The Town FilesGate City, Virginia
Town in Scott County · population 2,043 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,000
- Household income
- $42,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.4
Gate City is a town of 2,043 people in Scott County, Virginia. The median home is worth $163,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Virginia towns, quieter than 91% of Virginia towns, hipper than 90% of Virginia towns.
How Gate City 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 Gate City is worth $163,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $42,857, which is more affordable than 51% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $660 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gate City | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $660 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $42,857 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gate City
| People | Gate City | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Gate City
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gate City since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 26, 2004 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 25, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, 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 Scott County
Scott County had 4,980 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,964 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Gate City itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Gate City
6 public schools with 1,583 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate City High | 9-12 | 601 | 14.3 |
| Shoemaker Elementary | PK-6 | 479 | 13.3 |
| Gate City Middle | 7-8 | 311 | 12.0 |
| Yuma Elementary | PK-6 | 192 | 12.0 |
| Scott County Career and Technical Center | Other | — | — |
| Renaissance/Scott Co | Other | — | — |
Towns near Gate City
- Weber City, VA1.8 mi · 1,250 people · home $155,900
- Bloomingdale, TN5.9 mi · 8,918 people · home $165,500
- Mount Carmel, TN7.5 mi · 5,473 people · home $179,600
- Orebank, TN8.9 mi · 929 people · home $185,100
- Kingsport, TN9.0 mi · 55,442 people · home $234,100
- Sullivan Gardens, TN11.0 mi · 1,271 people · home $194,800
- Church Hill, TN11.5 mi · 6,998 people · home $211,000
- Colonial Heights, TN11.6 mi · 3,055 people · home $217,100
Gate City questions
Is Gate City, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gate City scores better for retirees than 84% of Virginia towns and quieter than 91%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Gate City?
The median owner-occupied home in Gate City is valued at $163,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,857, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $660 a month.
What is the weather like in Gate City?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 5.1 inches of snow.
Does Gate City get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gate City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 26, 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)