The Town FilesFort Chiswell, Virginia
Community in Wythe County · population 876 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,300
- Household income
- $88,719
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.8
Fort Chiswell is a community of 876 people in Wythe County, Virginia. The median home is worth $163,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 82% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Virginia towns.
How Fort Chiswell 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 Fort Chiswell is worth $163,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $88,719, which is more affordable than 98% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $963 a month. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Chiswell | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $963 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $88,719 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fort Chiswell
| People | Fort Chiswell | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 13.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Fort Chiswell
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Fort Chiswell since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Wythe County since 1996
Wythe County has been included in 18 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 Wythe County
Wythe County had 11,575 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,558 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Fort Chiswell itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Fort Chiswell
- Max Meadows, VA2.4 mi · 553 people · home $94,500
- Ivanhoe, VA7.1 mi · 501 people · home $95,500
- Wytheville, VA7.3 mi · 8,265 people · home $196,800
- Pulaski, VA13.1 mi · 8,985 people · home $160,500
- Woodlawn, VA16.4 mi · 2,045 people · home $146,700
- Hillsville, VA17.5 mi · 2,884 people · home $159,000
- Rural Retreat, VA17.9 mi · 1,546 people · home $185,800
- Dublin, VA18.4 mi · 2,682 people · home $180,500
Fort Chiswell questions
Is Fort Chiswell, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Chiswell scores better for retirees than 48% of Virginia towns and quieter than 82%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Fort Chiswell?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Chiswell is valued at $163,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,719, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $963 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Chiswell?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does Fort Chiswell get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Fort Chiswell in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)