The Town FilesGlenvar, Virginia
Community in Roanoke County · population 892 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $264,100
- Household income
- $49,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 75.2
Glenvar is a community of 892 people in Roanoke County, Virginia. The median home is worth $264,100, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 88% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 85% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 81% of Virginia towns.
How Glenvar 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 Glenvar is worth $264,100, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $49,083, which is more affordable than 10% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,036 a month. 48.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Glenvar | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,036 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $49,083 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.0% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Glenvar
| People | Glenvar | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 75.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 72.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 8.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | — min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Glenvar
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glenvar since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 4, 1974 about 5.5 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 73 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 1, 2019.
Severe weather in Roanoke County since 1996
Roanoke County has been included in 23 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 |
| 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 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
Jobs and pay in Roanoke County
Roanoke County had 37,445 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,899 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Glenvar itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Glenvar
- Salem, VA4.0 mi · 25,346 people · home $258,600
- Elliston, VA6.1 mi · 855 people · home $255,300
- Cave Spring, VA7.4 mi · 26,755 people · home $325,800
- Roanoke, VA9.2 mi · 100,011 people · home $190,500
- Shawsville, VA10.2 mi · 1,241 people · home $101,600
- Hollins, VA10.7 mi · 15,574 people · home $244,300
- Vinton, VA13.1 mi · 8,059 people · home $190,900
- Cloverdale, VA13.4 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
Glenvar questions
Is Glenvar, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Glenvar scores better for retirees than 85% of Virginia towns and quieter than 88%. 72.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 75.2).
How much does a house cost in Glenvar?
The median owner-occupied home in Glenvar is valued at $264,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,083, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,036 a month.
What is the weather like in Glenvar?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 18.4 inches of snow.
Does Glenvar get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glenvar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 4, 1974. 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)