow.
Does Fincastle get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fincastle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 17, 2004. 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)