The Town FilesHillsville, Virginia
Town in Carroll County · population 2,884 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,000
- Household income
- $58,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 37.3
Hillsville is a town of 2,884 people in Carroll County, Virginia. The median home is worth $159,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of Virginia towns, quieter than 84% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 80% of Virginia towns.
- #5 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Virginia
- #10 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Virginia
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Virginia
- #14 in 25 Small Towns in Virginia With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #15 in 25 Small Towns in Virginia With the Cheapest Homes
- #25 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Virginia
How Hillsville 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 Hillsville is worth $159,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $58,000, which is more affordable than 87% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $747 a month. 52.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $747 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hillsville
| People | Hillsville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Hillsville
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsville since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 23, 2022 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 23, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 15, 2018.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Carroll County
Carroll County had 5,796 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,868 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Hillsville itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in Hillsville
7 public schools with 2,343 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County High | 9-12 | 1,057 | 12.0 |
| Carroll County Middle | 6-8 | 726 | 12.1 |
| Hillsville Elementary | PK-5 | 467 | 12.6 |
| Gladesboro Elementary | PK-5 | 93 | 10.3 |
| Blue Ridge Crossroads Governor's Academy for Technical Educa | Other | — | — |
| Carroll-Galax Reg Alt Ed Prgm/The RAE Ctr | Other | — | — |
| Carroll County Education Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Hillsville
- Galax, VA11.9 mi · 6,720 people · home $141,300
- Mount Airy, NC18.8 mi · 10,676 people · home $181,900
- Pulaski, VA20.2 mi · 8,985 people · home $160,500
- Wytheville, VA23.5 mi · 8,265 people · home $196,800
- Dublin, VA23.9 mi · 2,682 people · home $180,500
- Radford, VA26.6 mi · 16,070 people · home $220,700
Hillsville questions
Is Hillsville, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsville scores better for retirees than 80% of Virginia towns and quieter than 84%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Hillsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsville is valued at $159,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,000, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $747 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsville?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 14.5 inches of snow.
Does Hillsville get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 23, 2022. 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)