The Town FilesHerndon, Virginia
Town in Fairfax County · population 24,655 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $599,100
- Household income
- $148,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 35.1
Herndon is a town of 24,655 people in Fairfax County, Virginia. The median home is worth $599,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Virginia towns, better transit than 97% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 96% of Virginia towns.
How Herndon 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 Herndon is worth $599,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $148,000, which is more affordable than 42% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $2,259 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Herndon | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $599,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $2,259 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $148,000 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Herndon
| People | Herndon | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 42.2% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Herndon
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 25.2°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Herndon since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 5, 1979 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 128 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on July 2, 1968.
Severe weather in Fairfax County since 1996
Fairfax County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Fairfax County
Fairfax County had 636,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $114,100 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Herndon itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Herndon
14 public schools with 12,321 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herndon High | 9-12 | 2,360 | 12.3 |
| Carson Middle | 7-8 | 1,381 | 15.3 |
| Hutchison Elementary | PK-6 | 1,015 | 13.5 |
| Coates Elementary | PK-6 | 951 | 17.0 |
| Herndon Middle | 7-8 | 896 | 10.9 |
| Herndon Elementary | PK-6 | 807 | 15.5 |
| Floris Elementary | PK-6 | 699 | 15.5 |
| Oak Hill Elementary | PK-6 | 657 | 14.6 |
| Fox Mill Elementary | PK-6 | 645 | 15.4 |
| Clearview Elementary | PK-6 | 627 | 12.5 |
| McNair Upper Elementary | 3-6 | 616 | 15.8 |
| Dranesville Elementary | PK-6 | 599 | 13.3 |
Towns near Herndon
- Hutchison, VA1.4 mi · 6,231 people · home $476,900
- McNair, VA1.9 mi · 21,598 people · home $595,800
- Dranesville, VA2.0 mi · 11,785 people · home $744,500
- Sterling, VA2.6 mi · 30,337 people · home $526,000
- Reston, VA2.6 mi · 63,226 people · home $642,000
- Floris, VA3.1 mi · 8,341 people · home $872,800
- Dulles Town Center, VA3.9 mi · 5,909 people · home $606,500
- Franklin Farm, VA4.2 mi · 19,189 people · home $829,600
Herndon questions
Is Herndon, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Herndon scores better for retirees than 17% of Virginia towns and quieter than 4%. 9.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Herndon?
The median owner-occupied home in Herndon is valued at $599,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $148,000, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $2,259 a month.
What is the weather like in Herndon?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 25.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 21.0 inches of snow.
Does Herndon get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Herndon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 5, 1979. 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)